Losing a client can be hard to handle — especially when you’re just starting out as a B2B writer and it’s the only one you have.
You may feel like your copywriting world is crashing.
And the experience can be a painful part of your journey. But sometimes, that loss is just what you need to grow, become open to better opportunities, and become the best you can be, both personally and professionally.
It’s not easy, but you may have to learn to deal with the fact that just as some people come and go in your life, some business relationships are not meant to be long-term.
I lost a client once, even though I offered my best, was enthusiastic about my work, and was honest and supportive. I just had to let go.
I learned to handle the pain and bounce back stronger.
So I can say that you too can do the same. And I’m here to show you how.
After reading this article, if you ever have to experience losing a client, you will not be overwhelmed.
Instead, you will be able to come back with a bounce in your step, be open to new opportunities, and have a chance to become a better version of yourself.
Here’s what you have to know and remember…
You Can’t Be a Right Fit for Every Client — and That’s Okay
I used to think that once you had acquired the skills through training and become a Verified™ copywriter, then you were automatically qualified to take on any client.
But let’s take a step back.
Going through training and earning a Verified™ Badge proves you have learned your craft and know how to handle projects, prospective clients, and work-life to some extent…
And if you’re friendly, enthusiastic, hard-working, and know how to handle both professional and personal relationships, then these are seriously huge advantages for you as well.
But I’ve gotten to understand that clients are very much human beings who have different characters, beliefs, priorities, and personalities.
Just like you can’t make every human being your friend, just like you will be closer to some and move away from other people, based on your priorities, personalities, and character…
That’s how it is with clients too.
Even as a seasoned, well-trained copywriter, you can’t be a right fit for every client.
Accepting this truth will give you strength to handle the loss of a client and open your mind to new opportunities.
When You Make a Mistake, Make a Much ‘Smarter’ Mistake Next Time
Also, you have to understand that even well-trained copywriters make mistakes from time to time.
It’s okay to make mistakes. And prepare your mind that no matter how good you are, there may still be mistakes waiting ahead of you in your copywriting journey. After all, no one is perfect.
But when you make a mistake, it helps when you take the time to deliberately learn from it, so the next time your new mistake will be ‘smarter’ than the last one.
For example, you write an article for your client and he complains of too much passive voice.
You want to edit personally — which is basically what you should do — and send it to him.
But this time, you take a couple of extra steps before sending it in.
You correct your sentences and words and use tools like the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Statistics and Grammarly to make sure you’re using more active voice. Then you have a friend read it out loud to you, so you can hear where it gets boring.
Or you give it to a more experienced copywriter to proofread the new draft.
The point here is, if you have to take one step to fix a mistake, take an extra step to excel and solidify your solution. And be sure to reflect on what you could have done to prevent the mistake, so it doesn’t happen again.
Don’t Let Others’ Unhealthy Perception of You Affect How You Value Yourself
Now, let’s settle something…
You can’t meet all client’s expectations. Many clients have different kinds of expectations and goals.
Some are reasonable and others are not. Some are demanding and harsh, others are not.
When you’re not meeting a client’s expectations, they may start looking at you with less value than you really have.
For example, you may be a trained and Certified email copywriter. But when a client sends you an email today, saying he wants 25 emails on a new product, and the deadline is tomorrow…
That’s not an expectation you can meet — and you don’t have to be ashamed of that.
However, since in his mind you’re not meeting his business needs, he may start looking at you with less value.
He may say it out loud or try to hide his thoughts. Either way, you may get the feeling you’ve failed at your number one mission.
But don’t let it get to you.
If you have tried to explain and work things out with him… and the results don’t change…
Then perhaps you should start considering working with a new client who sees your value, is satisfied with your level of input, and is more reasonable.
Conclusion
Losing a client can be a hard experience to deal with, especially as a fledgling writer, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your copywriting journey.
In fact, it can be an opportunity to create space for better client relationships, open you up to better opportunities, and become a better version of yourself.
Of course, one way to soften the blow of losing any client is to make sure your pipeline of new prospective clients is always full.
If you have replacements waiting in the wings, it will feel less painful if you were to lose a client. And you have better choices for which clients and projects to accept.
Keep up with your ongoing marketing activities, and you’ll have a consistent flow of potential clients on tap when you need to turn to them.
It’s much easier to bounce back from loss when you’re already in position to keep moving forward.
