Freelance: How to write a cover letter

Today in the mailing list of one of the freelance exchanges I found a very interesting article about how to write a cover letter for my bid on the freelance exchange. I used the words “cover letter” as a translation of the “cover letter”. I do not really like this version of the translation, but I did not find another. In any case, those who have ever been on freelancing exchanges know what a cover letter is.

Although the original article is called “Writing a Killer Cover Letter,” I called this post not so bloody.

Next, bring in a fusion of free translation and my own thoughts:
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There are thousands of ways to spoil your accompanying letter. Clients review a list of 30, 50 or even 100 candidates every day and any detail in which something is not so annoying to the person reading the letter. This is your first and possibly the only way to impress a potential client. Make a mistake and you will be immediately removed from the list. A freelancer who understands this harsh reality can use this to his advantage. Want to write more effective cover letters? Here are some tips to help you stand out from the crowd. (in a good way):

• Brevity is the soul of wit. If your text is as long as this post - cut it at least by a third. All the client wants to see is a polite greeting, a sentence or two, describing your most relevant abilities and perhaps another sentence or two about things not listed in the profile — for example, you just finished two similar projects. In the end - a polite farewell.
• Follow the directions. If you are asked to answer certain questions or include some data in your letter - do so. Beware of typos: write a letter in a text editor and check for errors, and then read it out loud. Ask a friend to view it before sending - two heads are better than one.
• Never use blanks. Sophisticated customers always recognize the workpiece and never hire such a freelancer. Spend 5 minutes and write what the client requires. The advice is simple: write every time from scratch.
• Watch your tone. Even if the client writes a little frivolously, you should be serious, but not stressful. This is a letter from one professional to another. Do not be funny, wordy or overly flattering. Be helpful and confident, not arrogant, and don't look particularly needy.
• Take it easy with jargon. Use technical terms correctly. The client will not be enthusiastic about your plans to “realize” your “proven potential” to “achieve maximum results” and “satisfy the client”. Contrary to some opinions, you cannot hypnotize a client with “exciting” buzz words.
• Refer to the examples. List, give references or attach examples of your work to a letter to demonstrate your professional suitability. If your portfolio does not yet include relevant items - do not forget to add them later.

Even if you have worked well on your profile, the client will never bother to look at it, unless your cover letter is concise, effective and attractive. If Hollywood can squeeze a two-hour movie to the size of a 90-second movie, you can also write your cover letter of up to 300 words and be able to leave your customers wanting more.