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How Do You Explain Yourself When Others Question Your Qualifications?

by shandycat
7 replies
This problem has come up for me in every job I've ever had: I'm asked to design a piece for XYZ, then when I present the first drafts for review, I'm bombarded with "corrections" to the content that would result in grammatical errors, awkward sentences or fragments, and general punctuation no-nos. I understand that people may want to tweak colors or fonts, or adjust the content to make sure all features/benefits are covered, etc. But I'm honestly FED UP with having to pull out the ol' style guide and say "If you don't believe me, believe the experts--here's the official rule." And STILL I sometimes find that someone has gone behind me and made these changes anyway. Now they're mailing or posting pieces that are riddled with errors, and anyone who sees it thinks I did it! Even if they don't make the changes to this piece, I have to deal with it again and again on every piece I do. Sure, ask me about something you're not certain about, but if I review it and say, "No, actually that's correct," then LET IT GO! How do you guys handle these folks who obviously never got past third grade English when they question your abilities? I would never tell our Accounting team they can't add two and two; I trust their abilities (especially after they've proved themselves) and believe in their skill set. Advice?
#english #explain #grammar #qualifications #question
  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    There are a couple of reasons why a client will change your copy:

    1. He is not sold on your expertise and thinks he must help you get it right.
    2. You didn't capture the tone of the client and so he doesn't feel your writing
    fully represent his company.
    3. The client is very picky about the mechanics of the language (grammar etc.)
    4. He is an experienced marketer and just hired you to do a first draft.

    You're more like to get the first 3 than #4.

    What can you do? Get clients who respect your ability. How? Make sure
    they are sold on you as a copywriter before they hire you.

    -Ray Edwards
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    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by shandycat View Post

    This problem has come up for me in every job I've ever had
    In every job you've ever had? How remarkable.

    That clearly goes way beyond the bounds of "coincidence" and there must be some underlying reason for it?

    You're not a freelance copywriter, writing for different clients all the time, probably? You perhaps have a writing job for one employer?? (I'm guessing, of course, but that's the only way I can make sense of something which would be terribly unusual for most copywriters happening "in every job you've ever had"?!).

    Originally Posted by shandycat View Post

    I understand that people may want to tweak colors or fonts
    You're doing the design yourself, as well as the copy?

    Originally Posted by shandycat View Post

    Now they're mailing or posting pieces that are riddled with errors, and anyone who sees it thinks I did it!
    I'm confused. How does anyone know who wrote it? Is your name on all your copy, or something (surely not)?

    Originally Posted by shandycat View Post

    Advice?
    I'd like to know more about the situation you're describing, first, please: I freely admit that I can't quite make head or tail of it, at the moment.

    What sort of "copywriting" are we talking about, here, and for what sort of client(s)?

    .
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  • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
    First off, **** grammar.

    Write for your audience. Write for clarity. Use common language. Who cares if your participles dangle if the damn thing makes sense?

    Second, you're over explaining and putting yourself in a position of weakness by being defensive. They question it? Briefly sum up the WHY of each of your decisions. If they still disagree, change what you're comfortable changing as a sign of good will.

    Don't underestimate the power of silence. Say I disagree with xyz change and nothing else. See what they say.

    Experts don't need to pull out the style guides to prove they're right. Experts calmly explain their position and let you fall on your face if you disagree.

    And how, pray tell, is everyone going to know it's you writing this unless you tell them? Are you adding a byline or something?
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    Aspiring copywriters: if you need 1:1 advice from an experienced copy chief, head over to my Phone a Friend page.

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  • Profile picture of the author RickDuris
    1. Tell them...

    "Change one word and I'll crush your fingers with a hammer."

    2. And then every time you submit copy, attach a picture of one of the hammers from your hammer collection.

    That'll drive the point home. (No pun intended.)
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  • Profile picture of the author DougHughes
    Kate...is that you?
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    I write copy. Learn More.>>

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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      In 2007, virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell, young and handsome, who normally plays to sold-out concert halls at $100 and up a ticket, as an experiment went out into a Washington DC Metro station during rush hour wearing casual clothes and played classical music pieces on his Stradivarius. He played his best, but not once did a crowd develop, and people tossed just $32 and change into his violin case.

      What does this tell you?

      Expertise cannot be perceived without pre-selling and setup on the part of the expert. This is as much as 95% of being perceived as an authority.

      A world-class concert violinist gets perceived as such when he is presented as such, and when the trappings are right. If he had been heralded as the great Joshua Bell playing for charity in the subway, there would have been great crowds. If there had been tons of media there covering the event, that would have helped also.

      I'm pretty sure also that Bell somehow changed his performance energy for the subway event, trying to blend in in the subway setting rather than being his great violinist self as he would be on a concert stage.

      On the other hand, there are Great Pretenders who have very little skills but know in their bones how to attract an admiring crowd. One of those could have been playing the same pieces at the next subway stop and raking in the money.

      Marcia Yudkin
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      Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

        In 2007, virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell, young and handsome, who normally plays to sold-out concert halls at $100 and up a ticket, as an experiment went out into a Washington DC Metro station during rush hour wearing casual clothes and played classical music pieces on his Stradivarius. He played his best, but not once did a crowd develop, and people tossed just $32 and change into his violin case.

        What does this tell you?
        It tells me that on that occasion he played unaccompanied Bach suites (for which many concert halls actually have a bit of difficulty selling out), rather than any of the more crowd-pulling, intrinsically-appealing stuff for which he's understandably much better known. (Those Bach violin suites are really not "easy listening", to the uninitiated. I've seen this "episode" on YouTube.)

        But, having made that slightly pedantic (though also relevant, I think?) point, of course I also agree entirely with the point you're making.

        .
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