Here’s a bit of 1957 cartoon wisdom for beginner freelance copywriters:
It comes from a Popeye cartoon, in which Popeye has just opened up a shiny new diner.
But then, his archenemy Bluto pulls up with a fancy food truck right across the street.
“You gotta move that thing,” says Popeye.
“A little competition never hurt nobody,” barks Bluto.
They’re about to come to fisticuffs when a potential new customer strolls down the street.
It’s J. Wellington Wimpy, the penniless moocher who pretends to be high class.
Wimpy sits down at Bluto’s food truck. “I’ll have a hamburger, for which I will gladly pay you Tuesday,” says Wimpy in his aristocratic tone.
“One hamburger coming up!” says Bluto.
But then Popeye gets in there, and steals Wimpy away. “I’ll have a generous portion of baked beans, for which I will gladly pay you Tuesday,” says Wimpy again, except this time to Popeye.
“Baked beans, coming right up!” says Popeye.
The rest of the cartoon goes on like this, with Bluto and Popeye constantly sabotaging and one-upping each other.
They eventually get into a fight, throwing barrels, stovetops, pork legs, and cakes at each other.
Meanwhile Wimpy the moocher sits by and eats their food, never paying and never intending to pay.
Maybe you see why I bring this up.
It’s pretty similar to the situation a lot of beginner freelancers find themselves in.
They roll out the red carpet for Wimpy clients, who “will gladly pay Tuesday” but want the work done today.
They find themselves in under-bidding food fights with other freelancers who desperately want to attract the same fake-aristocrat moochers.
And when it all comes to nothing — and how could it not, with a Wimpy client — they have no alternative but to blame the competition.
It doesn’t have to be like this.
As I mentioned over the past coupla days, I’m putting together a group where I help newbie freelance copywriters to get successful.
If you’re interested in participating, all you gotta do is let me know.
You can send me an email, or throw a leg of pork my way.
Either way, I’ll follow up with you to see how your copy diner is cooking, and how I could help you run it better.