Which of these camps do you fall into?
1. Hesitant to freelance (even though you really want to) because figuring out healthcare and other benefits looks too hard.
2. Diving head-first into freelancing … but there may be some “Oh Sh*t!” moments along the way.
3. Freelancing with a system and a plan so you have regular income and even better benefits than any full-time job could possibly offer.
If you’re part of the FRW community (or in the CCA!), my guess is you fall into camp #3.
(You may fall into camp #2, but that camp really requires you to know yourself and whether you can build the net as you fall. You’ve probably heard me say I’m not a fan of it, but it works for some people! If that’s you, please let me in on your secret 😉 )
We’ve covered how to build your own benefits package on this podcast before (if you missed it, you can add it to your queue right here).
So, on this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, we’re specifically covering what to do if you get sick.
As you know, many companies offer sick days. But, what do you do if you fall sick as a freelancer? You have a plan in place, that’s what!
Listen now so you’re ready in case illness strikes. (But knock on wood—knockknock*—it doesn’t!)
TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher
Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[01:24] It’s very possible to get sick and you can’t predict when it’s gonna happen. It’s an annoyance in general, but it can be an especially challenging problem if you are a freelance copywriter and you’re unprepared.
[01:40] We’re gonna make sure that you have a system set up in advance to make sure that should it happen, that you get sick and it’s not a one or two day bug. Or if you were just laid out completely that you are still fine, your clients still get their work and your stellar reputation remains intact.
[02:51] Point number one, we would strongly recommend having a good go-to backup copywriter. CCA students, you know that you have so many copywriting friends, so many copywriting resources.
[03:18] Basically what you’re looking for is someone who has a skill level similar to yours and who you trust as a person. You trust that if you have to pass off work to them because you just absolutely can’t do it, you trust that number one, they’re going to do the work well.
[04:08] You could do this one of two ways. Either you could say to your client, I am so, so sick, but I have a copywriter that I work with and I trust and I have brought them up to speed on the situation. Or do you want to change the deadline? I’m so sorry. I’m too sick to complete this.
[04:55] Pay your friend for their time. Have that conversation in advance and talk about how it’s gonna take them or what portion of the work, if they’re doing all of the work.
[05:32] The backup copywriter, you want this in place certainly, and you wanna communicate this long before you need to use this person or reach out to them. Your process with this of how you use this based on when the project kicked off, The timeline of it and where you’re getting sick in the midst of this.
[07:30] Another thing is to establish a process of under promising and overdelivering. Making it a habit of if you promise you’re gonna have copy by a certain date, plan it out so that you’re done with it early. When you have that built into your personal schedule, that automatically gives you buffer time.
[08:23] If your standard just gives you a couple of days of buffer time, then you don’t have to worry if you are sick for a couple of days or if something else happens. Whatever happens in life, you’re prepared. You’ve already got that buffer built in.
[10:10] Building in boundaries to make sure that you can get the work done in the time that you’re given as much as possible. Put it in the benefit to them of ‘I wanna give this project a hundred percent. Here’s in my schedule where I can do that.
[11:40] You do not want to have to download someone everything. That’s what the creative brief source for. So make sure you’re doing it for every project for yourself and for this scenario especially.
[11:54] Giving yourself between the time that the project starts and the time that it’s due to end. Give yourself plenty of space within there.
[12:44] Understand that there is nothing’s gonna be imposed upon you, but once you and your client do decide on that beginning and end date, it’s up to you to organize how you use your time within that period.
[13:49] If you go to sit down and do the brainstorming and concepting, going through notes, writing, first draft all in one sitting, It is A, it’s gonna take a lot longer, most likely. But B, it’s not gonna be your best stuff. You’re not giving your brain the space to process things appropriately.
[16:10] Sitting down, going through your notes right away after kickoff call. If you have time after the call or as much schedule time to go through your notes while they’re fresh. Maybe fill in your creative brief the next day.
[17:00] It looks a lot better if you’re following up with questions from the kickoff the day after than right before it’s due. So that you’re not coming a couple of days before due. That’s a great way to lose a client and absolutely, incredibly effective way to learn to lose a client.
[20:44] This is your business. You are the greatest asset in your business, so you have to take good care of yourself. So while it’s not always possible, the best way to deal with sickness is to not get sick at all if you can help it. So take good care of yourselves.
Must-Hear Takeaways
As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:
“We would strongly recommend having a good go-to backup copywriter. CCA students, you know that you have so many copywriting friends, so many copywriting resources.” – Nicki
“Have them do the work and then just review it before you turn it into your client. Making sure it’s up to your standard.” – Nicki
“Get the ball rolling as soon as possible, and you might not have to use it. But again, everything we’re talking about, the sooner you can do it and act on something, the better.” -Kate
“Your client deserves work that’s a hundred percent. Ensure that you get them great work.” – Nicki
“You need to do the creative brief. If you have to hand this project off to someone, they need a good creative brief to work off of.” – Kate
“Sleep on the kickoff and process that. I need that time to process where I’m not directly thinking about a project and I can come back at it fresh the next day with new ideas, better ideas, stronger ideas. The deliverable slowly starts to take shape.” – Kate
“To sit down, go through your notes and then concept and then do the outline and then do it all in one day. It doesn’t make sense right after the kickoff. Doesn’t make sense right before it’s due.” – Nicki
“I think really just the final buffer to build in is sleep time. Literally, because you as a human, you need sleep. So make sure that’s built in. It helps you prevent getting illnesses. We always say, you had to take good care of yourself.” – Nicki
Mentioned in the Episode
- Ep. 51: Working at an Agency & Collaborating with Other Copywriters – Jen’s and Julie’s Story
- How Can You Know if a Copywriting Deadline is Doable?
- Creative Brief: The First Step to Any Successful Copywriting Project
Related Links
- Prepare Your Copywriting Business for a Sick Day
- Ep. 49: How to Build Your Own Benefits as a Freelancer
- Ep. 203: Secrets to Smooth Copywriting Client Relations
- How Copywriting Projects Actually Come Together
- Ep. 154: How Freelancers Can Masterfully Juggle Multiple Projects – with Kaitlyn Spinney
- Book Pick: How Copywriters Can Collaborate More Effectively
- The Copywriting Project That Sells Itself to Your Customers
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About the Build Your Business Podcast
Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?
Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.
Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.
