It feels so good standing before a prospective client — especially one who has decided to continue their business journey with you as part of their team, working with a client — and call yourself a “professional writer.”
You see, your prospect is a professional who knows his business and market like the back of his hand… while you know and understand the skills, secrets, and techniques of attracting and winning customers for him.
However, if you lack self-confidence as a newbie, you may start feeling intimidated if you’re working with someone who’s knowledgeable about the ins and outs of copywriting.
But working with a client who knows a bit about copywriting can be what you need to help accelerate your growth and open you up to other opportunities. And in fact, it can help you grow faster both professionally and personally.
All you have to do is see the positive aspects of the opportunity. It can actually be a blessing, especially for newer writers.
After reading this article, if you meet a client who knows your craft or you’re already involved in a project with one, just use these tips to enjoy working with them, and get the best out of your relationship.
So let’s look at the four advantages of working with a client who knows copywriting…
1. Working with a client who knows copywriting makes your work easier
Because the client already knows some bits or basics of the work, they will:
- provide the information you need to do a good job,
- understand and appreciate quality work from you when they see it.
- understand a challenge you’re facing when you mention it.
- not argue with your well-deserved fees.
You can imagine working with people who don’t appreciate the value of the quality work you bring to the table, because they don’t know what it takes to produce it… people who just think of your hard-produced copy as just as a bunch of random text dropped into a Word doc.
Prospects like these are the kind that would give you 48 hours to produce a white paper, a web page, and up to three email pieces, altogether. And would be expecting excellent-performing work pieces!
I bet you that clients like that don’t know what it takes to produce quality writing.
2. It keeps you on your toes professionally
That’s because it pushes you to always give your best. And I’m sure that’s what you already try to do. This kind of client just inspires a little bit more.
And that helps you grow faster and better.
You’ll have to push yourself to be better than you are — and than they are — because you’re the designated copywriter.
And what this does to you more… is that the subconscious training you receive from operating at your best and pushing yourself forward with your client reflects into your daily life in other areas you might not expect.
You are building your resilience muscle. And that muscle can take you very far.
3. It helps you see the need to keep improving personally
Getting red-lined documents back can cut into your confidence if you choose to look at it that way.
But what if you chose to learn and grow from that feedback?
It can push you to keep closing the gap between where you are and where you want to be. As your writing gets better and better, you’ll gain personal and professional confidence.
And it will ensure your client stays pleased with your support and continues to use your services.
If they continuously have to give you the same feedback, without a sense that you’re using that feedback to grow and improve, you could lose them. It’s frustrating for a marketer to have to make the same comments each project!
The best copywriters look at the changes and corrections and make note of them, so they can avoid making the same mistake twice. Be a continual learner and your client will really appreciate your improved performance.
So now you’ll know that personal improvement is definitely needed on your part to keep that relationship going smooth and keep that client with you.
You will have to now learn to be secure in yourself — if you weren’t in the first place.
And that personal security will do you good not only in the professional world, but personally, and extend financially and to other unexpected areas of your life.
4. It makes your value clearer without much hype
Have you met prospects — businesspeople — who don’t really know the value of copywriting…
… Those who have their businesses online and believe in just assigning one of their staff to produce very boring and substandard web copy and slap it on their site…
And who won’t give you attention when you try to reach them?
I met a prospect like this some years ago and I didn’t like the experience.
If you meet a prospect like this, since they don’t really know the value of a copywriter, it’s not going to be easy communicating your value to them, and they are not likely to pay you what you’re worth or appreciate the timelines under which you have to work.
That’s why working with someone who knows copywriting, and understands its importance, is a much more valuable client… Allowing you to focus on producing the best work pieces and getting sensible pay.
Rounding up
So remember on your client-hunting or career-building journey, if you meet a prospect who knows copywriting, they can be a boatload of blessings, rather than a challenge.
The only challenge may be the push to be better than you currently are, faster than you planned (which is also a good thing)… and the push for you to develop stronger self-confidence.
There are many benefits to having a client who knows a bit of what you know. Or maybe even as well as you know. It makes your work easier, keeps you on your feet professionally, helps you improve personally, and helps your client understand your value — without you needing to sound your trumpet.
Any questions on today’s issue? Please share in the comments below. We’d be happy to answer them for you.
