What Are Your Copywriting Business Rules?

Rules can often feel constricting, but when it comes to our businesses, that’s what helps us stay on track. They’re what we need when we’re wearing our CEO hats. So, today, we’re going to come up with your copywriting business rules so you can make decisions faster (and that are in line with how you want to run your business).

You can also think of copywriting business rules as boundaries.

The idea is to come up with your boundaries now and then, as situations arise where you need to enforce them, you can follow your plan versus wasting time trying to make a decision.

Here are three rules you need to create today if you don’t have them already.

1. Have a “No Lower Than” Number

You likely have your copywriting rates in mind or at least know you need to come up with your pricing. (Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students, you have an entire course on how to price your copywriting services in the CCA!)

But what a lot of copywriters don’t have is a “no lower than” number.

This number is the number that you will not do work for less than. As in, “My regular rate is $75/hour. But if I really want the work to build my portfolio or believe in the company’s cause, I’m willing to work for $60/hour, but no lower.”

You, of course, have your price in mind and price your project based on your regular rates. This “no lower than” number is for when a client comes back and says, “That’s not in our budget, but we can do $X.”

This number is what makes it easy to say “no” and walk away from a client when they can’t meet your rates. You need to set this now—before you’re in a situation where a client can’t meet your rate.

Your “no lower than” number may also simply be your full rate! That’s fine, too. As long as you know when you’re going to say “no.”

Too often, copywriters don’t have this number in mind. And this isn’t just new copywriters! Even pros—particularly ones who are used to thrilling prospective clients—can have a hard time turning down work.

But, while we all know there are plenty of other clients willing to pay our rates, the act of saying “no” is hard. This number makes it easier for you to have your line in the sand.

So, what’s your “no lower than” number?

2. Set Rules for Your OOO Time

This is really several rules within one rule. When it comes to copywriting, we didn’t get into it to work 80 hours a week, seven days a week with minimal vacation time.

So, you need to set your OOO boundaries. These may include rules like:

• I do not check email over the weekend. (Remove work email from your phone if it’s easier for you to enforce this!)
• I take a minimum of four weeks of vacation each year. (Block those weeks at the beginning of the year so you don’t forget! Even if you have to shift them a bit, they’re a nice reminder as you’re booking out work that certain weeks are off-limits.)
• I do not work Fridays after 2 p.m.
• I use Monday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to focus on building my own business—not client work.
• I only take meetings Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• I take all federal holidays. (It’s important to know that some of your clients may work holidays that you plan to take off, such as Veterans Day in the U.S. But that doesn’t mean you need to work on them.)

If you set, and enforce, your own boundaries, your clients will respect them. If you don’t, clients will push for more. And more. Not because they’re bad people, but because you’re responding to them on the weekend or you’re saying “yes” to anything they ask. They don’t know that you may be jumping through hoops to accommodate them!

Also, your clients don’t need to know about your rules. For example, if a client asks, can you jump on a call this Wednesday at 1 p.m.? You may simply write back, “That time doesn’t work for me, but I can do any time on Tuesday or Thursday from 11 to 3.”

3. Have a Plan to Celebrate Your Wins

All too often, we set goals, we meet those goals, and then we continue to move the goalposts so we never stop to celebrate the wins.

Just as we didn’t get into copywriting to write 80 hours/week, we didn’t get into copywriting to not stop and enjoy our lives. In fact, stopping to enjoy life is the exact reason many of us became copywriters!

Here are just a few examples of copywriting business rules you might create to celebrate wins:

• When I land a new client, I will treat myself to a dinner out.
• When I hit my income goal for the month, I will stop taking on new projects that month and begin booking out the following month.
• When I hit $X (insert your income goal!), I’ll plan my next vacation.
• When I get great feedback from a client, I’ll take a moment to go grab a coffee and take a break from my work to celebrate a job well done.

These are just a few examples. Come up with rules that fit with your goals and your preferred ways of celebrating!

Once you have your rules in place, pin them to your desktop, print them out and put them on the wall in front of you, or otherwise have them readily accessible.

You want to remind yourself to enforce your own rules (and keep them simple enough that you can easily do so).

And these rules, unlike others, are not made to be broken. Of course, if a client needs to meet at a certain time outside your normal availability and it’s a one-time thing, great. But be very careful that it doesn’t turn into a habit of letting your rules slide.

Keep them in place, and you’ll be a much happier copywriter and business owner!

Your Turn!

What are your copywriting business rules that help you keep your business (and sanity) on track? Tell us in the comments below!

Last Updated on September 23, 2023