Getting Noticed: Emails that Stand Out from the Crowd

In his article, 5 Ways to Make an Editor Delete Your Email, posted on FreelanceSwitch, Jeffrey Way describes how not to write an email if you are trying to sell yourself to a potential editor or creative director. After the what-not-to-dos, he recommends what you should be including in your email:

What You Should Include in Your Email

1. Introduce yourself. Don’t send me a novel, but at least give me a few sentences detailing who you are.
2. What experience do you have? This is important to me. Keep in mind that it’s perfectly okay if you have zero experience. But, let me know that. We’re always looking for the next new “guy”. Consequently, let me know where you’ve worked in the past. Have you been published? These are things that I shouldn’t have to ask you. Tell me up front. If you’re fresh out of school, use it to your advantage. Tell me that you’re willing to work harder than any other. Tell me that you WANT IT more than any other.
3. Find a way to get an editor’s attention by using weaknesses to your advantage. We all love samples. If you’ve had your work published, send me links to those articles. If you’re a designer, link to your website. I need to know what you’re capable of. You’d be surprised how many people skip this step.
4. Eye Of The Tiger. Okay, it’s corny to reference Rocky movies. But thirty years later, it’s still true. You have to “want” in this business. You have to be willing to work harder than any other. You have to be willing to sacrifice more than any other. You have to be willing to STAND OUT more than any other….
5. Stand Out In this industry, you’ll forever be in a state of competition. Find ways to separate yourself from the rest of the pack. I’m reminded of being a child and having my mother tell me, “If you want to win that coloring contest, be different!” Ask yourself, what makes me unique? How can you approach a task from a different perspective? Whatever that method is, show it to the editor. I can’t emphasize this point any more.

Time for me to get busy sending out those emails! Does anyone have other tips for getting your email noticed?