When you are communicating with a potential client about a freelance writing job, you want to present yourself in the best possible way. Unlike applying for a traditional job, you may not be asked to meet with the client for a face-to-face interview; your cover letter, resume and samples may be your only shot at persuading the client to hire you.

This is not a situation where you can hold something back and save it for the face-to-face meeting – there may not be one. Instead, make sure that whatever you submit gives the client the information he or she needs to make a hiring decision.

How can you stand out from the other writers who are interested in the same opportunity? Be specific in your cover letter and writer’s resume about your experience and how you would be a good fit for what the client needs. Here are some questions to help you fill in some details:

• How long have you been writing? (Number of years)
• What kind of writing have you done? List the different types of projects you have been involved in.
• How many articles, blog posts, e-books, etc., have you written? (You don’t need to provide an exact count but do share an approximate number.)
• What topics have you written about/are you most comfortable with?

Don’t underestimate the power of putting specifics in the materials you are sharing with clients. When you show, don’t tell details about your experience, you are giving the reader a frame of reference to determine whether you have what he or she is looking for. Offer the client something concrete and you will make an impression that could land you the gig!