how do good copywriters work with their clients

graham41 · 10-11-2009, 02:07 PM

Sorry if this question has already been asked, i don't think it has...

I really don't care who is the best , cause the best might not be appropriate for any given situation.

I would like to understand the process.

My experience is that some copywriters can take things very personally and take out the poison pen very quickly.

I think that is a serious flaw. However others tend be more professional.

However, it is the insight of how the 'average' good copywriter works with his/her client that is important to me in my decision making of whether to hire one or not.

Can you help me with this please?

Graham

Scott Murdaugh · 10-11-2009, 03:03 PM

Not sure what you mean by "how" I work with clients...

I just got off of a phone call with a good client of mine. It's Sunday but we needed to chat and we've got each other on speed dial.

Most of my good clients are like that. It's more of a partnership than them hiring me as a service provider.

As far as clients making suggestions on the copy, it's actually pretty rare. My client base is mostly long term clients, and they hire me because they know they can trust me to do my job.

Occasionally, clients will offer a suggestion. If I agree with it I'll make the changes. If I don't, I'll explain why it's not in their best interest.

If I take on a new client and they want to micro-manage me, or we just don't mesh well, I won't work with them anymore, but that's rare.

The key in this business, from my point of view, is to provide consistent results and to work with clients who can give me multiple projects as opposed to a one time deal.

It's all about the relationships... Just like most other businesses.

They make money, I make money, everyone wins.

-Scott

graham41 · 10-11-2009, 03:23 PM

I'm looking for a partnership situation perhaps starting late november for 5 to 8 prjects over 6 months- do the standard hardsell sales page work?

dorothydot · 10-11-2009, 03:32 PM

I very much agree with Scott: "It's more of a partnership than them hiring me as a service provider."

The client and I need to mesh together. We need to understand how each of us can help the other. I can guide the client to my website so they can get a good idea of my writing style - that is the first step; then the client decides if we're a match or not.

I just got done skyping [yes, I work Sundays, too] with a client in Malaysia who likes my work and wanted to sound me out as a long-term writer for his projects. Cool! In fact, he's amazed that I insist on getting the products physically in my hands instead of relying on prior writings by other copywriters.

Several clients I've had are from overseas - Skype is a real boon for me. I can adjust my hours to receive calls from them when it is reasonably convenient for both of us.

One thing I insist on is talking with potential clients one-on-one. This gives me a great sense of how they think and express themselves, and if their values and mine agree [I don't do hype or exaggerated promises, for instance].

And I've started recently offering a "get-acquainted" package for like one quickie project to see if the client and I do work together as a team.

Hope this helps,
Dot

Raydal · 10-11-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graham41

Sorry if this question has already been asked, i don't think it has...

I really don't care who is the best , cause the best might not be appropriate for any given situation.

I would like to understand the process.

My experience is that some copywriters can take things very personally and take out the poison pen very quickly.

I think that is a serious flaw. However others tend be more professional.

However, it is the insight of how the 'average' good copywriter works with his/her client that is important to me in my decision making of whether to hire one or not.

Can you help me with this please?

Graham

This is a very general question already biased by a negative experience
with a copywriter either personally or second hand. Most copywriters
follow a standard practice of requiring some information from you,
drawing up an agreement which includes a downpayment and what
is required of both parties.

If by the time you read through the agreement, review the copywriter's
portfolio and have any questions answered, you should know what to
expect so there would be little surprises later.

What can annoy most copywriters are clients who change the copy
without first discussing these changes, or clients who often want
to get something for nothing.

After over 7 years of writing online copy I've had only one soured
relationship. If there are no false expectations from either party
in the beginning things normally work out smoothly.

-Ray Edwards

Dean Dhuli · 10-12-2009, 01:21 AM

Like 3 of my fellow copywriters already said,
good client-copywriter relationships are peer-to-peer relationships
or relationships between people on the same level... rather than
boss-employee relationships.

You're paying a copywriter $1,000 doesn't mean you can boss
'em around for the duration of the project.

Also, in a good copywriter-client relationship, the client often
gives idea based on his knowledge and experience in the field
but the final decision on what to include and what not to include
in the copy is left to the copywriter.

Hope that helps,

Dean.

[

graham41 · 10-12-2009, 04:55 AM

ok, let's start with the first project. I want the copy written before I write the e-book.
No point in slaving over an e-book if there is no interest at the end.

My target is men (specifically men who are now in midst of family breakdown). So I need a powerful sales pitch. I have some ideas of how to handle buying interest before the book is written

This will need to be a good quick job -as stated purpose of which is to gauge buying as opposed to list building interest- that is very important distinction. If thereisn't then I can just sell the site or park it until , whenever...

$1000 is what I am offering on this one .. and let's see if we can develop a long term relationship based on this model.

Payment will be 40% up front and the rest simultaneously on delivery. You must be professional and there for me post delivery for questions and routine tweaking etc.

So show me what you got - my time is money and so is yours - you have no time for BS and neither do I.

I am looking for project to commence mid-november and complete by start of December.

MikeHumphreys · 10-12-2009, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graham41

ok, let's start with the first project. I want the copy written before I write the e-book.
No point in slaving over an e-book if there is no interest at the end.

I would recommend using some type of keyword research tool to gauge the amount of traffic for your proposed product. You use a free tool like Google's search tool or WordTracker's 7 day trial. There's a bunch of paid research tools that could be used instead.

Do some keyword research to see if there's a strong interest (i.e. 2000+ unique searches per month). Otherwise, you're going to have a hard time driving traffic to the sales letter and making sales. It won't matter what the product is... who wrote the copy... or your product offer... if there is no target market interest.

If there's insufficient interest, then you will probably be wasting your time and money creating this particular product.

Hope that helps,

Mike

graham41 · 10-12-2009, 07:27 AM

Thank for the replies aswell as PMs -when PM can you please assess your suitability for the assignment as described below:

Seems ok on the systems mentioned, and having gone through it myself I know about this first hand.

The google search was particularly helpful-thanks.

BTW- I prefer an intuitive writer some-one who can understand the emotionsand drivers of that particular market ( may have even experienced it himself). Its a war , and this book will be how to come through in one piece more or less.

As a copywriter can you transfer my passion, anger, drive to overcome the establishment?

Emotion, anger, confusion, deep emotional pain, dispair, abdonment , no-one understands- the real untold , unvarnished truth of what they are in store for- and what, how they can do anything about it apart from allowing the lawyers to milk them dry.

Who is man enough for this assignment?

There will be many projects that I will undertake purely for the money, but for me this is the underlying driver of my life. Step up to the plate with quality for me on this one and you will have a client for life -whomever you turn out to be.

G

10-11-2009, 02:07 PM	#1
graham41 Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London Posts: 93 Thanks: 11 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts	how do good copywriters work with their clients Sorry if this question has already been asked, i don't think it has... I really don't care who is the best , cause the best might not be appropriate for any given situation. I would like to understand the process. My experience is that some copywriters can take things very personally and take out the poison pen very quickly. I think that is a serious flaw. However others tend be more professional. However, it is the insight of how the 'average' good copywriter works with his/her client that is important to me in my decision making of whether to hire one or not. Can you help me with this please? Graham

10-11-2009, 03:03 PM	#2
Scott Murdaugh ResultsCopywriting.com War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield, Mo USA. Posts: 571 Thanks: 92 Thanked 169 Times in 87 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: how do good copywriters work with their clients Not sure what you mean by "how" I work with clients... I just got off of a phone call with a good client of mine. It's Sunday but we needed to chat and we've got each other on speed dial. Most of my good clients are like that. It's more of a partnership than them hiring me as a service provider. As far as clients making suggestions on the copy, it's actually pretty rare. My client base is mostly long term clients, and they hire me because they know they can trust me to do my job. Occasionally, clients will offer a suggestion. If I agree with it I'll make the changes. If I don't, I'll explain why it's not in their best interest. If I take on a new client and they want to micro-manage me, or we just don't mesh well, I won't work with them anymore, but that's rare. The key in this business, from my point of view, is to provide consistent results and to work with clients who can give me multiple projects as opposed to a one time deal. It's all about the relationships... Just like most other businesses. They make money, I make money, everyone wins. -Scott
	Sales Copy That Literally Pays For Itself! I've Been Shot... How Much To Fix It? (Are You Worrying About The Wrong Things In Your Marketing?)

10-11-2009, 03:23 PM	#3
graham41 Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London Posts: 93 Thanks: 11 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: how do good copywriters work with their clients I'm looking for a partnership situation perhaps starting late november for 5 to 8 prjects over 6 months- do the standard hardsell sales page work?

10-11-2009, 03:32 PM	#4
dorothydot HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 311 Thanks: 158 Thanked 40 Times in 38 Posts	Re: how do good copywriters work with their clients I very much agree with Scott: "It's more of a partnership than them hiring me as a service provider." The client and I need to mesh together. We need to understand how each of us can help the other. I can guide the client to my website so they can get a good idea of my writing style - that is the first step; then the client decides if we're a match or not. I just got done skyping [yes, I work Sundays, too] with a client in Malaysia who likes my work and wanted to sound me out as a long-term writer for his projects. Cool! In fact, he's amazed that I insist on getting the products physically in my hands instead of relying on prior writings by other copywriters. Several clients I've had are from overseas - Skype is a real boon for me. I can adjust my hours to receive calls from them when it is reasonably convenient for both of us. One thing I insist on is talking with potential clients one-on-one. This gives me a great sense of how they think and express themselves, and if their values and mine agree [I don't do hype or exaggerated promises, for instance]. And I've started recently offering a "get-acquainted" package for like one quickie project to see if the client and I do work together as a team. Hope this helps, Dot
	"Sell the Magic of Your Dream" www.DP-Copywriting-Service.com

10-12-2009, 01:21 AM	#6
Dean Dhuli Compulsive Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 402 Thanks: 16 Thanked 32 Times in 28 Posts Contact Info	Re: how do good copywriters work with their clients Like 3 of my fellow copywriters already said, good client-copywriter relationships are peer-to-peer relationships or relationships between people on the same level... rather than boss-employee relationships. You're paying a copywriter $1,000 doesn't mean you can boss 'em around for the duration of the project. Also, in a good copywriter-client relationship, the client often gives idea based on his knowledge and experience in the field but the final decision on what to include and what not to include in the copy is left to the copywriter. Hope that helps, Dean. [
	Dean Dhuli, Direct Response Copywriter & Marketing Consultant Looking for a Copywriter? Click here...

10-12-2009, 04:55 AM	#7
graham41 Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London Posts: 93 Thanks: 11 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: how do good copywriters work with their clients ok, let's start with the first project. I want the copy written before I write the e-book. No point in slaving over an e-book if there is no interest at the end. My target is men (specifically men who are now in midst of family breakdown). So I need a powerful sales pitch. I have some ideas of how to handle buying interest before the book is written This will need to be a good quick job -as stated purpose of which is to gauge buying as opposed to list building interest- that is very important distinction. If thereisn't then I can just sell the site or park it until , whenever... $1000 is what I am offering on this one .. and let's see if we can develop a long term relationship based on this model. Payment will be 40% up front and the rest simultaneously on delivery. You must be professional and there for me post delivery for questions and routine tweaking etc. So show me what you got - my time is money and so is yours - you have no time for BS and neither do I. I am looking for project to commence mid-november and complete by start of December.

10-12-2009, 07:27 AM	#9
graham41 Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London Posts: 93 Thanks: 11 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: how do good copywriters work with their clients Thank for the replies aswell as PMs -when PM can you please assess your suitability for the assignment as described below: Seems ok on the systems mentioned, and having gone through it myself I know about this first hand. The google search was particularly helpful-thanks. BTW- I prefer an intuitive writer some-one who can understand the emotionsand drivers of that particular market ( may have even experienced it himself). Its a war , and this book will be how to come through in one piece more or less. As a copywriter can you transfer my passion, anger, drive to overcome the establishment? Emotion, anger, confusion, deep emotional pain, dispair, abdonment , no-one understands- the real untold , unvarnished truth of what they are in store for- and what, how they can do anything about it apart from allowing the lawyers to milk them dry. Who is man enough for this assignment? There will be many projects that I will undertake purely for the money, but for me this is the underlying driver of my life. Step up to the plate with quality for me on this one and you will have a client for life -whomever you turn out to be. G