What I Personally Do after Submitting a Client Proposal...

We all want to be liked.

And we all want WHAT we want... and it bugs the shit out of us if
we don't get that.

Unfortunately... when something you want or need is in short supply, it can cause you to act and think differently than if you had a shitload of it.

For copywriters, often times it is having clients that we want and long for.

When we don't have enough of them... we panic and the old "doom and gloom" kicks in.

Well, I can tell you after 14 years of doing this and having worked with WELL over 500 clients... we are often times our own worst enemies.

We treat ourselves worse than any client could ever do.

Your mind can really be a mutha**cker and treat you like crap.

So when clients are in short supply... we often times beat ourselves up... thinking "oh man, if only I had done THIS or if only I had priced it like THAT."

Something I started doing back in 2009 or so, after I sold one of my businesses for a decent amount of money and had what John Carlton refers to as "screw you" money in the bank...

I started training myself to NOT focus on what I could have done differently after sending out copy proposals.

Sure, having money in the bank definitely allows you more freedom to pick and choose clients.

And if something doesn't feel right, you can just forget working with a client.

But if you let it... after you send a copy proposal to a client and you don't hear back right away... your mind can once again be your own worst enemy.

"Did I price myself too high? Did I price myself too low."

Why aren't they contacting me?

Honestly, it's all insecurities. All of it.

And sure, when there are bills to pay and the rent is past due... it doesn't feel great to send out proposals and you don't hear back.

But again, back in 2009 when I had a nice chunk saved and started freelancing again for others... once I sent out a proposal and felt it was the very best I could do...

Once I clicked "Send"... I just let it go.

And it's the best thing I ever trained myself to do.

Because once the ebb and flow of copy work changes.. and you go a week or two without clients.. your mind can easily work against you again.

"Did I say something wrong" Did I price myself out of the game?

Why doesn't this person hire me. Can't they see how GREAT I am.

Again, insecurities.

So, if there's one piece of advice I can give to writers who still beat themselves up after sending proposals that you don't hear back from:

LET it go.

If not, you'll beat yourself up, second guess yourself, wonder what you could have done differently.

And it will eat you up inside... cause anxiety, worry, stress.

All stuff you just don't need to put yourself through.

Before you click that "send" button, just make sure you've done the best you can do, you've written what you feel is best representative of your skills, you've proven yourself and your value, and you feel that what you wrote is the best possible proposal you can write.

Once you click send... let it just go.

Because if you continue wondering, worrying, stressing, etc... and you're in this biz for a long enough time, that stress is gonna kill you.

Or at least cause you some health issues if you do this long enough.

If a prospect doesn't respond after a few days, it doesn't hurt to send a short email that says something like "hey NAME, I'm just finishing up my schedule for MONTH and wanted to see if you're still interested in getting some help with your copy.

Don't come off as needy... because that will kill the deal. Just send a friendly email, asking if they've found what they needed.

Truthfully, a lot of your clients have a lot going on, and several different projects to juggle. so perhaps they just put the project on the back burner.

I've gotten at least 50 clients over the years, all from a short and friendly 2nd email.

But after you send your very BEST proposal, and its the best you can do and offer...
just let it go and don't think about it all the time.

Don't second guess yourself and beat yourself up... wondering if you should have written something different.

Because the fact is, you can't take that email back, so why spend so much time
worrying and stressing about something you can't take back?

So it's all wasted energy and needless stress that can't change the outcome. So why keep wondering why that client hasn't contacted you back.

Just move on and focus on getting the next one. Once you click send... let it go and don't keep second guessing yourself. It's pointless.

Over time, this will become second nature and instead of focusing a lot of energy, stress, worry, frustration on NOT getting clients... you'll be able to use that energy to work on creating things that will attract clients to you.