copywriter Archives

Happy Thursday! Today is the autumnal equinox. This is one of two days in the year where day and night are the exact same length as the sun crosses the celestial equator. In other words, it’s all downhill from here until the winter solstice on December 21. At least we’ve got Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Mentioned in today’s newsletter: Revolut, Twitter, and the Federal Reserve. Plus 3 tips on how to price yourself for new freelancers, a simple work-life balance trick for anyone working at home, and the fastest way to build credibility online.

Read time: 3 minutes and 33 seconds

Making the Rounds

Cyberattack exposes personal data for 32,000 Revolut users. The fintech startup used by many international freelancers revealed it was hit by a highly targeted cyberattack on September 11 that left customers’ names, email addresses, and phone numbers exposed.

Federal Reserve raises interest rates another 0.75%. With inflation on the run, Fed Chair Jerome Powell had no choice but to raise interest rates again, increasing the chances of a major economic slowdown in the coming months.

Twitter user files class-action complaint to recoup money made from serving her ads. Lauren Price wants Twitter to pay her back all the money they made off serving her ads after the platform revealed they inadvertently used user phone numbers to target ads. In case anyone from Big Tech is reading this, we’d happily settle for a measly 25% of our ad revenues.

Working With Clients

New Freelancer Reveals His Pricing Secrets

Pricing is one of those things everyone likes to you in broad terms…

But not when it comes to their own pricing strategy.

So if you’re a new freelancer who’s struggling to figure out how to price themselves…

Here are 3 tips to help you out:

TIP #1: Charge by deliverable (not by the hour)

If you’re a new freelancer, you may be tempted to start off charging by the hour.

But charging by the hour incentivizes you to work slower.

Instead, charge clients per:

– email
– image
– video
– landing page
– sales page
– etc

This way, there are no unexpected surprises for them if the job takes longer…

And you get rewarded if you can get it done quicker.

TIP #2: Ask for a 50% deposit.

Asking for a deposit helps weed out low-quality clients.

So if they’re not willing to pay you a portion of your fee up front, proceed with caution.

But if the idea of asking for money up front makes your palms sweaty, you could always reduce the amount to 25%.

One final caveat:

If it’s a small project (like under $100-$200), just ask for the full amount up front instead.

TIP #3: Get approval on pre-work if possible

Since you’re asking for a deposit, you want to make sure your first draft isn’t way off base so the client doesn’t feel like they’ve paid you for nothing.

The best way to do this is get pre-work approved.

In the case of copy, this could be an outline.

In the case of an image or video, this could be a creative brief

In the case of an ad campaign, this could be a campaign mockup.

Regardless of what your service is, getting the greenlight on pre-work will save you time and make clients happier.

Working For Yourself

What Did the Freelancer Say to the Desk at Lunch Time?

Work-life balance is a constant struggle for freelancers.

That’s why, in addition to having a structured workday where you start and end around the same time…

One of the best ways to create separation between work and personal is to eat lunch away from your desk.

Even if it’s just 15-20 minutes…

Giving yourself a break from the computer screen is good for mind and body.

Tools We Love

It Was Pretty Great if I Do Say So Myself

Case studies and social proof are great.

But there’s one thing holding most freelancers back from charging premium rates and commanding an elite position in the marketplace…

Credibility (or a lack thereof).

And the fastest way to build credibility is to “borrow” it from somebody else…

By getting booked as a podcast guest.

Studies show podcast listeners are typically more educated, affluent, and active on social media than the average American.

And when prospects see (or hear) you being interviewed by someone else they trust, those feelings are instantly transferred to you.

That’s where Guestio comes in.

Their guest booking and interview platform allows you to cut to the front line and book yourself on shows like:

Entrepreneurs On Fire with John Lee Dumas
Build Your Network with Travis Chappell
Franchise Secrets with Erik Van Horn
And many more

No more jumping through hoops or sending out cold DMs.

So if you’re looking for the simplest and easiest way to build credibility and attract more of your dream clients…

Head over to Guestio:

Find your first (or next) podcast booking on Guestio today.