Q: I have an offer to write a nationally read (12,000 or so readers) wellness newsletter. While I do have copywriting and newsletter experience, I do not have any recent experience. I will need to put together a proposal for this guy next week. He is looking at about 10 or so hours per newsletter … Read more
Q: I was wondering if you have a good set of questions to ask on a phone appointment for potential clients. A friend referred a potential copywriting client to me and after wasting an hour and 20 minutes on the phone, I had no idea what she really wanted. Do you have any specific questions … Read more
Q: I have a new client who wants me to research and ghostwrite a 5-month series of columns, 900-1,000 words each, for a printed industry trade publication. The articles will also likely be picked up, at least in part, in an e-newsletter. My usual fee—which most of my clients don’t blink an eye at—is beyond her … Read more
Q: I was hired to do a quick job for a small agency, and I got the below e-mail from them. (Don’t you love the typo in the greeting?) Dear perspective copy writers: _________ is seeking bids for copy writing assistance when building business identities. In all situations (except #4, tag lines) _______ will work with the … Read more
Q: I live in a foreign country and while there is certainly a market for commercial writing in English here, I think that I would still like to work with companies in America as well, either to supplement my work or as the bulk of my work. Your tips are good for US residents, but do you have suggestions for non-US writers? Since … Read more
Q: My only writing experience came from advertising/marketing agencies; therefore, my only portfolio samples are ones that I did while employed at those agencies. Does this pose a problem in terms of conflict? I’m not making any claims that the clients are clients of mine as a freelancer; I’m simply displaying work that I’ve written. … Read more
Q. A local husband and wife lawyer team forwarded a letter regarding elder law that contained some good “points,” but lacked spark along with misprints, poor punctuation. How do I kindly point this out and perhaps offer a rewrite? A. Just approach them and be upfront, yet diplomatic. ”Got your letter and it looks like … Read more
Q. I was hired by a recruiter for a hi-tech PR firm. The job was – at first – suppose to be full time, but dwindled to an ‘on call’ situation. I had told recruiter what my fee was and was told PR firm could only pay little more than half of that. I verbally … Read more
Q. The reason I’m emailing is because I want a job in Commercial Copywriting, to be more specific, a job in anyone of the following industries: Travel & Leisure, Entertainment & Arts, Food & Beverage, Automobile, Sports, Sex, Health & Fitness or Self-Help. My question for you is what are the steps I should take … Read more
Q. I am trying to break into the business of writing for advertising agencies. Script scenes, taglines, etc. I am also trying to work in the greeting card market. I really need some advice on how to begin, if possible? A. My expertise isn’t focused on writing for ad agencies or just writing taglines. What … Read more