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how do good copywriters work with their clients

by graham41
8 replies
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
#clients #copywriters #good #work
  • Profile picture of the author Scott Murdaugh
    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
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    Over $30 Million In Marketing Data And A Decade Of Consistently Generating Breakthrough Results - Ask How My Unique Approach To Copy Typically Outsells Traditional Ads By Up To 29x Or More...

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  • Profile picture of the author graham41
    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?
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    • Profile picture of the author dorothydot
      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
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      www.DP-Copywriting-Service.com

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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    Originally Posted by graham41 View Post

    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
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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 Dean Dhuli
    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.



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    • Profile picture of the author 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.

      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.
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      • Profile picture of the author MikeHumphreys
        Originally Posted by graham41 View Post

        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
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        Kickstart Your Copywriting Business: How To Get Loads of New Clients FAST!

        Kick-A$$ Eight-Figure Producing Copywriting Gun For Hire | Marketing & Copywriting Blog
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        • Profile picture of the author graham41
          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
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