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Liability Issues

by TheMagicShow
4 replies
Hi Copy Warriors,

What type of liability, do you top copywriters face when accepting a new project/client?

What do you do to cover your bases and avoid liability that can come your way. I mostly write my own sales letters, but want to branch out for some clients and want to know what to look out for.

Thanks for your response.
#issues #liability
  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Scott
    Are you talking legal liability here, Mel?

    I'm not a lawyer and this isn't legal advice... but the more things you can get in writing/recorded the better.

    All my Skype calls are recorded with audio (make sure you ask your clients if it's okay first!) and I usually have a lot of stuff on email too.

    Other than that you just have to... umm... not lie. Pretty simple.

    -Dan
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    Always looking for badass direct-response copywriters. PM me if we don't know each other and you're looking for work.

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  • Profile picture of the author TheMagicShow
    Thanks, to both of your replies. I just wanted to know, what to lookout for so I could protect myself and my business from lawsuits. What criteria do you guys have when it comes to selecting a client/project?

    Thanks again!

    P.S- can you guys, share a link that explains the best practices, when it comes to selecting clients?
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    " You can either give a man a fish and feed him for a day OR teach him how to catch a fish and it will feed him for a lifetime"

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    • Profile picture of the author Collette
      Lawsuits from whom, Mel? Your clients? Or their clients?

      If it's lawsuits from your clients, you can always add conditions to using your copy and a revenue disclaimer to your Client Agreement. (And you should always work with a written agreement. That way, everybody is crystal clear on who does what, when, and how. One day, that will save your azz.)

      If it's lawsuits from your clients' clients, just be sure that you never lie in your copy. Make sure your product works as the client claims it does. If the client won't give you the product and substantiate their claims for you, explain why that's a problem for you.

      If they still won't give you the information, bow out gracefully - and run away as fast and as far as you can.

      BTW: In 12 years as a full-time freelance copywriter, I've never had a client's client threaten to sue me. I have had a couple of occasions when a client tried to weasel out of paying their final balance (after getting the final draft). That's when your written agreement is a VERY handy thing to have...

      My criteria for selecting a client is pretty simple. I gotta be able to trust you.

      Advice from the trenches: Heed your gut. If that Little Red Flag goes up at any stage of the process, especially in the beginning - don't ignore it. Your instinct is usually right.
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