Dear Content Writers: You Are Using Social Media Messaging Wrong

Forehead to palm…Here are the top 5 ways content writers are making fools of themselves

As a professional writer, I am quite active on social media. Regularly, I see other content writers doing some really cringeworthy things, especially when it comes to using messaging features on social media sites.

Writers — stop embarrassing yourselves.

This brings me to today’s topic:

druuummm rooollllll…5 Ways Content Writers Are Using Social Media Messaging ALL WRONG.

We all have to start somewhere, so likely many of these folks are simply still learning, but come on. Read on to see if you’re guilty of any of these common social media messaging no-nos.

Number 1: Too Informal and Sloppy

When you begin any type of private correspondence on your social media accounts — like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram — you must have a purpose for those exchanges.

Let’s say our purpose is to look for ways to make more money writing. We want to meet potential clients. Or find a job.

Now, before you step into your inbox and make an utter fool of yourself, imagine you were approaching this same person or company at an in-person conference. Face to face.

Would you be informal, as if meeting them at a barbeque?

Would you launch into telling them what you need them to do for you?

Would you get their name wrong?

Or would you take the time to conduct that brief encounter in a way that leaves a good impression and covers all the right territory?

Like this:

• Properly introduce yourself
• Establish rapport
• Address their pain point or need
• Briefly demonstrate why your services can meet that need
• Part with helpful contact info
• Take a few days to a week, then follow up

All of the above leaves a good impression, is concise, and gets the job done.

It’s not a template. It’s just good ol’ common business sense.

Social media messaging is a quicker way to create that one-on-one connection, only you can do it in your PJs. Unfortunately, many folks also drop their business sense to that same level of informality, and this is a huge error in judgment.

I receive daily messages on LinkedIn. Many of these messages are a complete informal mess and I can see, very clearly, what their endgame is — and that they are nowhere near the right path to get there.

Examples:

Hey im [redacted name] and i am a content and blog writer im looking for opportunities to show my writing skills is there any openings?? If yes then let me know and if not then recommend me to some other client who want a content writer .

(Um, grammar would be a plus for anyone who wants to work in the writing field. How about we start there?)

I am a content writer with 2.5 years of experience in this field. I write content in different niches. As a qualified writer with skills in SEO, social media marketing, social media post content, website content, blog & article writing and many more.

Note that not only are they “barking up the wrong tree” here, but they are also doing it with poor grammar and embarrassing sentence structures.

This is not how you find work with your social media messaging.

If you want to make professional contacts with your social media messaging, present yourself professionally. Demonstrate your skill, your knowledge, and your expertise.

With every single word.

Number 2: Begging

People regularly write to me on LinkedIn and ask me (a content writer) for the following:

• Can you give me some of your clients?
• Can you send me some of your jobs if you get too busy?
• Can you tell me where to find new clients?
• Can I write content for your site?
• Can you tell companies about me so I can find work?
• If you find writing jobs can you tell me about them?
• If you find new clients and don’t want them can you send them to me?

Begging is not a good look. Social media messages “panhandling” to complete strangers, trying to siphon off their income and client load, will not land you your dream clients.

If you begin your message with an “I need help” be prepared for my reply:

Hi [redacted name]

It sounds like you may benefit from some freelance mentoring services. I do offer this service for $85.00 USD per hour.

At first glance, your LinkedIn bio looks good but possibly a little wordy and too inclusive. Narrow that down to the core of your service work so that the right people will naturally reach out to you here on LinkedIn.

Any further feedback, critique, and advice would have to be “on the clock.”

Best of luck to you,

Christina Fiddleheads & Floss Services

Number 3: Asking for Services for Free

I regularly have other content writers send me their bios, sites, and portfolios asking me for critique, advice, and to help them find clients.

At the beginning of my business — Fiddleheads & Floss Writing Services — this kind of messaging was flattering.

Now, it’s clogging my inbox.

We are all in the same hustle here — looking for jobs, writing gigs, and ongoing client work.

And we are all battling the same online demon right now. It’s pretty scary if we’re all being honest.

But, I have to do these things for myself. And you need to do this for yourself, too. No one can or should be handing a freelancing business to you on a silver platter. That’s not how this works.

Searching for your own opportunities is the only way you’ll learn the business and blaze your own path to success. Trust me, it will mean a lot more to you if you’ve earned it. Cut your teeth on some Fiverr jobs and begin building your portfolio.

Let people see what you can do. Impress them and be professional with every single interaction. Each job, no matter how small, begins to build your ladder to success.

Number 4: Spamming

No professional writer, content creator, SEO specialist, magazine editor, literary agent, content manager, writing agency recruiter (etc.) has the time to receive spamming messages.

I receive these weekly and sometimes daily:

• Messages offering to build backlinks to my site
• Messages offering to promote my book sales for me or review my books. (Twitter messaging is the worst for this.)
• UMPTEEN messages a week offering to write content for me — I am a content writer! Why would I want to field tons of messages about this?

Sending repeated messages is spamming. Plain and simple.

No one can or should be handing a freelancing business to you on a silver platter. That’s not how this works.

Number 5: Poor Preparation

If you plan to inbox a professional contact with the purpose of landing that next great writing gig — at least do your homework.

I regularly get messages where the sender doesn’t even address me by my correctly spelled name. Like, it’s right there on my profile?

Secondly, they are not aware of what I do. This means they have not done any research on who I am or what it is that I do professionally before they message me. Professional clients — you know, the ones you are really after — will not make time for applicants or pitches where you demonstrate your lack of preparation. (Or misspell their name…)

Preparation and research help you locate the right recipients for your message.

Example:

If I want to get writing gigs in finance, for example, then I need to message content managers for financial magazines or financial SaaS services.

Rather than inboxing, if you’re still not sure who to message, place a public post or short blog announcing what types of services you offer and the types of clients you service. Attach the hashtags you know your ideal clients will be following.

Quick Questions Before Inboxing

• What am I looking for (end game)?
• Is this the right person to contact?

Do your research before you send any kind of message. No one wants to waste a single moment with clutter in the inbox.

No one has time for that.

Thanks for reading today. I hope this quick reminder of social media messaging etiquette helps you to correct your less-than-professional messaging. Practice makes perfect, yes, but at least learn a little about how it’s done.

Helpful resources: I’ve learned a lot about pitching from these two helpful resources:

1. Abbi Peret’s Successful Freelance Mom
2. Jon Morrow’s Smart Blogger

Meet your author: Christina M. Ward is a lifelong beauty and wellness enthusiast with a professional writing career in the wellness, health, and clean beauty industries. Her work has been featured in Today’s Health Science, LA Weekly, Village Voice, Men’s Health, VEGAMOUR, and OK! Magazine.

Christina’s published poetry books: Amazon. Christina’s newsletter: Fiddleheads & Floss Newsletter.