Create a copy for potential client for free or ask first if they're interested?

14 replies
Hello there,

I've been lurking here for a few months now, and I tried a suggestion to get copywriting clients.

I picked a potential customer, studied his product based on his website, social media accts, etc. Then, I created a new sales letter for him. Lastly, I emailed him, introduced myself, and gave him the copy I created for him.

It worked. He messaged me back and asked how we can work together. We're slowly improving his site and I got an initial payment, and more once I land him more clients ($500 course).

Now my question is, is it really a good idea to do what I did? or did I just get lucky?

I want to try it again, but I might need to spend time working on a copy for someone who might not even respond.

I'm thinking of simply giving copy recommendations on my first email. Y'know. few things that they can use right away. This way, I get to provide value, yet I'm not spending too much time. Do you think it can give me a better result?

Please note that I'd love to make money soon as I'm in need. I'm willing to spend more time once I'm in a more pleasant situation.

thanks!
#copy #copywriting #create #free #free work #getting clients #interested #potential #pro bono work
  • Profile picture of the author SARubin
    Originally Posted by Jerome Alvarado View Post

    Hello there,

    I've been lurking here for a few months now, and I tried a suggestion to get copywriting clients.

    I picked a potential customer, studied his product based on his website, social media accts, etc. Then, I created a new sales letter for him. Lastly, I emailed him, introduced myself, and gave him the copy I created for him.

    It worked. He messaged me back and asked how we can work together. We're slowly improving his site and I got an initial payment, and more once I land him more clients ($500 course).

    Now my question is, is it really a good idea to do what I did? or did I just get lucky?

    I want to try it again, but I might need to spend time working on a copy for someone who might not even respond.

    I'm thinking of simply giving copy recommendations on my first email. Y'know. few things that they can use right away. This way, I get to provide value, yet I'm not spending too much time. Do you think it can give me a better result?

    Please note that I'd love to make money soon as I'm in need. I'm willing to spend more time once I'm in a more pleasant situation.

    thanks!
    As for your question... "is it really a good idea to do what I did? or did I just get lucky?"

    The idea itself is solid. But did you just get lucky? I doubt it. What happened is you found a need... offered assistance (and value)... and made a sale.


    Will it work again? Probably. Only one way to find out... keep running it, and see if you continue to get results.


    As far as using your shorter/quicker method...

    If the long method worked for you, then definitely keep it as your control piece, but also try your edited (shorter) method.

    If you can get the same results with less work, then that method becomes your new control. If it doesn't work, then go back to using what works.

    I've used a similar method with some direct mail pieces I've received. I didn't re-write the entire piece, but simply went through it, and wrote in the margins with a number of suggestions to make it better.

    Then I'd mailed back to them with a post-it note, saying if they'd like to collaborate on their next piece, I'd be happy to work with them to make it produce far better results.

    I did this a dozen times, and got 3 new clients. (I consider that a win)




    Just don't get discouraged if the next guy doesn't respond. The best marketing in the world isn't a winner, 100% of the time. With this type of direct response, if you can even get 1 out of 10... that's a really good response rate

    It's partly a numbers game, and a lot of it has to do with timing. The business owner might not be ready for your offer right now, but they might be next month?



    Generally speaking, the more detailed and personalized approach will usually get you better results. Because it shows the business owner that you took the time to understand their business, and their needs. But sometimes the shorter version is all you need

    So, try your shorter version. But don't be cheap with it, because laziness will show through in your copy.

    And if it doesn't work (after a number of tries), then go back to spending a few days on researching your potential client, and continue making your more detailed pitch.

    The main thing is to just keep moving forward.

    All the best,
    SAR
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    • Profile picture of the author Jerome Alvarado
      Thank you for your response!

      I honestly think the first approach would work. I guess I'm just scared of spending too much time for few prospects instead of spending shorter amount of time for more prospects (but with probably smaller chance).

      As you've mentioned, it can be a numbers game. So i guess I just need to work more and try to reach more.
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  • You may have been lucky or not not sure, but one thing we know for certain: you cannot do that for every potential client as some might not be interested at all so you do not want to risk wasting your time uselessly. The best thing to do would be to pick out a potential client, look at their existing copy, point out a few areas where it could be improved and if they get interested, you can sell them your services. This way, you save yourself a lot of time.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jerome Alvarado
      You're right. I'll probably do both of them and see what works. However, I've read somewhere that if I plan to provide copy feedback, I should ask for permission first. The argument is that some people hate unsolicited advice and there's a risk of offending them. What do you think about that? Do you think it's a better idea since it can also filter people who are not remotely interested before I even write my feedback? Or is there a higher chance of missing an opportunity to hook them right from the start?
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      • Well, I personally think if someone's copy is not good, it's not good ( and they might even know about it as well but not taking the necessary action). Here's the catch and that's something I cannot emphasize anymore: the reason you are approaching them is because their copy is not good right? Which means you must be able to highlight areas that can be improved, which in turn leads to their being interested in your service and using it. The whole point of it is to find out copies that have room for improvement and then capitalize on that room. Hope that helps.
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        • Profile picture of the author SUNBRO
          I'm gonna add that if they weren't going to be receptive to your unsolicited advice, odds are they weren't going to convert - because they don't understand your value.

          It's not worth compromising a strong sales tactic to avoid offending people that aren't going to hire you anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author DABK
    For reducing time/effort spent: create a copy for a product / service in one industry, with notes on the side (this works because), then approach people selling that product/service in different cities, using the same copy sample.

    Another way you might want to try: find someone's copy (existing copy, so you know they're spending money on advertising/maybe even on the copy) and point to a few areas where the copy is weak (kind of what Sarubin said), and send it back to them.

    I mean, if you got a postcard from Insurance agent A, analyze it, write a couple of notes on a sticky + a call to action, paste sticky to front of postcard, stick postcard in an envelope, send it to the owner/president of Insurance agency A.

    If one of my pieces came back to me with a note that showed me how I messed up a particular part, and hints at how much money I'm losing, I'd be interested... If you followed up with a phone call, I'd be talking to you. If the advice seemed really good, I'd be calling you.

    The short of it, there was some luck (they were still interested, nobody beat you to it), but, like others said, the method works (though, probably, if you repeat the steps, you will not get 100% success rate). So, repeat.
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  • I have tried this at some point, as a freelance copywriter.

    In general, the upside is low and the downside is high. This may range from "I've wrote the copy and I haven't even received a thank you" to "He was grateful but I've made no money out of it at all".

    Now, on a practical level, writing copy is better than not writing. If I would be in a position to have nothing to do at all, I would write spec copy for the simple fact that it is a dominant strategy and writing copy, even if no one is ever going to see it helps a lot more than watching NetFlix.

    However, it is important to make the difference between writing copy for practice and writing copy hoping that someone else will pay you for it. Ask yourself if you are writing that copy no matter what. If you are, then sure, go for it. However, if you are ignoring other paid work, actual work, then the answer should be no.

    People don't tend to appreciate what they get for free, this is a general rule of thumb. Plus, it puts you in a really bad position - since he got the copy already, you have little leverage to actually work with. However, as I've said, if you were going to write the copy no matter what, I'd try this. Worst case scenario, you'll gain some extra experience and this always helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jerome Alvarado
      You're right. And honestly, I've been having discipline issues lately so the reminder to practice more often hits home.

      I also want to mention that I'm a newbie, and I really don't have a good amount of work that I can show, especially ones with results. So I'm being a little hesitant about directly selling my work via cold email.

      I know I should do more, but honestly, I'm not. And I'm not proud of it.

      Now going back, do you suggest emailing them and sell my service directly? Is that something that works today?
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      • Start thinking in terms of payoffs and dominant strategies.

        You have:
        a) Do nothing = 0 points.
        b) Write spec copy = 5 points (as it earns you experience and a low chance of getting paid).
        c) Writing paid copy = 25 points (B + the value of the money).

        B is better than A and C is better than B. However, if you have another activity that can be done instead of doing B that nets you higher than 5 points, go for it.

        Economics is your friend

        Emailing usually proved to be very ineffective. Starting conversations who have showed (a) that they want it (b) afford it (c) are relatively reliable is far better. Copy critiques, job ads or specialized marketing groups are full of opportunities for these kind of jobs.

        Networking events in person work even better. I don't know if it is good or bad but you can get a lot of work there just because people like you and not so much through the virtue of your actual skills.

        My suggestion is to go with any approach that has a high chance of a response. Email is not one of them. Phone calls are two way, so is networking and starting conversations in Facebook groups.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Jerome Alvarado View Post

    Hello there,

    I've been lurking here for a few months now, and I tried a suggestion to get copywriting clients.

    I picked a potential customer, studied his product based on his website, social media accts, etc. Then, I created a new sales letter for him. Lastly, I emailed him, introduced myself, and gave him the copy I created for him.

    It worked. He messaged me back and asked how we can work together. We're slowly improving his site and I got an initial payment, and more once I land him more clients ($500 course).

    Now my question is, is it really a good idea to do what I did? or did I just get lucky?

    I want to try it again, but I might need to spend time working on a copy for someone who might not even respond.

    I'm thinking of simply giving copy recommendations on my first email. Y'know. few things that they can use right away. This way, I get to provide value, yet I'm not spending too much time. Do you think it can give me a better result?

    Please note that I'd love to make money soon as I'm in need. I'm willing to spend more time once I'm in a more pleasant situation.

    thanks!


    I think you should stick with what you've already proven works assuming you're ok with the pay.

    You can always test different strategies later but If you need the money now, do what's already working, now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Homewriting
    I think you got pretty lucky, but that's only from my experiences. I learned early on to never ever do free work for someone because they'll expect it later on, or take what you did for them and never contact you again. So what I do is send them my portfolio.

    Will you have the same luck? Maybe not, it looked like it worked for you, and fi you do that and continue to get responses, then it's a good tactic. But always be aware that there's the possibility you could get taken advantage of. I hope it don't happen though to you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Diana S
    Originally Posted by Jerome Alvarado View Post

    I'm thinking of simply giving copy recommendations on my first email. Y'know. few things that they can use right away. This way, I get to provide value, yet I'm not spending too much time. Do you think it can give me a better result?
    I would say that this approach is safer. As other responders have mentioned, a prospect could take advantage of you by saying that they'd like to see more samples of your work on their specific website, then they'll start giving you paid work. After you've redone half their website for free, they'll say, "Thanks but no thanks, we don't need you anymore."

    I almost let this happen to me once, so I think giving general recommendations (thereby demonstrating your skills) saves you both time and stress.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marketing4life
    What you did was a good idea, I think. You presented your skills, your client liked what he saw, and you made a sale. Sounds very legit, congrats.
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