Every week, I send you a quick tip on writing, communication, and how to get important projects done.

Whether you’re an author, speaker, educator, entrepreneur, salesperson, or anyone else, I hope these tips make a difference in your week.

Quick Tip: How to Sell Without Being Pushy

When I have a conversation with a potential client, I conclude the meeting by saying:

I'm glad we had a chance to meet! 

 

Based on what you shared, I'll put together a proposal with a list of what I can provide and a quote for my services. 

 

Watch for that coming in a day or two. 

 

Take a look, and we'll go from there.

When I email the proposal, I say the following:

Here's the proposal for you! [link] Inside, you'll find [quick recap of what's inside].

 

Take a look and let me know how you want to proceed. 

 

I'm excited about your vision and I hope we'll end up working together! Either way, I wish you the greatest success with your project.

80% of the time, people say, "Your quote looks great. Let's do this!" 

20% say "No," and it's usually for one of two reasons: one, my fees are out of their budget at this time. Or two, our schedules don't align. They need someone who can start immediately but I'm already booked for several months and can't fit them in.

In that case, I reply and say,

That's no problem. Thanks for letting me know!

 

Just in case it's helpful, here's a list of writers and editors that I highly recommend. 

 

You may want to reach out to a few people from that list because some of them might have pricing that works better for you or might be available sooner than I am. 

 

I hope that helps. I'm cheering for your success! 

This is the exact language I use to sell my services without feeling icky.

Why this approach works:

My energy is hopeful yet unattached. If they say yes, wonderful, and if they decline, no problem. I trust that everything will work out beautifully for us both.

 

I add an unexpected dash of generosity. Even if they choose not to work with me, I provide a helpful list that saves them time and energy.

 

I don't put pressure on them to "reply within 24 hours and give me your decision" or else. I trust that they will be prompt and respectful in their communication. 

 

I express that I truly want them to succeed, whether we work together or not. And, I mean it.

 

If they hire me, I want to blow them away, so they rave about me to their friends. 

 

If they don't hire me, I still want them to rave about me and say, "Alex is such a professional and so caring in the way she communicates. Even though we didn't end up working together this time, I hope we will in the future!"

I love helping my clients write best-selling, award-winning books, achieve their publishing goals, win literary awards, and produce works of art, including podcasts, speeches, programs, and beyond.

Over two million books get published each year, so there's plenty of work to go around! There's no shortage of clients or opportunities. 

If someone says "no" to my proposal, I know that something even better is right around the corner for both of us. 

This is what I believed 15 years ago—back when I had no website, no mailing list, no network, no portfolio of work, and was writing résumés and cover letters for $45 a pop—and it's still what I believe today.

How could you infuse a "hopeful yet unattached" energy into your next conversation?

xo.

-Alex