Offering free copywriting critiques a good idea?

It's a good technique for getting clients if you're new. I'd recommend picking up Rick D's report on the subject here: Special Report Reveals: How to Get Copywriting Dream Clients | CopyRanger.com

Good luck.
-Cam

I would advocate prospecting/pitching over free critiques. Much more bang for your buck.

I'd advise you to ignore anyone who assumes you can do this with no expertise. If they think that's possible, they probably don't have enough experience themselves to know any better.

Agreed. People looking for free critiques are usually doing so because they either don't have any money or don't want to invest it.

This is closely tied to the question of whether to write on spec or not.
And copywriters are divided on this issue. Many say, "No", and others
claim that they picked up great clients by first writing on spec. I guess
to each his own.

But from my experience, you are more likely to get clients by offering
critiques as a lower end service and those clients asking for your
writing services than starting at the free line. The downside of offering
free services is that you are investing your time and talent but the
prospect has no investment and so don't even have to follow
your advice because they got it for free. And if they do pay for
your services they compare this to what they got for free and
evaluate in their mind if what they paid for is worth the additional
services you provided.

-Ray Edwards

You're all absolutely right. It seems like the prospecting/pitching Jennifer mentioned would be a lot better. Thanks, everyone.

I'm torn on the subject... because offering free critiques over the last 14 years has put a ton of money in my pockets.

but, you gotta set it up so that once you offer the critique, you're also the solution to the problem you've pointed out.

For most sales letters I critique, I can usually find a huge problem in the headline or lead... so I'll make that the basis of the critique.

I don't educate the client on why a great headline is needed... if you have to educate a client on stuff like that... they're probably not a good client.

But, you can use critiques as a way to get paid clients rather easily, while also offering them value.

So, you mention how their headline, subhead, lead, etc.... is not good, or whatever part of their letter needs work.

Stick with ONE thing in the crit... hammer home one big problem they need to fix.

Why do more during a free critique... you can show them how that one thing is preventing them from increasing sales.

And explain HOW it's hurting their sales... show proof or case studies.

Then, you can offer your copywriting as their solution they need to fix that problem. Again, offer proof that you can help them, and show them the proof of how you've helped similar clients.

But if done right, free critiques that take you all of 5 minutes can lead to thousands in business. Out of the 100 or so crits I've done over the years, more than 3/4 turned to paying work.

But only after I offered value, showed them their one big problem, showed why I could help and was their best solution, proved it, and then closed and asked for a sale.

So, I'm always torn between doing ANYTHING for free... but for me, a 5 minute crit has turned into thousands of copy work, over and over.

The big problem most copywriters do, they spill all their candy in the lobby and give away WAY too much on a free crit. If it's paid, that's one thing... but if it's free... offer just ONE problem they need to address, and then position yourself as the one who can fix it.

So, if done right... it's free, but can lead to a lot of business.

I kind of see it like all the product launches that offer up some free content at first, to prove you know your shit and can help them get what they want. A free crit could be the same thing as that first piece of free content in a product launch... but you MUST have a system for converting the free crit into a paid piece.

I've had a few VERY well known copywriters do free critiques for me, when I first started in business in 2001. And these copywriters are doing very well now.

so, a free crit in which you spill your guts... not worth it. And a free crit in which you don't try and close for a sale, if you can help them... again, not worth it.

but, if you can genuinely help them, and see glaring problems you know you can fix... then a free crit can easily be turned into a paid piece very quickly... so that it's win-win.