A Message from Kelly

Welcome to The Copywriting Connection! Today we are looking at how you present copy to clients. Should you send them an email and say "here you go, get back to me" or is it better to meet in person and review everything step by step? Read this week's feature article to learn what works best for you and your client.

I had several emails from readers of last week's issue on copywriters getting work on Craig's list. In addition to getting work, evidently copywriters are meeting and hiring graphic designers and web people there too! If you haven't checked out Craig's list yet you may be missing a big boat.

Next Monday, I am going to the Democratic National Convention here in Denver with my daughter Shelby. There is an event for 13-15 year olds to meet and speak to politicians on issues that are important to them. We are both excited to be part of the excitement in Denver. Being the proud mother I am, I was telling my mom how Shelby was selected to go and she says "Good luck getting down there. Half the streets are going to be closed and there's no parking." I hadn't thought about that one (thanks mom). I'll let you know next week how it goes.

Happy Copywriting!

Kelly

Three tips on how to present copy to clients

You've spent two weeks working hard on the copy. You've researched the product, you know the target audience like the back of your hand, you've evaluated the competition. You written, rewritten and edited until there's nothing left unexamined. You feel comfortable this is the best you can do without feedback from the client. It's time to present it.

What's the best way to present your work so the client understands why you did what you did but still gives them space and time to evaluate it on their own?

Let's take a look at three tips for presenting your first draft of copy to your client.

1. Sending it via email. Email is the preferred method of communication for many freelance copywriters. Not only are many clients out of town and a physical meeting is impossible, but for the most part we work with word documents and making changes in electronic form are easier and more natural to send back and forth online rather than via fax.
   
   When you are done writing the copy and ready to send it off, take a minute and imagine you are the client. How are they going to perceive your email and the work you've done? Do you need a nice cover for it? A short explanation in the email of what you tried to accomplish, what you are asking for from them, and what the next steps are? Should you call them first to let them know it's done and ask them how they'd like to have it presented?
   
   
2. Review the first draft over the phone together. Sometimes the best thing to do is walk your client through the initial draft together. Rather than sending off the email and having them read through it alone, it can be helpful to walk them through why you did what and explain things, then let them read the detail-by-detail copy in their own time.
   
   
3. Present hard copies of the content in person. Some clients prefer and will ask (or expect) for a more formal presentation. If this is the case you may consider having a professional cover done at Kinko's or another copy store. A clear plastic cover is fine. Ask your client how many copies you should bring ahead of time. Also ask if they'd like you to present anything on PowerPoint or overheads (you never know). Be sure to dress professionally and be prepared to "talk" through your draft. You may practice this at home, especially the introduction and conclusion, before your appointment.

Presenting copy to clients can be a key factor in their approving (or not approving) the work you've done. The important thing is you ASK what's expected of you and what they'd prefer. Don't just assume shooting off an email and declaring "I'm done – here you go" is going to meet their expectations.

© The Copywriting Connection. All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article for your e-zine or web site? No problem! Just let us know at support@thecopywritinginstitute. We'll send you a short bio to include at the end of the article.

Copywriters Challenge

We challenge you to beef up your presentation style for presenting copy to clients. How are you doing it now and what can you improve?

Word of the Week

This week's word of the week is circumlocution [sur-kuhm-loh-kyoo-shuhn]. Circumlocution means a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; or the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.

Tools for your Success

GotoMeeting - An easy to use online meeting solution where you can hold a training session, have a meeting, give a sales presentation, etc. GotoMeeting makes it easy to share what is on your screen allowing your online meeting to run smooth anytime or anywhere.

Special Offer

New E-coaching Program at The Copywriting Institute

Coaching for Writers -- Get started today for just $1

The freelance copywriter's e-coaching program divides up starting and running a profitable freelance copywriting business into manageable chunks. We delve into one topic in great depth each week, giving you time to master and implement the idea before you start on a new one. This coaching program is unique because you work at your own pace, mastering one business building topic at a time.

Writing Courses 

Here are a few of the things we'll cover in the freelance copywriting e-coaching program....

• How much to charge
• Why treating your copywriting like a business and not a hobby is important
• How to have a prosperity mindset
• Growing your business with teleseminars
• Why Podcasts are important
• Blogging
• Upselling your services
• Packaging and bundling your services to increase revenues
• Identifying self-sabotaging behaviors that derail your success
• Creating a professional image
• Hiring a support staff
• Why YOU should hire your clients, not the other way around
• What you control in your business and what you don't
• The seventeen most effective client attraction strategies for freelance copywriters
• How to activate inactive clients
• How to add thousands of "extra" dollars to your copywriting business each year
• Creating passive income streams
• How to avoid the most common mistakes new copywriters make
• How to productize your copywriting business
• How to double or triple the amount your average client spends

This 52 week e-coaching program gives you affordable coaching from an experienced copywriter and entrepreneur once a week for a year – straight to your inbox.

Work at your own pace.
Implement and master one business – building concept at a time
Get started today for only $1!

Register now: www.freelancecopywriterecoaching.com

All content is copyrighted© 2008
The Copywriting Institute
A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of A Marketing Connection, Inc.
All rights reserved
303-460-0285
support@thecopywritinginstitute.com