Tell me if I'm being too "uptight" here ...

If you proofread and ensure the quality of the outsourced work, you can keep it for yourself if you let anyone else do it. Though, dont threat it as a secret, it is important to be honest to your clients, if it ever comes into question you can tell them that you used someones help.

I've noodled with this as I consider bringing a junior level writer on board to help me out. I think the conclusion was a case by case basis - that if it came down to it, I'd introduce my junior writer on a Skype call or whatever, just so their team knows I've brought my team.

And my junior writer is part of my A team, make no mistake about that. Everything that goes through me goes out according to my standards.

On a general basis, you've got the right idea Ray.

It's obviously in everybody's best interest to be honest about bringing on an "understudy" to help out with smaller projects, but discretion is always advised.

In other words, yes - be forthright about the situation, but as Angie said, assure your client that the final product will be totally up to scruff.

Should you let people know (who hire you to write copy) that someone with way less experience and knowhow is helping?

YES!!!!!!!

I've stayed away from copy cub/juniors because when people hire me, they're hiring ME.

That said,

If the copy cub was exceptional (i.e. lightening in a bottle,) I would definitely bring him or her into the client conversation. But going through someone else's work to make sure it's up to my standards... is more work.

Can it save time? Maybe. Especially once you work together for a while.

But developing a winning relationship....... takes time.

Here's my bottom line...

It's dishonest to take on work and pawn it off (because you're too busy. )

Always be transparent.

FYI...

At most agencies, "creative" works tirelessly to get one or two market-ready ideas on the table. But it's often the senior copywriter that makes them winning hooks. In other words, it's one thing to come up with a good idea. It's something else entirely to make that idea something that can convert or perform.

Likewise...

A lot of newer copywriters just CAN'T see the kind of hooks someone with more front-line experience.

Mark

I will answer this from the position of a client.

It's better to be an agency if you're not doing everything yourself.

Here's the reasoning: I once hired a copywriter from WF. You know him. He's a big name here. He was upfront about the fact that he was training his proteges. The copy he delivered did not convert. When I asked warriors why it was not converting, his copy was verbally annihilated.

So, as a result, I'm not going to hire him again.

If it was an agency I'd be more tolerant. One guy did a bad job. Can happen. Give this project to another one.

Bottom line: be upfront, but consider becoming an agency.

Honesty is a huge element in customer service and in business. One little wrong move will throw your credibility out the window.


If it has to be found out that what you are marketing is different from what you are actually giving. That will get you in a lot of trouble and your goodwill & credibility will take a hit.


Its good to be straight up from the get go.


I suggest having a close niche team if you are going to do that. If you are giving it to a newbie, that is a total turn off and I'd rather find someone else to do the work.


A close team member that has done 70+ projects with you would be ok, depending what I think of you in terms of your skill and the results you have created for other clients.


Also I wouldn't let a project go live unless I knew it was high quality in my opinion.


If you are doing that. Be honest and keep it high quality. Also communicate the whole process, the client will like that.


No, I don't think you are being up tight.

I believe that you're not being uptight with such disclosure. I believe that you have the obligation to tell your clients that someone is helping you out mostly for your credibility's sake. I believe honesty is something your clients would appreciate.

Thanks for all the responses. My question was hypothetical but
relevant at the same time. I see a lot of copywriters who obviously
'subcontract' their copy but no mention is made about this in their
marketing material. From a client's perspective I'm thinking that if
I hired you to do a service because of your capability, then I want
to know that you did the work, not supervised it.

I know another popular online copywriter who offered lower fees
if you selected a junior copywriter on his team, with the promise
that he would review the copy before it is passed on to the client.
This I think is a fair 'disclosure'.

Other copywriters think that it is the results that matter and who
wrote the copy is not important for the client to know.

-Ray Edwards

I think people have a right to know the skill level of the Copy they're paying for. If you're charging $1,000 for a 2k word salesletter (I don't know what you charge, that's an example), they should know that it's not being written by you, and that it's being written by a Jr-level Copywriter.

You don't need to give background information on the particular person, but they should know what level of skill they're paying for.
-Cam

Honesty is important, no matter what type of services you provide. If you use a junior copywriter to help you out, then you definitely should be honest about it, but of course, assure your clients that you will not deliver the work without proofreading and making sure it's perfect. You will build credibility and they will appreciate you more, for sure!

From your question it sounds like you're just passing the work on and letting the junior copywriter handle it completely. If this is true, you shouldn't even be the one the client is hiring, they should be hiring the junior copywriter.

If you're saying you're letting one of your copy cubs work on a project, then heck no you don't need to confuse your clients.

They're hiring you because they like your work. You should know by now that when one of your copy cubs writes something, you still spend almost just as much time going over and critiquing things as if you had written the entire project. Your client is expecting your style based on your past work. Based on common sense you're probably training your cubs based on your experience and style. Aren't you going to approve anything before it goes out?

Are you wanting to disclose stuff because if it fails you're held blameless and you can point the finger at your trainee? Heck no, you're still in control.

If I hired someone to fix my plumbing and they gave me a big speech about how they were training someone, I couldn't give a crap, as long as the job was done right. I'd fully expect the person I hired to do a good job...couldn't care how many trainees they brought along. I hired the company based on their past performance and would expect them to continue their good ratings. Too much disclosure would seem to me like they were saying "We'll try our best but if your toilet still doesn't flush right it's because we're using trainees".

If you've got someone working for you, you're still the final one responsible.

If I hire you for a project and it bombs, I'm gonna hold you responsible, and only you. I don't care who or how many you had work on my project.

If you're gonna have someone work under you...either quit taking on everyone that has money to pay you for training, or weed out only the good ones that can continue to promote the reason your clients are willing to hire YOU.

Call it the law of attraction, but I just ran into this on Bob Bly's site:

-Ray Edwards

I have a handful of long-term clients (and our own businesses) that keep me busy enough. So I don't have much time available for open projects.

If someone specifically wants to hire me and is adamant about having me personally write their copy, I either refuse the work or charge an extra fee for that. And it's not cheap.

In short, I'm expensive and I purposefully raise that entry barrier because I want to discourage those who prefer to have me write for them.

That aside, if a project comes along that I would love to write copy for, and the job would be fun for me to do it myself, I'll take it. But those are few and far between these days.

There's another side to this...

A cool cat recently found me on here and asked me to kick down some extra work (that I can't take on.)

Of course, I don't kick down - unless I know you're legit. So I'm involving him on a project. (Not to use his copy, but give him the chance to write for me "as if.")

I could see him being ready to take on clients I can't, soon. He's good. But again, I would never take money from a client, put this cat to work... and try to pass it off as my own.

Here's something else...

My best work comes out when I've done tons of research, collaboration and note-taking... then unplugging and waiting for inspiration to whack me over the head (which it always does.)

If I farmed out the collaboration or research... I'm pretty sure my work would suffer and I'd end up leaving a lot of money on the table.

There are so many reasons NOT to have other people do you work - above and beyond the integrity of it.

For me...

There are no shortcuts to writing effective copy.

Mark

P.S. On the other hand, having someone else to collbaorate and brainstorm with is always welcome.

I like your approach Mark, and I very much respect your willingness to throw someone who's just starting out a bone.

In fact, I think this business has something of a responsibility to support itself with partnerships, mentorships, and training programs for newbies.

Have you considered developing your own Mentor Program?

It's always a thought.