Prior Agreements Prevent Future Disagreements
You know, some days even I don’t get it right. I have (or had) a client who wanted me to write four pages for their website based on four articles they had previously written for some print marketing. The website revolves around a real estate service that caters to For Sale By Owner sellers. I took the information, feedback and direction the client had provided, and wrote the best copy I could for them.
They didn’t like it. And in fact, they flat out stated they wouldn’t even use my copy.
Now, this isn’t the first time this has happened to me (if you find a copywriter who tells you they’ve never had a client hate their work, they’re lying). After the initial shock wore off, I looked inward to figure out what to do.
So what DO you do qwhen this happens? Well, if you’re the copywriter, you step back and look at the input and information. Is there something you missed? Is there something you misinterpreted? What can you do to correct the situation while still turning a profit for your time?
If you’re the client, you have a responsibility as well. Were you clear with the direction and guidance you offered? Were your expectations realistic and well-defined?
Many situations that involve dissatisfied clients come down to miscommunication and unrealistic expecations. And, even if things can’t be resolved in a way that completes the project, it doesn’t mean that the client and the copywriter just drop the project and go on their merry ways without some money changing hands. Time is valuable on both sides of the client-copywriter equation. The copywriter has invested time and effort into a project, and a resolution must be found that involves compensation. As a colleague of mine puts it: “If you buy a car and you don’t drive it, you still have to pay for the car.”
With my freelance copywriting service, I always try to get as much information about a project BEFORE I start. I ask a lot of questions, research the market, and make sure I have every piece of info relevant to the task at hand. And I’ll always do my best to complete your project the way you want it: on-target, on-time and on-budget.