Email Copy Quote for a Newbie - What to Price?

10 replies
Hey guys,

I was propositioned by a CEO friend of mine asking what I would charge for an eblast for her [billions in sales!!] tech company. I have never written copy but I am heading in that direction. I have not yet asked for specific details, mostly because I am not sure yet how I want to go about responding to her.

My personal concerns are that 1) I don't want to sound unprofessional in my response, 2) I do not want to over or under charge her, and 3) I have no experience in copywriting to back anything up, and 4) I want to do a fantastic job for her if she hires me. She does have full-time staff who write for her, so I'm guessing she is either looking for a cheaper route or a new angle given that I am part of her target clientele.

Friends (not in the writing business at all) have suggested that I offer something for free in exchange for "potential" work or a review of my services that I can promote. I think that idea could backfire; most people do not value what they can obtain for free.

Suggestions?

I will also take any links/books about writing email copy you may offer. I'm reading up on copyblogger now about it - Email Marketing Essentials: The Keys to Email Marketing that Works | Copyblogger

Thanks!
#copy #eblast #email #newbie #price
  • Profile picture of the author LexiB
    Originally Posted by lynnswayze View Post

    I have never written copy but I am heading in that direction. 3) I have no experience in copywriting to back anything up, and
    I edited your quote and only left the important parts.

    Based on what you wrote above, why are you offering (or why did she ask) to write copy for this person?

    I guess people will give you suggestions on books to read, videos to watch, blogs to study or whatever, but the fact remains that if you know nothing about copywriting (and you admitted that yourself), you shouldn't be writing copy for anyone other than yourself.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7837563].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author lynnswayze
      1) Because I am a freelance writer and this is what I am listed as on LinkedIN
      2) I believe because I am her target audience (CompTIA certificate holders).

      I did not offer. She asked what I charged for writing something.

      Thanks!
      Signature

      ____________________________
      Direct Response Copywriter
      http://lynnswayze.com

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7837599].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author LexiB
        Originally Posted by lynnswayze View Post

        1) Because I am a freelance writer and this is what I am listed as on LinkedIN
        2) I believe because I am her target audience (CompTIA certificate holders).

        I did not offer. She asked what I charged for writing something.

        Thanks!
        So with no experience in copywriting, you are going to try to write copy for what seems to be a pretty big company because "this is what I am listed as on LinkedIn?"

        I'd do what Raydal says. Find a copywriter with great reviews and broker the deal.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7838357].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author deezn
          Originally Posted by LexiB View Post

          So with no experience in copywriting, you are going to try to write copy for what seems to be a pretty big company because "this is what I am listed as on LinkedIn?"

          I'd do what Raydal says. Find a copywriter with great reviews and broker the deal.
          Also because it's her friend.

          Which tells me the CEO/Friend might not have high expectations.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7838747].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author LexiB
            Originally Posted by deezn View Post

            Also because it's her friend.

            Which tells me the CEO/Friend might not have high expectations.
            Which makes it even more of a problem. Even if she does it for free for a testimonial or some referrals, she doesn't know anything about copywriting (according to her) so what would she do with the referrals. The testimonial would make the CEO look foolish because (her own words) she knows nothing about copywriting.

            When people try to teach/charge for something they know nothing about, nothing good comes out of it.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7839090].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    I think it would work out better for you in the long run if
    you indicated that you do not write email copy. But to
    try and learn a skill to satisfy a request is indeed a
    gigantic undertaking. If you still think you want to
    keep the job then find out where you can outsource
    the work and maybe work as a middle-man.

    Or, try your best and write the copy and get it
    professionally critiqued.

    -Ray Edwards
    Signature
    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7838232].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
    I'm just learning myself but when it comes to email copy, the subject is going to be pretty darn important.

    Most people get so much freaking email in their inbox today. They usually will scan for two things:

    1) Email from people they know (family, friends, coworkers, boss, etc...)

    Once that is done and only once that is done they'll move on to:

    2) Email which has catchy subject lines

    Even if you craft the most brilliant email copy, if you don't get a good open rate, everything else you just worked so hard on may as well have wound up in a roach infested, rat haven, New York City Sewer.

    As far as the other stuff, as I said, I'm just now learning the technical (I've wrote my own copy for my own products and been in sales all my life, so this is a natural transition) in order to write for others.

    I, personally, think with some hard work and some critiques from the more experienced people here think you can do it. How much support you will find here though, depends upon how the wind blows.

    I've been lurking for a long time and sometimes people are friendly, other times people are hostile to people in your situation.

    As long as you get guided in the right direction and put your heart and soul into it, I believe you can do it. Everyone has to start somewhere and sometimes the best way to learn how to swim is to jump feet first into the deep end. As long as an experienced swimmer is on the standby to give you a hand if needed.

    Good luck either way.
    Signature
    "When you do something exactly wrong, you always turn up something."
    -Andy Warhol
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7838438].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Joan Altz
    Pressure is sometimes the best teacher. PLENTY of professionals began their career teetering on the edge of incompetency. Your lack of copywriting knowledge, plain writing, and knowledge of CompTIA certs may be EXACTLY what pushes the right buttons.

    Ask her what click-through rate would make her ecstatic. Tell her you charge $600 up front and if you meet or exceed her ecstatic rate, an additional $600 plus contract to do 3 more for $1200 each.

    Lock and Load.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7844906].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author verial
    If this CEO is really a friend of yours, why are you spending so much time calculating how to act?

    Do you realize that this job opportunity came because of your relationship with the CEO and not because you're seen as a professional copywriter?

    If you were a CEO, would you want your friend going to an internet forum to ask for advice on how to get the most money out of you?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7845010].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bluewatersailor
    [QUOTE=lynnswayze;7837531]I was propositioned by a CEO friend of mine asking what I would charge for an eblast for her [billions in sales!!] tech company. I have never written copy but I am heading in that direction./QUOTE]

    A few things to consider:

    1) Copywriting is a highly-skilled profession. You wouldn't expect to be able to repair a Ferrari simply because a friend of yours asked you to give them a quote on doing so, would you?

    2) Not saying that you're doing this, but - an unscrupulous person might think "heck, I'll just write something and get paid. How would they ever know if it's good or not?" Welcome to the modern world of A/B split tests, controls, and metrics. A billion-dollar company will have someone with a clue, and they will know exactly how ineffective your copy is, and that's going to cause people to start asking uncomfortable questions.

    3) Your CEO friend is doing a foolish thing, and you will be harming her, and probably yourself, if you help her to do it. Whatever her personal friendships, she has a fiscal responsibility to the company - and if she pays an unskilled amateur to do a professional job, with essentially a guaranteed failure as a result, she is likely to be held responsible for doing so. Possible repercussions include her being fired, you being sued for misrepresentation... I'm pretty sure you can write your own ending to that story.

    Word to the wise: when you play in the big leagues, the stakes become non-trivial. Take it from a guy who spent a number of years dealing with large-scale corporate politics, for whatever that's worth.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7845993].message }}

Trending Topics