Comments on: Giving What’s Expected

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:50:00 +0000

Likewise, Kristen! You amaze me with your abilities and your energy.

Amanda, I couldn't do any less, either. They're buying skills. We have to provide them with the best we can for their money. Period.

Jennifer, I'm about to talk with a client here in a minute. I'm going to ask them about the copy they have and what's not working for them. It's obvious something isn't sitting well with them, so I want to make sure I understand what they don't want as much as what they do want. Great suggestion.

By: Kristen King

Kristen King — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:21:00 +0000

Lori, you are a class act and that's why I love to refer people to you. I know that you would never do what this firm did. I am also disgusted on behalf of your client!

You said it just right with this: "I'm interested in delivering what they want in a way that makes them look like experts."

Jennifer, I think your approach to rewrites is perfect.

Amanda, that would make me mad, too! Seems like the nicest clients get taken advantage of. Lucky for them there are people like you out there. :)

Kristen

By: Jennifer Williamson

Jennifer Williamson — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:19:00 +0000

Whenever I do a rewrite, I treat it like a from-scratch job: I interview the client, get a sense of what they do and their main selling points, and ask them what they like and don’t like about their current copy. Simply changing words around for no reason is pointless. When I first started I charged less for rewrites, but now I realize it’s just as much work–and the original copy might not include key aspects of their business that need to be featured.

By: Amanda Nicole

Amanda Nicole — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:50:00 +0000

One of my regular clients will assign me a website to re-write every now and then, and it's obvious they were all originally done by the same person (I won't even call that person a copywriter). The copy is SO BAD, and this client is SO NICE, that it makes me angry to know that there are weasels out there who will take advantage of someone else, produce horrific work, and call themselves a writer. This client also pays well, and to think that that other person may have been paid the same amount as me really boils me blood.

I definitely go above and beyond for this client, if not just because he's such a great client, then for the fact that I don't want him have low opinion of all writers.