Andy,

If you can find a way to minimize the interruptions, that will help a lot.

I've found that I can accomplish more in 6 hours of uninterrupted time than 40 hours filled with the usual distractions.

Alex

Staying focused while simultaneously writing for clients and my own projects.

Yep...I spoke to one salty ol' dog...and another who had a lot of cajun spice. lol!

I find that many people take up a lot of my time, and don't assume that my time is valuable. <smile> There will always be those clients that take advantage - but really, can only do that if I allow it. Still in my learning curve, I have curbed lengthy phone interactions for paying clients only and have new clients fill out a request a quote form.

Hi Leanne!

I'm with you on this. We are running a business and have operating hours and procedures we follow. But some clients seem not to understand this, or simply discount it.

I don't know if it's because we (many of us, anyway) are working from home, or because our service is writing, but we don't get treated the same way as other sole proprietorships.

For example, does a man running an antique store get calls at all hours insisting that he open the store right now?

You're right, the key is that we not allow it.

Ayla
(Hi to everyone! This is my first post. Please be gentle. )

I agree with the "lack of respect for my time" issue too. But again, as Leanne mentioned, clients can only do this as much as we allow them to. I've got to work on being tougher with prospects who are eager to pick my brain for marketing advice for an entire hour, and then disappear off the face of the planet.

Lately, I've also had my share of clients who don't know a thing about the audience they're trying to market to. One recent client comes to mind. When I starting probing for information on his typical consumers, he hemmed and hawed and kept telling me it "didn't matter". And when I asked what he offered above and beyond his competitors, he had no response. Lastly, when I asked him to sum up the benefits his services provided to subscribers, he couldn't give me any concrete answers. Essentially, he gave me absolutely nothing to work with, and couldn't understand why any of this information was imporant (or why he was getting charged for the time). Going in circles with him was insanely frustrating. We're no longer working together, as you can imagine.

I find it's okay if they pay for a nice lunch or dinner where they want me to pitch to them but no freebies. They'll suck your brain dry. I make prospects fill-out a 200+ question survey about their business and more importantly their prospects and customers. If they won't do that then I already know the relationship is doomed. I won't talk about their project for more than 5 minutes without it. GL

Kawika,

I am in awe that you get prospects to fill out a 200+ questionnaire! My experience is like Susan's. Question: "Who is your target audience?" Answer: "Everyone." But such is working for small businesses.

I do insist on contracts and a short questionnaire (I tried long ones, but it was like pulling teeth.)

It's partly the market the copywriter works with, and partly how sought after a copywriter is. But unanswered questions lead to lower-quality, poor-performing copy, and that leads to a poorer portfolio, which leads to being less sought after. So I'm working on becoming more assertive about getting the necessary questions answered.

Hi Ayla,

I didn't say it wasn't like pulling teeth. You're right on there. They never know their market like they should. There's a way to turn that around though.

I do end up sitting with them for part of it once the game is on. It actually does a few things for the relationship.

1. It shows I'm serious and ready to go and I have high expectations as they should.

2. It sets them up for my copy which usually starts off with them bugging-out and saying "No way, are you serious?" I just say, yes you answered the question and I did the research and this is how we reach them. It actually saves time come delivery time. Doesn't always work though.

3. Since they won't answer every question, and I will after I do the research, it's something I can use to, as my wife puts it, exercise the "wow" factor. They'll learn things about their market and sometimes their own business. That's healthy for the relationship because I'm in the position of an intelligent advocate (aka Hero) instead of just Mc Writer.

Other than the old way of diving in with nothing to go on, I haven't really tried anything else. I'm always open to better ways of operating. Cheers

Is this survey something you could/would/have shared in the past? It sounds like a great tool, and for a relatively new guy to copywritiing, an excellent educational resource.