In the early days, when I was still trying to decide whether to do copywriting, Bliss Spa (beauty products) would put out a call for copywriters to send in samples for assigned products. I did it twice, and because I’m the target audience, I knew what I was talking about. Anyway, they never responded either time. And a search on google revealed they never responded to anyone. They apparently were getting free copy–or at least ideas–from all the sample writing they received.

This is a high priced company that can certainly afford to hire professionals.

I’ve never bought a product of theirs since. I just see them as chintzy exploiters.

PB

“OK, let’s see if we can do a small exercise. A layman arrives at a website and needs to read about Decompensated Liver Disease. You are the editor, so it’s your decision as to what he reads. Even if the layman doesn’t fully understand DLD, what’s most important is not to lose him. So, there you go, start writing. Send me what you have as soon as it’s done.”

Needless to say, I advised him to sit on a tack. And to let me know how it felt.

- Small (often local) mom and pop type businesses who have never used a copywriter before and don’t understand that a single brochure won’t bring them tons of business

- Any prospect who starts off by telling me, before I’ve even quoted a fee, that they don’t have much of a budget, but that they expect to be giving me a lot more work down the road if I can cut them a deal on this first project.

- Any new prospect who tells me they like to operate on a handshake and acts like I’ve insulted their integrity if I ask them to sign a simple letter of agreement outlining the project.

- Prospects who want me to write a specific sample just for them. If my online portfolio and additional samples I’ve emailed them aren’t enough to tell whether or not they like my work, we clearly are not a good fit.

- In my niche (alternative health and dietary supplements) there are many companies putting out crappy products. I vet every prospect who requests my services, because I am passionate about promoting good health, not worthless powders and potions. I have occasionally turned down business after doing a little research about their product formulations and realizing how poor their products really are.

These “red flag” prospects used to pop up a whole lot more often. But since I got very specific with my marketing outreach and began targeting a handpicked list of prospects, and since most of my business now comes from qualified referrals, the problem prospects are much less frequent.

Lo and behold, that not a few weeks later I get a call from a company that has sports stars endorse their product. Why do sports fans love to do all the talking. Anyway, I explained that I was (and am) sports retarded. Well, I play badminton competitively, but the only sport I can bear to watch is chess. Anyway, Same story, I said, “I’m not your guy.” He said, wait, wait, maybe there is something else you can write about. The check arrived several days later.

When writing complete books under another persons name, you really need to have the right chemistry. You need to have a meeting of the minds. It’s all about relationship. I’ve turned down trying to write fiction for other people. Although I am writing my own first humors novel. Actually, that’s what I should be doing right now, because I have to start on someone else’s book next week.

Being busy is attractive and there is only so much time we can devote to client work. Our business is limited by how much writing (thinking) time we devote to it. I say no quite often.

I write a humors and popular site called SlowDownNow.org. I am surprised how people find me through this site. It was not intended to be commercial but I have a link to my commercial site on it. I think if you can write humor, you are in demand. If you are in demand, you have to politely say no sometimes. It helps if you can refer the client to someone else. What comes around goes around. Most work is by referral for me.

Types of clients I try to stay away from (some don’t reveal themselves till the contract’s been signed): those who are not realistic about the quality or potential for success of their work; those who don’t actually have all of the content written or ready to be edited/proofread; those who seek to hire the lowest bidder for the project; and those who will call me late at night or on the weekend. As I’ve figured out over the past couple of years how to be a successful full-time freelancer, I’ve learned that having — and exercising — solid professional boundaries is essential to maintaining my sanity and thus the quality of my work.

Also passed on a company that is involved in over-developing our county. Lots of money there, but did not want to be part of the problem.