Why Earning a Living as a Copywriter Can Be a Slog

Word Whisperer

Why Earning a Living as a Copywriter Can Be a Slog

September 11, 2022

Several years ago, I wrote a 248-word evergreen postcard for a client for $900. It earned him $25,000 in the first two months alone, and at that time he proclaimed me his go-to copywriter from now on.

He never sent me a bonus for the phenomenal job I did. (That was my first clue…)

Well, he finally got back in touch to see if I would write him a 6-series email (150 to 200 words each). I said I would be delighted to, and asked some questions, one of which was, “What do you anticipate getting from a single conversion from this series of emails?”

He answered all of my other questions. I was still on board based on his answers to them, but he didn’t answer the conversion question, so I asked it again.

His response: “My conversion value is not relevant to your pricing – let me know if you do flat rate pricing. Thanks.”

My response: No I don’t. Conversion value is relevant to pricing. See Chris Do’s page for more info: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/

Here’s perhaps the best video by Chris Do. Short and sweet: shorturl.at/vWX39http://shorturl.at/vWX39

I wrote you a 248-word evergreen postcard for $900; you reported back to me that it earned you $25,000 in the first two months alone. I have no idea what it has earned you since then, since it’s evergreen, but it was worth far more than you paid me for it. What do you propose as a fair rate for the email series? I’m just curious now.”

The ball is now in his court. I’m not going to serve anyone who wants enormous value without paying for what it’s worth to him.

I left that rodeo two years ago.

Not going back.

“Fool me one, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Update. His response:

No thanks. Appreciate the consideration. I only do flat rate.

“PRICE is only a problem when VALUE is a mystery.” – John Assaraf

“Good copywriters don’t take your money; they make you money!”

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Word Whisperer