In response to poster below: I've actually had a great deal of success by emailing people. Most people assume that everyone has developed a shield that will bounce any email bordering on a sales pitch. The reality is that whether this happens is entirely dependent upon how you frame the conversation.
Being small is an immense advantage here. You can speak to the person in a way that a larger company can't. "Hi, I live nearby and am interested in what you guys do." That tenor of conversation has landed me two extremely lucrative contracts.[1] The conversations did not begin with "I need to sell you this thing." but rather "Tell me about your business and what you guys do day-to-day." To do this you don't even need to know anything about the industry at the outset (although it certainly helps if you do). After enough gigs you get really good at quickly dreaming up ideas that can help people that they have absolutely zero idea are possible or where to begin to develop them.
When you or I think of getting cold-emailed sales pitches we cringe because the typical sales pitch we receive is insulting.
"You should pay me for x even though I know nothing about you or your needs. Because of this, it is obvious I am not just selling you, but thousands of other people too."
However when you think of a sales pitch as a genuine attempt to start a conversation that you really believe would benefit the person you are attempting to sell to, you are actually helping them, not spamming them. People are receptive to those who express a genuine ability to help them.
[1] One contract, ultimately worth mid five-figures came about after being in contact with a particular business owner for two years. The sales process isn't necessarily a sudden spike but rather a gradual climb.
Being small is an immense advantage here. You can speak to the person in a way that a larger company can't. "Hi, I live nearby and am interested in what you guys do." That tenor of conversation has landed me two extremely lucrative contracts.[1] The conversations did not begin with "I need to sell you this thing." but rather "Tell me about your business and what you guys do day-to-day." To do this you don't even need to know anything about the industry at the outset (although it certainly helps if you do). After enough gigs you get really good at quickly dreaming up ideas that can help people that they have absolutely zero idea are possible or where to begin to develop them.
When you or I think of getting cold-emailed sales pitches we cringe because the typical sales pitch we receive is insulting.
"You should pay me for x even though I know nothing about you or your needs. Because of this, it is obvious I am not just selling you, but thousands of other people too."
However when you think of a sales pitch as a genuine attempt to start a conversation that you really believe would benefit the person you are attempting to sell to, you are actually helping them, not spamming them. People are receptive to those who express a genuine ability to help them.
[1] One contract, ultimately worth mid five-figures came about after being in contact with a particular business owner for two years. The sales process isn't necessarily a sudden spike but rather a gradual climb.