Frequently Asked Questions

Thanks for your interest in my services. If you’re thinking about contacting me, you probably first want to know a little more about my background, my services and how I work.

I’ve tried to answer some of these common questions below. Of course, if you have any other questions, feel free to drop me a line or give me a call at (770) 419-3342. There’s no obligation if you call or write.

“What are your qualifications as a copywriter?”

I’ve been writing copy for more than 7 years. Unlike many copywriters, I come from the sales side of the house, where I’ve also achieved year-over-year success.

I happen to enjoy writing as much as I do selling. To me, copywriting is selling through the written word. It even involves many of the same strategies and tactics of personal selling.

Knowing your prospect and knowing how to communicate with him or her can give you a great advantage when you need to write copy that elicits a response or keeps a sales cycle moving in the right direction.

Luckily for me, I never had it easy in sales. Every sales position I ever held was in a new or highly competitive sales territory. Worse yet, every one of these companies had only a small (or non-existent) budget for marketing and lead generation.

These are the kind of working conditions that force you to get creative and stretch out of your comfort zone — especially when you have a number to make and a family to feed!

I turned to direct mail to supplement my sales efforts 7 years ago. I read every copywriting book I could find. I then wrote my own sales and marketing materials. And in the process, I realized I had a knack for writing copy that generated results. I used this new skill to “write my way” into sales success, and eventually earned the top spot in my division’s sales team.

Since then, I’ve graduated from the American Writers & Artists Institute’s (AWAI) copywriting program. I have also been personally trained and coached by three of the best copywriters in the U.S. — Steve Slaunwhite, Chris Marlow and Kieran Dougherty.

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“What is your background?”

I’m an 11-year B2B sales veteran. However, I’ve always had a passion and deep respect for marketing, since I’ve had to do most of my own lead generation and lead nurturing throughout my sales career.

As a freelance copywriter and consultant, I can help bring a fresh perspective to your project. I understand the strategic and complex sales process, and I write from a sales perspective (meaning I focus on results rather than writing to fill up space on a page). I also have the marketing savvy necessary to know what will likely work best in each situation.

I’ve written successful copy for both B2B and B2C companies—everything from shrink-wrap software tools to complex, million-dollar enterprise solutions.

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“Why would a successful sales guy become a copywriter?”

Good question. You don’t see many successful sales pros changing careers when they’re breaking sales records, which was the case when I decided to launch my business.

But my reasons were more than financial; they included important lifestyle factors. I wanted a new challenge, yet I needed more balance in my life. I didn’t want to travel every week and live out of a suitcase.

I’ve also always had a passion and deep respect for marketing, since I’ve had to do most of my own lead generation and lead nurturing throughout my sales career.

As far as I’m concerned, I’m still selling as a writer. The only difference is that now I help companies sell through written materials and not necessarily in person.

I no longer get to experience firsthand the “rush” winning a large, new deal. But I get a huge rush when clients call me with big results from a campaign I helped them create!

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“What kind of assignments do you handle?”

I can quickly grasp enterprise software, complex service offerings and challenging marketing problems. And I can be especially useful when you need to translate technical data into a relevant and compelling business message for the VP- or C-level.

For more information about my specific copywriting and consulting services, take a look at my services page.

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“How do you quote projects?”

In almost every instance I quote flat project fees. This helps you know what to expect and avoids surprises. In some cases — where the project is not clearly defined or is recurring in nature — I may have to quote an hourly rate instead.

However, even in these cases, I will still include a total project time estimate so you know, before you hire me, what the total estimated fee range will be.

I base project fees on several factors, such as the type of copy you need, the nature of the product or service being marketed, the call to action being made, whether or not we have any messaging or existing materials to work from, and so on.

I’m not an “hourly rate” copywriter. Sure, my fees are partly based on the time it will take to draft the copy. But I also factor in what the project is worth, based on the value I bring to the table.

I’m not the cheapest. I’m not the most expensive. But I dig deeper into the product or service and into your audience. I examine your competitive position more than most writers do. In essence, I put forth the extra effort to find the hidden gems that will make the copy that much more effective.

I see this as part of the value I bring to clients, which is why I don’t like billing by the hour. I’d rather agree on a flat fee and then take my time doing whatever’s required to get the copy just right (and get it to you on or before the deadline).

Have a project in mind? Let’s talk. Give me a call at (770) 419-3342 or send me an email with the details to see if and how I can help.

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“What do you need from us to get started on a project?”

1) Fee Agreement & Payment
First, I will need the fee agreement (the project quote I furnish you) signed and faxed back. I also require 50 percent of the flat project fee to begin work. I invoice the other 50 percent one week after submitting the initial draft, and that amount is due within 15 days of the invoice date. This gives you a little over 3 weeks (from the day you receive my initial draft) to submit the balance.

2) Creative Brief
I’ll also need some important information regarding your product/service, offer (if any), target audience, competition and so on. No one can write top-notch copy in a vacuum.

In order to gather most of this information in an efficient manner, I provide you with a straightforward creative brief to fill out and send back or you can provide me with the answers over the phone.

Once I get the answers to the creative brief — along with any other helpful background information — I will probably have some questions. In that case, I will either email those to you or contact you to schedule a convenient time to discuss them.

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“How long will it take you to write my copy?”

While it mostly depends on what you need written, I generally like to ask for two weeks on most projects. Some projects — such as copy for a large website or a complex white paper —often require more time.

Of course, I realize you may not have this much time. If you have a “rush” job, make sure to contact me anyway. Give me a good idea of what you need and I’ll tell you if I can meet the deadline. If I can’t, I’ll be happy to refer you to some of my colleagues who may be able to turn it around more quickly.

Bottom line: I will NOT miss your deadline. If I take on the project, I guarantee I will have the copy to you on or before the promised date.

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“How do you handle revisions?”

I include two sets of requested revisions with most projects. These are included in the flat project fee I quote you. The only conditions are that they are assigned within 30 days of your receipt of the copy, and that they do not involve a change in direction, scope or format.

When I submit a draft, most clients are very happy with my work. However, should you not be completely satisfied, I will gladly revise the copy to your liking and at my expense. All I ask is that you take the time to help me pinpoint where the copy is missing the mark and why it’s not right.

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“Do you guarantee your work?”

In the case of direct response copy, I simply can’t predict how many responses or inquiries you’ll get. Frankly, no reputable copywriter can.

However, I always guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with the copy you’ll receive from me. If it’s not right, I’ll fix it until it is. All I ask is that you take the time to help me pinpoint where the copy is missing the mark, and why.

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“I have an immediate need. How do I contact you?”

Give me a call at (770) 419-3342 or drop me a line. Tell me about your project. There is no charge to discuss your project and no obligation to hire me if we talk or correspond via email.

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