Oooh! It makes me MAD! (Rant)

Hi Chris,

I believe I agree with this to an extent. To me, a copywriter's job is to make the client happy - and to help them improve their business through writing.

So I disagree where you say who gives a **** how many they sell. If I hired someone to write and consult for me, and they just went along with my ideas to make me happy only to have my business suffer, what kind of copywriter/consultant is that?

If I'm consulting for a client, and I know writing in a certain fashion will hurt their business, I'm going to make sure they're well aware and do my best to talk them towards a different solution.

However, I agree with the fact that I don't have any control over the other aspects.. marketing and what not. And ultimately, after listening to my advice, if the client still wants me to write copy in backwards gibberish, I would do it. It is their money after all. However, I would first make sure they fully understand how that would negatively affect their sales.

And I also agree that egos have no place with truly professional copywriters- or anywhere professional for that matter.

Gotta disagree with the premise here.

As a professional copywriter, you SHOULD give a **** if your client sells 10 bananas or 10,000,000 as a result of your copy.

It's a matter of professional pride. Or it should be.

Yes, you can't always make clients see the light. And, yes, ultimately, there's a point past which - if you want to get paid - you accept the inevitable, write to the client's requirements, cash your check, and get on with your life.

But EVERY ONE of my repeat clients (and my business is 99% repeat clients) are repeat clients BECAUSE I had a better idea that allowed them to sell more.

They know that when they want to sell, I'm their go-to resource for making it happen. My clients don't just use me to write; they use me to brainstorm, come up with fresh approaches, bounce ideas off of, and help clarify their ideas. They see me as a resource to help them succeed, not just "a writer".

And, yes - I very much consider myself "a professional" (not a con-artist).

Moreover, I believe my first job is NOT to think like my client.

My first job is to think like my client's prospect.

If I think just like my client, they don't need me. There's no reason for my services. I'm merely an echo.

However, many people in business are so close to their own product or service, they can't see their product or service like their client sees it.

That's MY job. That's why they need me.

My second job is make the client happy. And if that means accepting that the client doesn't want to see through any perspective other than his own (and I have somehow missed that in the screening process), then so be it.

I state my case, do the job, and move on. Life is too short.

You make some good points about ranting on a client publicly. And the general wimpiness trend. Still, vis a vis posting the work in question here:

To be a valid comparison, asafaria would have to post both versions.

I wouldn't post a client's work (my version or not; client identified or not) in a public forum. There are lots of lurkers here.

Who's to say the client isn't among them?

(Which, of course, is another reason why you probably shouldn't rant about a client in the heat of the battle)

But, more to the point, most clients expect a certain basic level of confidentiality about their business when they deal with their copywriter. My clients certainly do.

Without my client's express permission, I would never post any drafts of their work publicly, for critique or otherwise.