Comments on: 15 little secrets your freelance clients won’t tell you http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets Copywriting Tips for Smart Copywriters Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:35:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Merryl Rosenthal http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets/comment-page-1#comment-3381 Merryl Rosenthal Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:26:28 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1351#comment-3381 Your post was spot on AND laugh-out-loud funny. Thanks for that. (By the way: being female, I prefer to say "copy rules" and "sales rep"--I'm a big fan of writing that's gender neutral.) Cheers. :) Your post was spot on AND laugh-out-loud funny.
Thanks for that.

(By the way: being female, I prefer to say
“copy rules” and “sales rep”–I’m a big fan of
writing that’s gender neutral.)

Cheers. :)

]]> By: Dean Rieck http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets/comment-page-1#comment-2170 Dean Rieck Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:49:56 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1351#comment-2170 Brian: Start a spreadsheet or get QuickBooks to track your projects. Brian:
Start a spreadsheet or get QuickBooks to track your projects.

]]> By: Brian http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets/comment-page-1#comment-2169 Brian Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:39:09 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1351#comment-2169 If I don't send the invoice with the copy, I'm going to forget about it (for non-long-term contracts, those get billed monthly). Sorry you're just going to have to deal with it; I always include a nice note to let me know if you need any changes. If I don’t send the invoice with the copy, I’m going to forget about it (for non-long-term contracts, those get billed monthly). Sorry you’re just going to have to deal with it; I always include a nice note to let me know if you need any changes.

]]> By: P.S. Jones http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets/comment-page-1#comment-2168 P.S. Jones Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:11:23 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1351#comment-2168 I'm am often guilty of not answering calls because I hate talking on the phone! But it's rude to ignore someone who's hired me and so I've had to make an effort to make/answer calls whenever the client wants it. I’m am often guilty of not answering calls because I hate talking on the phone! But it’s rude to ignore someone who’s hired me and so I’ve had to make an effort to make/answer calls whenever the client wants it.

]]> By: Freelance Writing Jobs for March 5, 2010 : Freelance Writing Jobs for Web and Print| Part of the Freelance Writing Jobs Blog Network http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets/comment-page-1#comment-2166 Freelance Writing Jobs for March 5, 2010 : Freelance Writing Jobs for Web and Print| Part of the Freelance Writing Jobs Blog Network Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:01:12 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1351#comment-2166 [...] 15 Little Secrets Your Freelance Writing Clients Won’t Tell YOu at ProCopyTips [...] [...] 15 Little Secrets Your Freelance Writing Clients Won’t Tell YOu at ProCopyTips [...]

]]> By: Andrew B http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets/comment-page-1#comment-2059 Andrew B Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:49:43 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1351#comment-2059 I think you forgot one: "I'd like you to do all the writing and heavy lifting -- the outline, the research, the fact-checking. Then I'll take your well-written copy and edit it myself." In 20+ years in the business, I've had this happen countless times. More often than not, it's motivated by nothing more than ego. I generally don't have a problem with that, as the offender is usually the one paying the bills. I get it. But when a semi-literate executive or business owner hacks it to pieces, messes with flow and rhythm, changes the meaning, or introduces spelling or grammatical errors, I'm ready to go on a three-state killing spree. I think you forgot one: “I’d like you to do all the writing and heavy lifting — the outline, the research, the fact-checking. Then I’ll take your well-written copy and edit it myself.”

In 20+ years in the business, I’ve had this happen countless times.

More often than not, it’s motivated by nothing more than ego. I generally don’t have a problem with that, as the offender is usually the one paying the bills. I get it.

But when a semi-literate executive or business owner hacks it to pieces, messes with flow and rhythm, changes the meaning, or introduces spelling or grammatical errors, I’m ready to go on a three-state killing spree.

]]> By: Joshua Guffey http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets/comment-page-1#comment-2055 Joshua Guffey Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:10:27 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1351#comment-2055 You make some pretty damn good points here Dean! I've been guilty of a couple of those things in the past. Best you can do is learn and move on, right? -@JoshuaGuffey .-= Joshua Guffey's last blog ... <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JoshuaGuffeysBlogFeed/~3/z5iruudYB4c/" rel="nofollow">Commented on “Mashable – The Social Media Guide”</a> =-. You make some pretty damn good points here Dean! I’ve been guilty of a couple of those things in the past. Best you can do is learn and move on, right?

-@JoshuaGuffey
.-= Joshua Guffey’s last blog … Commented on “Mashable – The Social Media Guide” =-.

]]> By: Chrystal @ Happy Mothering http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets/comment-page-1#comment-1978 Chrystal @ Happy Mothering Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:37:12 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1351#comment-1978 I have been lucky to work with a lot of talented designers. I find that the collaboration between design and copy is key to delivering the ideal communications piece. I actually prefer to talk to the designer BEFORE I start writing to see if they have a vision for the look and feel. I find that it helps me shape the messaging. .-= Chrystal @ Happy Mothering's last blog ... <a href="http://www.happy-mothering.com/2010/03/raising-a-child-with-dairy-allergies.html" rel="nofollow">Raising a Child with Dairy Allergies</a> =-. I have been lucky to work with a lot of talented designers. I find that the collaboration between design and copy is key to delivering the ideal communications piece. I actually prefer to talk to the designer BEFORE I start writing to see if they have a vision for the look and feel. I find that it helps me shape the messaging.
.-= Chrystal @ Happy Mothering’s last blog … Raising a Child with Dairy Allergies =-.

]]> By: Dean Rieck http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets/comment-page-1#comment-1977 Dean Rieck Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:55:04 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1351#comment-1977 CS: You have a point. But I think "copy is king" should be revised to "communication is king." Copy and design have to work together. I only discovered this after suffering years of designers disemboweling my copy then teaching myself design and discovering that good design can dramatically boost response. I suppose I could write another article on what copywriters are thinking about designers, but I only had that one seed from the island. :) CS:
You have a point. But I think “copy is king” should be revised to “communication is king.” Copy and design have to work together. I only discovered this after suffering years of designers disemboweling my copy then teaching myself design and discovering that good design can dramatically boost response. I suppose I could write another article on what copywriters are thinking about designers, but I only had that one seed from the island. :)

]]> By: CS http://www.procopytips.com/freelance-client-secrets/comment-page-1#comment-1976 CS Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:36:50 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1351#comment-1976 "Stop dissing my designer." I actually remember the days when "copy was king"...so I've been around for a while! In today's age of flash design, you-tube and the "no one reads anymore" mantra, I find the reverse true more often. I wish designers and clients would follow this advice re: respecting what a strong sales writer can bring to the table. At least 2-3 times a week I see ads from employers/agencies in my area seeking graphic designers or website developers with a long list of required software/tech skills, followed by the last bullet point as an afterthought: "write all the direct mail, web and other copy." Or designers who see copy as an annoying distraction that ruins their design...which usually translates to lots of teeny, reversed-out body copy that fails to sell the product. It's a real challenge to stay diplomatic sometimes... :) “Stop dissing my designer.” I actually remember the days when “copy was king”…so I’ve been around for a while! In today’s age of flash design, you-tube and the “no one reads anymore” mantra, I find the reverse true more often. I wish designers and clients would follow this advice re: respecting what a strong sales writer can bring to the table.

At least 2-3 times a week I see ads from employers/agencies in my area seeking graphic designers or website developers with a long list of required software/tech skills, followed by the last bullet point as an afterthought: “write all the direct mail, web and other copy.”

Or designers who see copy as an annoying distraction that ruins their design…which usually translates to lots of teeny, reversed-out body copy that fails to sell the product.

It’s a real challenge to stay diplomatic sometimes… :)

]]>