I guess this is a two-parter. First off- how long does it normally take you to write a sales letter? And second how long do you tell your clients it will take you? Do you factor in a couple days for writers block, etc. Or do you even give them a date?

I book one month ahead, minimum. So if we agree to do a project today, you won't see the final draft until Sept 14th at the earliest, depending on my current workload.

I'm getting better at giving firm dates, but sometimes the client may slow things down by not getting me the info I've requested. Any time there's a delay, I'm real upfront about it, just keep communicating, the clients appreciate that.

I start the research phase with a lengthy questionnaire and then intersperse my interviews/online/library/bookstore legwork with the projects I'm currently working.

I start my outline after week two and spend the last two weeks writing. I can usually handle outlining/writing a couple of projects simultaneously depending on my familiarity with the material. (I think fast, but type slow.)

I don't worry about writer's block so much, but I like to be able to let a sales letter rest for a couple of days, so I can look at it with fresh eyes.

A.

Thanks. Anybody else?

I took advice from Mike Morgan. I quote a month and try to deliver a few days early.

Good point- I always try to deliver sooner than I promise too. I think it helps improve credibility.

Hi Emerson...I think giving a date for delivery has to be done after discussing with the customer. Sometimes the customer may be fine with a 4 weeks ( prefer saying 4 weeks vs 1 month) delivery and sometimes may need it earlier. Keeping 4 weeks as the average time, I also can accomodate an earlier delivery if the customer is willing to pay an additional charge for completing the project earlier.

The actual time taken to write a good sales letter might only be 2 hours...but the rest of the days account for our ability to finally get around to doing it!

Cheers,
Kavita

"Getting around to it" isn't my problem!

2 hours?

Is this all it takes you to write a "good" salesletter?

With research, getting into the readers head, and the writing and re-writing of drafts, it normally takes me "at the very least", two weeks (maybe more)!

Am I just too slow?

How long does it take others reading this post to write a "good" salesletter?

I'd like to know... perhaps I'm doing something wrong.

This is a good question. When you say it takes you two weeks, Stephen, do you mean it takes you 10 eight-hour days to write a good sales letter? A total of 80 hours?

Do you take on any other clients during this time?

I've been wondering about this.

Although I've often said on this forum that I don't write direct response, I'm starting to turn around - it seems like a lucrative field that is worth trying!

And I'm going to Tina Lorenz's seminar in October! I'm very excited about that.

Anyway, I'll appreciate any answers from Stephen or anyone else who is experienced at writing sales letters.

Thanks!

Namaste,

Janet

Hey Emerson,

I tell a client however long I think it's going to realistically going to take me to finish a project.

I analyze my schedule, and give an honest answer. If it could take 24 hours... I'd give it to them in 24 hours.

But I've never been able to do that.

One reason I use this approach, as opposed to a cut and paste answer is, I know a client wants their copy asap. Therefore I try to give it to them asap. I've never missed a deadline, and God willing, never will. Also, I wouldn't want the integrety of the copy to falter based on a "false" deadline. I use "false" because most entrepreneurs don't have "real" deadlines. You know, like "the printing press starts at 3:00 Monday... and you better have your draft in"... kind of thing.

Here's an example:

As I type, I'm taking a break from actually "writing" copy. I do this every 44 minutes and 44 seconds. Then walk away for 15 minutes or so. It clears my mind, and allows me to work longer.

Eugene Schwartz said he could only work about 3 hours a day "copywriting" ... though somehow I think that was after he became "great". I would imagine in his early years he hustled like the rest of us.

So, right now, I'm working on 4 projects right now. So if I told a client 20 days... I really mean 20 days.

These 4 projects are comsuming alot of my time... and that's not even including the rewrite I'm doing for my own site, one clients entire marketing program (actually just did a launch and got a 51% conversion rate, and made him $226,000 in 72 hours for him ... and other businesses I'm launching on my own.

So Emerson, I tell a client the TRUTH. If the client can't work with the terms, I try to find them some help with other copywriters. If we're not a match, then I kindly tell them that, and hope and wish them success in their endeavor. But I'll never, and I do mean NEVER allow a client to dictate to me when I "can" deliver copy.

All because, usually this is based on a false assumption of a client. They think I have nothing else going on, and am taking their money and sitting on my duff watching TV or something.

Someone recently asked me how many hours a day I work. I tell them on average it's 10. But...

Only around 3 or 4 of those hours are writing. The rest of the time is spent researching, returning calls, returning emails, even noodling with final versions of completed projects. (Like one client I just completed last week, hit me this morning with 5 more interviews to add to his bonus section. )

Also included in that time is the many hours a day I'm obsessed with the copy. Trying new things in my head. Until I put a project to bed, it's pretty much my main focus.

If I've got more than one client at a time, I can't take care of all of the writing at the same time. While I'm writing one, I may just be researching another or rewriting headlines on a third. I can't be writing the main body copy on more than one project at a time.