Twas Two Days Before a Copywriter’s Christmas
It’s Sunday — two days before the blessed event, when everyone in Christian-dom celebrates Jesus’ birth.
I’ve never read anything that proved when Jesus was born, but somehow I guess the scholars have concluded it’s true.
This is a rather peculiar time of year for me, as I claim neither Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Muslim-ism or any other ‘ism’ for that matter.
But, I do enjoy the spirit of giving!
And do you notice how everyone’s just a little bit nicer to each other, during the holidays? (With the exception of pulling and tugging in the stores or fighting for the coveted parking places.) J
I’m a normally-giving person, though I’ve tried to learn some tight-ass business tactics to survive – which aren’t part of my true nature, really.
Well, seeing that I’m always prone to becoming infected with the Christmas Spirit, during the month of December … I’ve also operated in that Spirit with my clients this month.
For instance, I drastically-reduced my fee to accommodate the budgets of two new clients this month. And I also included much more than agreed to. (I like to over-deliver.)
Usually, my clients really appreciate the extras I provide!
But for these two novice clients, they simply didn’t see the value in all the extras I’ve given them.
Like instead of writing just one headline and sub-head, I wrote 4 or 5, so they can test them. (Testing is crucial for online searches.)
And I provided the latest studies and best practices with this client … all of which was extra, yet vital to the success of his site.
What other copywriter does that? Or any other business person for that matter?
Stunned, I realized that neither of these novice clients was able to appreciate what this meant in terms of ‘value added’ services!
So, these are some lessons learned to carry into 2008:
* Never reduce my fee, in order to accommodate a client’s budget. (If they can’t afford me, they can hire a junior copywriter.)
* Only provide them precisely what I’ve agreed to and no extras, since they can’t see the value.
* Require the entire fee upfront, because some will even ignore the signed agreement to pay the other half upon final copy approval and not when his web designer gets it on his site. (One just did that, too.)
Yeah, I know, I’m a woman. We’re natural givers …
but in the business world, maybe over-delivering weakens my value, rather than increases it.
In 2008, my business model is going to be …
I’ll give you exactly what you’re paying me for, and it’ll be high quality … but without extras.
I think this confirms the age-old adage that folks don’t appreciate anything that’s free. We’ll see how my new resolve serves me.
http://www.kickasscopywriter.com
Where Mediocrity is Outlawed!
(But you only get what you pay for.)
January 6th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Hi there from a fellow Virginia copywriter.
Amen to not reducing your prices to fit a client’s budget. Have you also noticed that the ones who squabble over price are the ones who slowly suck the life right out of you every single day?
January 15th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Hey Susan,
You are SO right!
The very ones who try to nickel and dime you
are the ones who’ll cause the biggest headache.
Burrr, it’s cold today!
The Kickass Copywriter