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We’ll cover this and much more: What I learned when I asked 500 working copywriters about their prices (yes, I’ll share the actual numbers here!) My single biggest pricing mistake ever and how you can avoid it Why i loathe the advice “charge what you’re worth”… and how to think about pricing instead 3 different…

FREELANCER INSURANCE by AbbeyWoodcock “Do I need business insurance, and if so what type of insurance do I need?” Our partner Coterie covers this question in more depth here, but the short answer is yes. If you are a freelancer you need to at least have coverage for Professional Liability insurance. Sometimes called Errors and…

Why do we resist doing what we need to do? Linda Perry joins our group to talk about how our mind gets in the way of our most important freelancing moments — and what to do about it! For more from Linda, check out the “Mindset First” podcast on your preferred podcast platform!

Prerna and Mayank cover exactly how to come up with, create, and even price service packages!

A-List Copywriter Marcella Allison breaks down one of her longest-running controls. As you may know, a control is a piece of copy you write once and that continues to bring in royalties until another piece of copy can beat its conversion rate. In Marcella’s case, the control we’re talking about has been running for 11…

3 Simple Strategies to Accurately Estimate Project Timelines, Eliminate Scope Creep, and Stop Undercharging For Your Creative Client Projects

There’s a middle ground between partnerships and flat-fee retainers. This is our retainer + bonuses proposal.Click here for other training and templates for special case proposals. You’ll notice the emphasis on OUTCOME and PROCESS. These are essential to map out at this phase. What is the goal? What is the process for reaching that goal? …

Mike Michalowicz joins us to talk about his process for creating a profitable business from the start.

Make Q4 your 2019 “On Ramp” Live Workshop replay from October 4, 2019

Abbey sat down with copywriter and marketing consultant Ross O’Lochlainn to talk about the unique way he structures his client agreements. For Ross, it all started with a question, “What would you do if you only got paid when your client got results?” We talk about: [02:19] Where to find the most money in any deal…

I have been known to say that I think customer avatars are bullshit. The reason is that most people approach it completely wrong. That’s why I was so excited to sit down and chat with Allison Carpio about her novel approach to finding and understanding your customer on the deepest level. This is a must…

Do you ever feel like you’re just guessing when it comes to your project fees? That’s exactly what this video is all about. I brought in Branko Mijatovic, founder of LearntoQuote.com to walk through exactly how to come up with prices that make sense and aren’t made up. We cover: [04:01] Why freelancers are usually terrible…

We’ve spent hours researching and conferring with experts (including our own legal expert Gordon Firemark) on the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We’ve gathered all the resources you need in one place, including links to common software and their compliance information and a free video training from Gordon Firemark. For more regulations to…

One of the biggest expenses for a service-based business like copywriting is payment processing. As a result, people try some tricky stuff to avoid the fees. There are good options for payment processing that help you have control of your money while minimizing the fees. In the video below, I cover: 3 things to avoid…

One of the benefits of being a copywriter, is that most of us can work from wherever we want. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. How do you deal with the challenges of remote work. After nearly 7 years working from home, here’s the 5 keys I’ve found to being productive and working from…

Can you take off every Friday? Can you work 4 hours a day? Can you demand clients ONLY communicate with you via fax? I’d like to put these questions to rest once and for all. Check out this short video for the limitations copywriters have in their demands. (Transcript is available below) [VIDEO TRANSCRIPT] I want…

I am not a graphic designer. But, I have a lot of needs for nice looking documents and images. In this tutorial, Iï¿½ll show you how I use a freemium program called Canva to create professional looking designs quickly and without spending a lot of money. Hereï¿½s just a few things I use Canva for:…

The promise of Business of Copy is that as I apply new lessons and techniques to my business, you’ll get them, too. Recently, I had a $24,000 upfront fee plus royalties accepted by a client. Here’s the exact proposal I used, broken down for you.

The best productivity hack is a healthy brain and body. But, as copywriters, it’s difficult for us to create routine and systems to keep ourselves healthy. Dr. Isaac Jones sat down (rather, stood up) with us to talk about why our career makes change difficult, and how to set small things in motion for big…

A question I get every time I present systems, is “Where do I find a project manager or assistant to do this for me?” My project manager happens to also be my husband. Unfortunately for you, to my knowledge there aren’t any other project managers hiding under the covers of my bed. So, since I’m…

Recurring charges are tricky buggers. Sometimes you forget about them, sometimes you overpay for services you don’t even use, and sometimes you have downtime because you innocently forgot to update credit card information. Here’s a simple solution you can use with a team (or by yourself) to keep on top of all the subscriptions, dues,…

The Federal Trade Commission is the consumer protection arm of the U.S. government. They are responsible for enforcing rules that protect customers from deceptive advertising and other violations. While we never claim to be lawyers, all copywriters should be familiar with the limits of what we can say in our copy. This especially important if…

Setting up your legal foundations correctly means that you’ll have a lot less to worry about as you do business. This is exactly why I brought in attorney Gordon Firemark to discuss what important (and even what’s not). In this training, we’ll go beyond the templates and talk about legal basics every business owner or…

It’s no secret that my first big client was New York Times’ Best-Selling author Ramit Sethi. One of the most powerful lessons I learned from Ramit (and there were many) is the power of automation when it comes to finances. Here’s how it works:

Remember in middle school when your teachers attempted to make not smoking, safe sex, and avoiding drugs cool and hip by “trying to speak the language” That’s how I feel when I write about taxes and financial accounting. “No guys, seriously, protection is cool! Your business will still feel just as good! SERIOUSLY, do you…

Transitioning from writer to chief can be a tough one. While we write, we often rely on instincts — chiefing requires us to break those instincts into repeatable processes. It’s not unlike why great players often make bad coaches. From the article: “As you get better and better at what you do, your ability to…

Some copywriters preach putting your prices on your website. I’m not one of those for the following reasons: Yes, each project is different. Even a funnel of the same size has different requirements depending on the team size, customer research available, previous content, etc. Too many snap judgments are made if price is the first…

When I was 12, my momma gave me advice that made me rich (richer than your average teenager anyway). I still follow that advice today and so can you to get more (and more enthusiastic!) referrals. Thanks, mom! And, a pretty graphic to go along with it:

Positioning, Copy reviews, Mentorship – Copy Chief The mantra of Business of Copy is that you need 3 things to be successful in copywriting 1) Write good copy, 2) Find clients, and 3) Run your business. BoC is where you go for #3. For #1 and #2, there’s no better place than Copy Chief. I…

A different kind of pricing training today… A few months ago, we watched this video: And we bought $64 worth of the “rarest coffee in the world.” Was it worth it? Here’s the result: So what did we learn? Turns out, quite a lot. First, I’m a sucker for scarcity and something about the…

We all know we need to plan. Some of us even do it. But, most of us have trouble executing our plan — despite our best intentions. When I discovered Dave Ruel’s ProductivAction method, I knew I had to get him inside the Freelance Co-op. This has truly been a game changer for how I…

We say it at least 4 times during the interview: “NOBODY follows up!” By employing just one of the simple strategies Casey Stanton reveals in the video below, you can: Get ROI on any event you attend Form long-term friendships that are worth more than money Get more referrals, more repeat business, and happier clients.…

Many times as copywriters we’re also asked to be project managers. At the very least, we have to manage our own time and calendars. And during big projects like launches, this can seem like a monumentous task. In the video below, I discuss how to handle large product launches with considerations like how to: Communicate…

Brian Kurtz, in addition to working with all of the top copywriters in the world, mailing billions (yes, with a “b”) of pieces of direct mail, and working in direct response for over 30 years…. is also one of my most influential mentors. I was so honored to have him stop by and chat with…

Clay Hebert and Joey Coleman call it The “Carpe Defect” moment. This is the moment in our business where we’ve messed up. Missed a deadline. Let something slip through the cracks erektile-dysfunktion-at.com. Pissed off the client. It’s here we have one of two results: Destroy the client relationship. OR Use the opportunity to make the…

Over time, I’ve learned that certain phrases signal an impending disaster. Some of them sound innocent, but can reveal serious problems with the project, the client, or the product. I reveal them all (and what they really mean) here: And just in case you forget, here’s all the phrases to watch out for (print…

Clients are funny people. After days or weeks of unanswered emails, they pick the one day you’ve decided to unplug. Or they respond at 6p.m. on a Friday about something you don’t want to answer until Monday. And then, their email gets buried. And by Tuesday they are irritated that you’re not responsive. Or… you…

Do you consider yourself shy or introverted? Do you get insanely nervous when speaking to prospective clients? Do you hate “mingling” at live events? Then for you, this could be the most valuable training on this site. Most of my clients can be traced back to a drink at a hotel bar after a conference.…

There are few things that make a copywriter (or any freelancer for that matter), cringe as much as “what do you charge?” We all know it’s coming on every single call but we still get a little pit in our stomach when we have to answer. After hundreds of prospect calls, I’ve made nearly every…

Before I grew enough to use the capabilities of a project management tool like 17Hats, the Harvest App was the software I used daily. It’s a great “starter program” for invoicing, time tracking, and planning. Benefits: You can time track, even toggling between projects (or phases of projects) really easily It’s intuitive to use Sending…

On this site, you’ll rarely see the words “always” or “never” But this is an exception. You should never go into a prospect call blind. You should always be prepared with both questions and comments about what your prospect is up to. And it doesn’t have to take long. Here’s how to create a “one-pager”…

Often a client will write copy for you on a call. But getting every call transcribed was prohibitively expensive for me. That is until I found Rev.com. Check it out:

17hats is the “Command Center” of my freelance business. We can create custom, automatic workflows for each client. Load up our templates and send them automatically. For example, once our contract is signed, the invoice goes out instantly (without having to touch anything). It also emails reminders when things are past due or when I…

A while back, I set a goal to get better testimonials from clients. I had very few “working” testimonials, i.e. ones that I could publish on my website. So here’s what I did: First, I just emails clients asking if they had anything they wanted to share. 0% response rate on that. Note, that during…

Copywriters live and die by the calendar. There are only so many days in a week, and only so many hours in a day. There’s nothing worse that budgeting a week for a project and spending the next month doing “just one more pass.” The way I prevent this is putting an end date and…

I couldn’t figure out why I had so much trouble getting my shit together. I tried every calendar app, setting reminders, and even hired a project manager. What the fuck is wrong with me that I can’t stick to a simple schedule? And then I saw this article: Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule And it made…

There are a few basic questions I ask EVERY. SINGLE. CLIENT. Whether I’m writing short landing page copy or a 186-line-item launch sequence. This is the bridge between the admin and the creative phase. Before work starts, I need the following: Paid Invoice Signed Contract Market Research Survey This survey does a few things. First,…

There’s 2 ways to end scope creep. Make sure it never happens by spelling out expectations up front in your proposal and planning documents (There are trainings on both in the Freelance Co-op). When it does happen, tactfully and calmly address it (before it gets out of hand). It’s important to remember that if you’re…

In addition to playing copywriter, I also occasionally play client. I hire writers for support on my projects, as well as on behalf of clients. I know what it’s like to be on the other side, and also that sinking feeling when you never hear back from a prospect. That’s why I put together this…

Software Programs We Use Easy landing pages Leadpages Graphic Design Canva Automatic Password Management Lastpass Time tracking, invoicing Harvest Project management/workflow/bookkeeping 17hats Autoscheduling Acuity Scheduling Planning Effic ProductivAction Planner Electronic Signatures Hellosign Auto-followup Followup Then Payment Processor Stripe Transcription Rev.com Meetings Zoom Voice Tools Tone Analyzer Cadence Tool Voice Book

Things vega 100mg en venta en espana muscle that consistently happened during projects: The client emailed asking me what I was working on (Response in my brain: “WHAT AM I WORKING ON!? About 20 different aspects of your project!” Even though we weren’t close to the kamagra chewable fruit na prodej v ceske republice online…

Dan Martell has been one of my biggest business mentors. He’s pushed me to do scary things. He’s kept me from ruining what I have. And he’s connected me to huge projects and clients. We riffed for a half hour on: How to protect your confidence as a business owner How to find mentors and…

Member question: I got the following response to a quote. It wasn’t a no, just a request for an explanation: Can you please help me understand your costs a little better by letting me know the number of days you have allocated for each option as it’s more than I was envisioning? Or have you…

This is our retainer agreement. For a breakdown of 10 key elements you’ll find inside, click here.

One big launch can be a huge win for you. I’m talking full-service emails, landing pages, video scripts, sales letter, ads, and more… These big, gnarly projects can get out of hand quick. Preventing that starts with an effective proposal. This is our big launch copywriting proposal. Click here for other training and templates for…

Retainer agreements are a great way to get predictable, recurring revenue. And to be successful, everyone needs to be on the same page so you don’t become an indentured servant. This is our retainer copywriting proposal. Click here for other training and templates for special case proposals. You’ll notice that while we *kind of* break it…

This is our standard copywriting proposal. You’ll notice we keep it stupid simple. The goal is just to summarize what we talked about on the prospect call and give the clients the 4 things they want in a proposal: assurance we understand their needs budget info estimated timeline Next steps Click here for other training…

This is our standard copywriting agreement. For a breakdown of 10 key elements you’ll find inside, click here.

Consulting agreements can be extremely lucrative and a good supplement to your creative projects. However, on the dark side they can turn into massive time sucks. Here’s the template we use for consulting agreements.

A great way to close out a project on a high note is to send your client a thank you gift. This can range from a $10 gift card to dinner reservations, all the way up to a higher-end gift for large projects. In the video below, Abbey walks you through her process for discovering…

“He who asks the questions controls the conversation.” This is one of those phrases that is said so much, we tend to forget its power. I once saw Jay Abraham do a live Q&A. It was incredible to me how he was able to get to the heart of the issue, oftentimes solving the problem,…

There’s a lot of confusion around about negotiating a royalty or an ongoing retainer for backend revenue. The truth is these are two very different asks… and in some cases, you can negotiate both for the same contract. Here’s your basic definitions. Royalty A Royalty (also called residuals or commissions) is a percentage of sales…

Contracts and copywriting agreements are ESSENTIAL to protecting you and your clients. Great agreements: put everyone on the same page set clear expectations prevent misunderstands prevent nonpayment, refunds, or dissatisfaction communicate how the project will work

Before adding someone to your calendar, get payment. This prevents booking the time and having a no show or cancellation. First send an invoice. Then, send an email with instructions. Here is a template for those instructions.

We’ve all had those… You know the type. It always starts amazing. A great email. Maybe even a phone call. Everyone is excited. They are a PERFECT client. You start gearing up. And even though you don’t have a check (or even an agreement), you start doing some research and brainstorming copy ideas in the…

Live events are my natural habitat. All of my clients can be traced back to a drink at a hotel bar somewhere. In this training, I walk through my 3-step criteria for deciding what events to attend and then what to do (and what not to do) once I get there to make an impression…