For those of you who do copywriting for clients, how do you handle these aspects...

1. What do you guarantee? By this I mean, if the copy you write for a client does not work for them, do you offer revisions until it works, or is it a one time shot?

2. Do you take a small payment to start before the project (deposit)?

3. As far as your rates, do you look at the size of the product (ebook versus company) and do you go by the hour or by the job usually?

4. What content do you ask for in order to begin the project?


I think for now those are my main questions. Can someone please let me know how you handle these types of things?

1 - I offer to continue tweaking for up to 6 months. But only if they'll take my advice and not screw with everything I do to it.

2 - 1/2 down, the other half when we agree on a draft. I've only been hosed a couple of times.

3 - I look at the job, how long it would take, and how much my own expertise will play a roll in the success of the project.

4 - ALL of it in the case of info products. If it's a physical product, I want to try it (unless it's one of those I couldn't try). If it's a service, I get someone to call and try the service. Most of the time anyway. Sometimes, I can already tell what needs to be promoted in terms of marketing holes and trends.

1. Most of my clients know my copy gets an exceptional conversion rate so this is really not an issue.

If it is an issue for you perhaps you need to work on a better client acquisition system.


2. I charge at least 1/2 in advance. If it's a smaller project with a new client I charge the full fee in advance.


3. I NEVER, EVER charge by the hour under any circumstances. Someone who wants me to charge by the hour is simply not the right client for me.

I charge for delivering an exceptional sales letter. It shouldn't make an ounce of difference to the client how long it takes me (except of course for most clients they would prefer to get their sales letter YESTERDAY).


My rate is usually based on the amount of research I'll have to do to write the copy.

The work is in researching the product and the prospects.

Writing the actual copy is fairly quick once you've done that initial research.


4. I'm usually writing copy for information products so I want the full info product (and I'll go through every written word, every audio, every video...the whole thing).

I also ask for information about the client's expertise, testimonials etc etc.

Anything that can help me write better copy.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh

1. I guarantee nothing. There is too much out of the writer's control when it comes to whether or not a package works. It could be the lists, the timing, etc. etc. In fact, copy accounts for 20% of the package's success.

What I do is allow 2 rounds of revisions, then they're back on the clock. This is to prevent clients noodling something to death.

2. I also charge at least 50% in advance. Projects can take a few months and you have to eat in the meantime! If it's a small project with a client I know, I don't ask for a deposit; just for payment upon copy approval.

3. I charge by the job--and that seems to be what clients prefer, anyway. I also provide a quote that has a price RANGE, rather than a set price. This covers you in case they suddenly want to add extra elements thinking the fee would be the same.

4. Before I begin, I like to have all research involved, testimonials, info about their target audience, examples of promos that have worked as well as what hasn't worked and competitive information.

Merry Christmas!