You can learn about the report I mentioned at:

http://www.getclientsreport.com

Ryan

Interesting story…I’ve had similar experiences and they can be awfully frustrating, but when it comes down to it – we as copywriters just gotta do our job and let them do theirs.

I recommend things to my clients all the time that I am absolutely certain would make them more money and increase conversion rates, but if they don’t follow through with it, that’s their loss.

By the way, you mentioned a report about getting copywriting clients but I couldn’t seem to find it anywhere. Could you pass on the link?

Jennifer – Thanks for relating your story. I actually attended my caucus on February 5. But before I did, I read as much as I could about the process, how to become a precinct captain, etc. I did NOT want a watered down page; I wanted nitty-gritty details. As you said, I bet the longer copy would’ve worked better.

Cheryl – I agree. Best to learn your lesson and move on. No sense trying to change the past.

Ken – I price based on the project and the value I deliver. I don’t really have a rate card, although I have a general idea of what I’d like to make on an hourly basis. Sometimes you can find out what the going rate is simply by asking the client. Most clients are honest and will tell you. I did that recently with a client for whom I wrote a full-page space ad for the New York Times. I also provide more advice on pricing in my report about how to get copywriting clients.

Perry – Asking the right questions during the interview is critical. Thanks for pointing that out. And I’m glad you like the new blog theme. Thanks!

Thanks for the illuminating post. I’ve found the more I interview clients the better I get at it. But invariably, I find I miss things and need contact them again for more info.

As far as testing goes, it seems like a no-brainer. But if the ads already generate a profit, it may seem like over-kill to the client to test and tweak to gain small gains in response.

If they aren’t smart enough to realize a 1% gain in response is a big jump in profit, then I suppose it’s too bad. Most clients I’ve worked with don’t really seem to understand that one.

Amazing.

P.S. I love the new look. Great job.

Honestly, your story scares me a bit; I fear greatly even making further investment in freelance writing for this one reason: hours spent crafting something a client will simply ignore.

But I’ve been meaning to ask you a question for a couple weeks, and this spurs me to it…

I recently wrote an exceptionally strong DM-style email to an agency director in Kansas City in response to an article he published in Catalog Success magazine.

He replied within minutes, asking me for more writing samples and a rate card.

You may remember I told you some weeks back that I now write full-time for Sonlight Curriculum. I love it here, and hope to stay a long time. But I also have loads of personal time available, and would like to go more formally into some side work to supplement my income. My question is simple:

How do I work up a rate card? Are there generally accepted formats (ie, what items are listed, how much detail, any special considerations, etc)? How do I find out what rates are competitive without being “cheap.?”

Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

Write on,

Ken Grindall

A similar situation happened to me recently too. I won’t go into details because I don’t want this to turn into a “client bashing” series of posts, because I think that detracts from the main “lesson” you were talking about – and that is, every copywriter at some point or other is going to run into times when the client doesn’t like your work, doesn’t want to listen to your advice, or doesn’t communicate what s/he wants.

As you, Jennifer, and Joseph all pointed out, sometimes all you can do when you have a bad experience with a client is to use it as a learning lesson.

Figure out what didn’t work and why and see if there’s a way you can use it proactively with your next client. Maybe create a better creative brief or ask additional questions.

But don’t take it personally and don’t let it get you down or stop you from trying to do your best with the next client too.