How to Save Big with Professional Discounts

Especially when you’re just getting started in copywriting (before you start raking in the dough), you’ll probably be looking to save money any way you can. Today’s post is about one habit to pick up that will help you do just that. Read on…

Today’s question comes from Coral D. who asks, “I was behind a woman in line today at our local bookstore and she got a discount because she’s a teacher. Is there anything like that for copywriters?”

I’m going to guess that the discount this teacher got was a “professional discount”—essentially a courtesy discount for people who are using a product for professional reasons.

Sometimes companies offer professional discounts out of the goodness of their hearts and sometimes, arguable more often, they offer them as another way to entice people to make a purchase with them. After all, if you can get books for 10% off at one bookstore and not at another, where are you more likely to shop?

Now, you may have picked up that “using a product for professional reasons” is a pretty grey area. You can stretch “professional reasons” to cover a whole bunch of stuff. And this, of course, is where your now-to-be-adopted new habit comes in.

The best way to find out if you can get a professional discount? Just ask. If you’re buying something that’s at all related to your copywriting work, simply say, “I’m a copywriter. Do you offer professional discounts?” The worst response you’ll get is a “no” and the best response will save you some cash.

This works with online purchases, too, though you’ll still have to pick up a phone and call. In that scenario, they may have to process your purchase over the phone, or they may have a coupon code to get you.

You’ll also find that getting on one company’s lists as a “professional” will get you on other companies’ lists as well, since companies often buy customer lists from others. For example, if you get a professional rate on a magazine, it won’t be long before you start getting letters offering professional rates on other magazines, too.

The moral of the story is that it never hurts to ask—and it also never hurts to spread the word that you’re a copywriter. You could end up with a professional discount and a new client, to boot.

Your turn! On what purchases have you nabbed professional discounts? Let us know in the comments below!

Last Updated on August 27, 2014 by Nicki Krawczyk