How not to look like a Needy weakling to clients

An “Email Players” subscriber once asked me about the client-copywriter dance. And it went down like this: He had sent some copy to a client (while working on spec i.e., only gets paid if the ad is accepted, ran, and the client is honest…) The client wrote back with some suggestions. The copywriter fixed it according to said suggestions… and he hadn’t heard from the client in a while. It sounded like it’d been a long wait. Almost like the client had either fallen off the face of the earth or took the copy (he got free) and now has no intention of paying the copywriter. Which is what the question was about: He was wondering if/when he should follow up. Especially so he wouldn’t look Needy, etc. My answer? It’s the same answer I give to anyone anxiously waiting for something from someone — whether it’s a girl’s answer to a text, a boss’s reply to a request for a raise, or, yes, a client you’ve sent something to and are awaiting a reply for an unusually long period of time. And here it is: Whenever you feel this way, ask yourself: “Isn’t there something better I could be doing?” And then go do whatever the answer is. Very simple. And, surprisingly therapeutic, constructive, and efficient. Anyway, this waste-of-time-and-talent dance with clients is one reason I hated dealing with them for the most part. Especially when money was tight, and I didn’t have a lot of time to be jerked around, and I was on a rampage to get things done. Far as I know, I was the first to coin the phrase: “Alt-copywriter” Because that’s what describes what I do instead of freelance work. And some wise copywriters — going back at least as far as the late Gene Schwartz — have also run just such a business, where you are your own client (freelance clients optional), selling your own offers, and keeping all the money, instead of just relying on a fee. And you also don’t have to ever diddle around waiting for anyone else because the whole show rests on your shoulders. Something terrifying to the purely freelancer types who need a boss. But exciting to those who want to be their own client. This entire email is one big tease for something NOT for sale yet: I recently re-recorded - from scratch - my 10-Minute Workday program AWAI sells. It is not only totally different information, but the program title is going to be changed to Client-less Copywriter, the offer will be completely rebranded, and the impact will, I believe, be ridiculous to those who get it when we re-launch it in the coming months. So much has changed since 2016 when I created TMWD in so many ways, it’s almost like a different planet now. And I wanted to make the info more relevant, and more targeted (less appealing to the biz opp zombies, and more appealing to those it was intended for - freelance copywriters wanting to be their own client) not only for today, but going forward too. Something else about this: Recently, the great Dan Kennedy told me (and I will never stop milking this testimonial so you might as well just get used to it ‘round here) that my “magnum opus” book “elBenbo Press” (about the book and newsletter publishing side of my business — not for sale currently) was better than anything “the 'old masters' like Ted Nicholas, Lyman Wood, George Haylings and Dean .F DuVall did” about creating an info publishing business. Well, guess what? This new Client-less Copywriter program that will be replacing 10-Minute Workday is, in my opinion, way better than elBenbo Press, and more accessible since it’s not “about” print or any specific media — it’s meant to be a framework that can work for any kind of offer you want to sell (physical, digital, coaching, software, supplements, anything that you can sell that people buy). So they aren’t competing products or anything like that. But when I got done recording Client-less Copywriter I realized it was far and away more valuable than even elBenbo Press. It truly is the program I would have committed wholesale slaughter for to get my hands on 22+ years ago when I got started up in this game. Yes, I am totally and completely biased. But that makes me no less correct. And I suspect those who get Client-less Copywriter will agree. Anyway, I just wanted to drop some info about it for now. I am not sure when it will be ready for sale. But one thing you can bet your little perky wallet on is: I will mail the hell out of my list about it when it does launch. In the meantime? You can be better prepped for that program by being an Email Players subscriber. As those who have studied my stuff on World-Building last year in Email Players know, my current paid subscribers get far more value out of what I sell than NEPCs (non-Email Players characters) do for a whole host of reasons. And it will be no different with Client-less Copywriter. Doesn’t mean NEPC’s can’t use my other offers or this next one. But they will always be behind the 8 ball with anything I do or teach from not having the up-to-date and most relevant insider info only my very best boys & ghouls get access to — and for probably half of what their daily sugar coffee costs per day. Anyone whining about “oh I can’t afford it!” is full of shyt. I looked up the price of Email Players on an inflation calculator recently. And you know what? I SHOULD be charging nearly $150/month for it just to keep up with reported inflation. And probably a lot more - as inflation is WAY higher than the government says it is. But I don’t. It’s still only $97/month. And I still do free shipping to countries I still ship to. But as many-a-would-be Infotainment Jackpot customer learned over the weekend, that list of countries I still sell in outside the US (and I am seriously considering blocking all of California in the cart too — all the problem customers in the US are in CA, and the good customers who live there are mostly leaving that state anyway, I also don’t like their aggressive nexus laws, which will make it risky to even fly in a plane over the state…) is growing shorter every month. But I “grandfather” in current subscribers if they are in before I block whatever country I block. So if you want in, and to have a secure spot going forward, I suggest doing it sooner rather than later. I don’t know who needed to hear that. But there it is. To read more about the paid monthly Email Players newsletter go here: []( Ben Settle This email was sent by Ben Settle as owner of Settle, LLC. Copyright © 2024 Settle, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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