Hi Sara,
I understand your situation. It is not all that different from mine.
I run an active writing business, with clients located anywhere from 10 miles to 1000 miles or more away, and I have also had clients overseas as well. In many cases, I have never physically met them, but I have managed to work successfully – thanks to the phone, fax and email.
In fact, I try not to have too many face-to-face meetings unless they’re absolutely necessary, even with clients who are within driving distance. I find that most of these meetings are time consuming (in terms of travel) and do not always achieve any more than a simple phone call and follow-up faxes and emails.
I think the simple answer, Sara, is to explain your situation over the phone and to make the point that you are able to assist them electronically. And you can start by sending them info they require via fax or email, following your call.
In Australia, where I live, the majority of the media are now centred in Sydney. I live in Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, which is around 1000 miles south of Sydney. And yet I have won a number of Sydney clients over the years. Their initial attitude has been – how can I service them from another city, and how can I maintain an ongoing relationship with the media? My response has been to initially meet and discuss what is required face-to-face, and then to conduct most of our affairs electronically with monthly meetings, if required. In reality, usually a couple of face to face meetings is all that is needed. And, with the media, well most local practitioners deal with them by phone, so it doesn’t matter where you’re located.
That’s the beauty with today’s electronic world. You can conduct business virtually anywhere and at any time, just as we are doing right now.
Good luck!
Regards
Michael
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Michael Meanwell
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