A client responds to your pitch and you’re SUPER excited…and then completely overwhelmed as you dread actually getting on the call. What if they find out you’re a fraud? (You’re not a fraud, promise.) What if you don’t actually like them? (Great news…listen to this episode.)
First… breathe! Second, that’s what this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode is about. Nicki and Kate dig in to steps you can take to prepare and calm your nerves before client calls.
And remember: there are more than 9 million online retailers in the world—2.5 million of which are in the US alone. That’s just online and just retailers. That means there are plenty of other clients if your discovery call with one doesn’t work out.
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Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[00:50] Your first point of contact with a potential client is your pitch, but your second point of contact is when you talk to them for the first time. And our hosts are here to help you learn to stay calm and collected before your discovery call.
[2:40] The purpose of the discovery call is to see if you, the copywriter, and the potential client are a good match. This is not when you have to prove yourself.
[4:00] It’s not just the client who is choosing to work with you, it’s a two way decision. The beauty of freelancing is that you get to choose who you work with.
[7:00] There are more than 9 million online retailers in the world—2.5 million of which are in the US alone. That’s just online and just retailers. They are all potential clients!
[10:00] As you go into discovery calls focus less on proving yourself and more on what you need to find out from this potential client.
[12:30] Discovery calls are informational meetings so prepare questions ahead of time, you want to learn more about the company and what they are looking to try and do.
[17:00] Don’t focus on yourself, it will inevitably make you more nervous. Focus on your questions and what the business are of the potential client.
[20:45] Just because a client asks something on the call doesn’t mean it has to be answered on the spot. It’s okay to take a minute and send the client your answer or work example after the call has ended.
[24:00] Quoting prices is not a fun part of being a copywriter. It can help to keep you on task by setting a deadline for yourself. It will also keep yourself from over thinking it!
[27:40] Even if you have discovery calls scheduled, keep pitching and working on your portfolio and working to create more work for yourself. Not having all of your eggs in one basket will help relieve a lot of stress!
“It’s just as much about … you assessing whether or not you even want to work with this client. Sure, they may or may not want to work with you. But also, you may or may not want to work with them. It’s a two-way decision.” – Kate
“One of the big things that I like to do before client calls that I think really eases my nerves is to just prepare. You’re not going to spend hours because you haven’t landed the client yet. so it doesn’t make senes to invest hour san hours of your time. but spend 10 or 15 minutes going over what did you pitch them, do you have any other notes that you want to make sure you bring up, do you have specific questions you want to ask them?” – Kate
“It’s about that company’s needs and what you could potentially do for that company. It’s not about who you are as a person. it’s not even about who you are as a copywriter. It’s about this company’s needs. and as long as you stay focused on that, it will be so much easier. you’re not going into this call being evaluated on whether or not you’re a worthy human being.” – Nicki
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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.
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Ep. 124: 4 Questions to Massively Boost Your Copywriting Productivity
Last Updated on September 10, 2023
