client tips – Express Writers

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Communication Tips for the Content Creation Process with Kristen Lo

January 1, 2021September 8, 2017 by Rachel Moffett

If you work with clients as part of your job, you probably know how important communication is. You have to get to know your clients, understand their needs, and will need to keep in touch with them throughout the process. It can sometimes be a little overwhelming! If you’re looking for some communication tips to make your relationships with clients go smoothly, there was some great advice shared in this week’s #ContentWritingChat. #ContentWritingChat Recap: Communication Tips for the Content Creation Process with Kristen Lo Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, September 5th with Kristen Lo, the Community Manager for @HeyOrca! ? pic.twitter.com/ujCFX37lIM — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) August 29, 2017 Our guest host this week was Kristen Lo, the Community Manager for HeyOrca. Kristen is a regular participant at #ContentWritingChat and it was great having her step into the guest hosting role. She also had some amazing communication tips we can all use when working with our clients. Keep reading to find out what they are! Q1: What are the top qualities of an effective communication process with clients? When working with clients is a huge part of your business, it’s essential that you make sure the communication process is effective. To help you out, here’s what some of our chat participants feel are a must: A1 Satisfied and content clients is a hallmark of excellent communication and product delivery! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/hxRefmiJwA — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) September 5, 2017 As Kristen said, it’s important to keep your clients satisfied and content. That should always be one of your top priorities when you run or work in a service-based business. A1: First, set correct expectations. Respond in a timely manner, with clear communication. Use polite, proper prose 😉#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/Ququb8mbe2 — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) September 5, 2017 Sarah feels it’s important to set expectations with your clients. She also recommends responding in a timely manner with clear communication. Being polite and proper is always a must! A1: Effective client communication is responsive, proactive, clear, collaborative, and provides context. #contentwritingchat — Shelly Lucas (@pisarose) September 5, 2017 Shelly said effective client communication is responsive, proactive, clear, collaborative, and provides context. That’s a great answer! A1 Strategy, plan and clear steps of execution, division of responsibilities & communication plan that suits both sides #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/Czy7FfreVS — Zala Bricelj (@ZalkaB) September 5, 2017 Zala recommends having a strategy in place. You want to plan and have clear steps for your communication process, as well as a division of responsibilities. A.1 Finding the most efficient communication channel, but also having boundaries #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/UxRy4eKUpv — Dan O Brien (@DannyEdoBrien) September 5, 2017 Dan said you need to find the most efficient communication channel for connecting with clients. You want to use something that suits both of your needs. A1: Establishing an easy channel of communication (e.g., conference call, webcast, etc.) to discuss clients issues. #ContentWritingChat — Javier Sanabria (@SanabriaJav) September 5, 2017 Javier also knows it’s important to have an easy channel of communication. Determine early on if you’ll communicate via telephone, email, or something else. A1 a schedule and format that works for them. Most important part is the conversations are open and honest on both sides #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/Zxfsj5UUIO — Jade Alberts Consult (@Jade_A_Consult) September 5, 2017 One of the best communication tips to implement is to have a schedule. Make it clear when you’ll be in touch with your clients. Dan said conversations should be open and honest on both sides as well. A1: Set clear expectations upfront and stick to your side of the bargain. Be on time for every meeting, online or off. #ContentWritingChat. — Narmadhaa (@s_narmadhaa) September 5, 2017 When you set clear expectations from the very beginning, you’re going to get a project started off on the right foot. You also want to make sure you’re always on time for meetings. When you value a client’s time, they’ll value yours. A1: Being open & honest. Working in SEO especially, we are very upfront about rankings not happening overnight. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 5, 2017 Lexie knows the importance of open and honest communication. At Netvantage, they’re always upfront with clients early on. Q2: How can you best establish how many touch points you should have with your clients throughout the creation process? It’s important to make expectations clear from the very start of a brand new client project. So, how can you establish how many touch points you’ll actually have with each client? Here’s some helpful advice: A2A Make sure you’re consistent with your touchpoints/updates! Whether it’s weekly or monthly! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/WljYrwAYRR — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) September 5, 2017 A2B Consistency makes reporting/updates easier to for you to prepare. It’s a great best practice to put clients at ease #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/ahdL5Ryzik — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) September 5, 2017 Kristen said you need to be consistent when it comes to the updates you have with your clients. Consistency helps a project go smoothly and keeps clients at ease. A2 Have a solid, clear workflow they can reference AS they give you their $. Ours is at https://t.co/pVsQt69ZzB #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) September 5, 2017 A solid, clear workflow is a must! Julia shared our own process for the team here at Express Writers. Check out the link she included to learn more about what it’s like when you hire us! A2: Set expectations: “we’ll be in touch after Phase 1,” etc. Then follow through. Also ask them how what they think.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/q60xQECIzW — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) September 5, 2017 Sarah recommends setting expectations. When will you be in touch with a client? Make sure you follow through on the plans you make. A2: A flexible schedule should be established early w/ the client. It should become concrete as milestones are reached. #ContentWritingChat — Javier Sanabria (@SanabriaJav) September 5, 2017 Javier encourages you to establish a flexible schedule in the beginning and make it more concrete as you reach milestones throughout the project. Q3: How can you get your clients excited for your content … Read more

5 Things Most Copywriting Clients DON’T Tell Their Writers

August 4, 2022November 13, 2013 by Adam Oakley

Copywriters may not be the most obvious people in the world; they are frequently hidden behind computer screens, books, and their own brainstorming sessions. So, when their clients get something they read and realize they didn’t want, it’s easy for the client to totally overlook the (real) chance that some of the fault could be a lack of direction from said client. How NOT To Screw Up Your Order For The Copywriter Surprise, surprise! It’s not always the copywriters’ fault. In all honesty, most clients (especially those just hiring a copywriter) just aren’t sure how to work with their copywriter. They have questions but don’t know how to approach or ask them. They aren’t perfect people, and they may mess up when they order. And when that happens, its not your copywriter’s fault – it’s YOUR fault for erroneous directives. Let’s see how you as a copywriting client can avoid these pitfalls, shall we? It’ll make for a happier writer and an end product you’re happy to get. Problem Clients in Copywriting There are some clients who are just difficult. Plain and simple. They change their minds, demand the unattainable, and don’t treat their writers with respect. This is rarely the case but without proper communication, the writer can feel as though every new client is one of these impossible clients. Using their verbal communication skills can be difficult for writers because they are accustomed to writing. But as a writer, it is a great idea to communicate via email and chat platforms. According to Francesca Nicasio at MenWithPens.ca, being up front both with clients and writers can be the best way to preserve a future relationship. As a writer, if you have a client that seems too hard to please, there is nothing wrong with stepping out of the project. Better to back out than to string the client along and give them false hope about what you can deliver for them. For the most part, clients make simple mistakes that can be worked through and there is no reason not talk to them in hopes of producing an amazing product. Here are five common problems copywriters run up against: 1) They Forgot Something. This is the #1 BIGGEST problem. They forgot to specify a word count, they forgot to tell you to skip that keyword in the list, they forgot to give you a specific topic, they forgot to give you that resource to link to and talk about, they forgot to give you the right model name for the product description. The best way to get over this obstacle is to recap all the order details with them at least once before you start working. 2) They Don’t Know What They Want. This is the #2 biggest problem, and in some cases, it wins the big blue ribbon for first place. They only know what they want when they get the work back. That’s right…after you’ve done all that labor, they finally realize what they want. The worst part? It’s not your deliverable. The way to avoid this is by scheduling an interview with the client, with their writer or project coordinator to go over their ideas for writing and hammer out an outline, and then send the outline to them after polishing it up post-phone call. DON’T start copywriting without approval on the outline. 3) Defining The Specifics Can Get Gritty, But Shouldn’t. It doesn’t have to. Note to Clients: Keep the instructions and input simple—as LONG as it is what you want. We got a 30 -tab Excel instruction sheet for a set of 10 binary options articles. The results? Everything had to be revised—and it still wasn’t what they wanted. Expecting that your writer should be able to use adjectives, pronouns and adverbs that you want—and only those—is a little too much to ask. Giving elbow room and trusting your writer for creativity is much more of a vehicle to achieve an inspired, original, and readable article. 4) They Don’t Trust the Writer. They think they know grammar better than the writer. “I KNOW there should be a comma there…my GRANDMA always told me so!” You actually might be wrong, if you’re not in the copywriting industry 24/7 like your writer is. Trust your writer to be up on the rules in the grammar world. If you see an obviously misspelled word, that’s another story, but when it comes to the minute details of grammar try to trust your writer. 5) They Get Impatient On A Deadline. Once you give a deadline to a writer, one of the worst things you can do to that writer is come back and say you want it sooner. Tight deadlines is the #1 enemy of an accomplished, talented writer. Rushed work can transform an eloquent Shakespearean author into a non-native sounding writer. It’s true. Think about it yourself: could you write that 10 article order in 24 hours? Try not to push your writer too much. If quality is your desired outcome, place that above a turnaround time. Every profession will have its own share of problems, and copywriting is certainly no exception. The good thing about this market is that writers have an ability to communicate, even if they are stronger via email, it is still within their grasp to solve problems and work with clients. As a client, you have the ability to create outstanding content by avoiding these mistakes. Admitting when you’re wrong is the adult thing to do and should be part of the team effort made by both sides.