A few days ago, I got carried away.
A potential new client contacted me. “Would you like to write daily emails for us?” he asked.
“Sure I would,” I said. “And I’d like to do more than that for you.”
Then I threw in a kitchen-sinkful of copywriting and marketing services I could provide along with the daily emails. The problem was that at this early stage, I didn’t really know what this client’s actual needs are. In other words, I was pitching instead of selling, as Ben Settle puts it.
Normally, I don’t get this needy or clingy.
But sometimes, it gets away from me.
A few days after this happened, I read something related by direct response copywriter Jason Leister.
I think it’s an important reminder for all copywriters, including myself, who can get carried away when a great new opportunity appears on the horizon. Jason writes:
“Over the years, I’ve come to hire clients very slowly. If you work with clients, consider hiring them SLOWLY. (You are hiring them, remember that. You’re in the driver’s seat of your business, not anyone else. They’ve got the “money” but you have the thing for which they are willing to part with that money. Money is everywhere, YOU are not.)”
Jason then describes what this means practically in his business.
I think it’s worthwhile reading for all freelance copywriters.
If you want to read Jason’s complete email including the practical bits, simply write me and I can forward it to you. Or you can head over to Jason’s site, where he publishes his daily emails with a few days’ delay. Here’s the link: