A reader exposes an “ick” client

Ready for some Q&A?

Let’s set the mood.

Autumn leaves floating in the sun? ✅
Tame Impala blasting in the cafe? ✅
Piping hot cup of black coffee? ✅

3 … 2 … 🎬

A reader writes in this morning with a particularly juicy query:

“Business owners are convincing me to write content instead of copy ... It isn't because they like my copy. But they don't want to hire another writer. How the F$%# I'm gonna explain to them copywriting & content writing is different?

Also, there's no upsell, they want me to do both at the same rate. Gotta be kidding right now. No wonder I hate their product ... & it gives me an ick / a bad taste in promoting their stuff online.

I'm this👌close to exposing how they treat writers on LinkedIn.

So 3 questions for you -

1) Should I call them out on Twitter/LinkedIn?

2) Should I be an ignorant a-hole and say no🗿

3) Or just think it's a part of being a copywriter & write whatever they need? (Part of me knows why they want me to write both because it's an agency)

Cheers”

My thoughts:

1) Have you spoken to you client directly about what you want and what’s not working for you? Did they respond poorly?

To me, it sounds like you want a higher rate of pay or a different type of work from your client.

That may or may not be possible, but it’s not a reason to do a public takedown on them.

Get clear about what you want, support a pay increase with evidence, and set a time to talk to your client about it.

Depending on their response, you may want to stay or leave.

But “publicly calling them out” gets you nowhere. (And you look lame.)

2) No, don’t be an “ignorant a-hole.” You’re a professional.

Have a grown up conversation with your client and talk about where things are not working for you.

I myself am currently working through a salary increase for my own role — complete with supporting evidence, revenue contributions, direct job comps, salary ranges and more.

All I had to do was ask my manager.

And yes … I realize that is a LOT scarier. But it will yield the result I actually want.

3) Do you need or want more experience? And are you in a place in your career where you can afford to lose the client if you don’t want to do those things any more?

Throughout my copywriting career I have taken a lot of different types of writing.

Including, at one point, consumer-facing post-purchase itinerary documents for a travel company.

I hated it, but it’s where I was at during that time. So I did it.

One last thing.

This post is a good example of how I recently called out bad behavior.

The client was being totally disrespectful to my coworker and I. Talking over me, laughing at me, etc.

That is what I called out.

And even then, I called it out directly TO them … not publicly.

I only wrote about it because it was good fodder for an email, not because I wanted to “name names.”

Once addressed, the meeting proceeded professionally and I was able to get the research I needed.

YOU have the power to fix the situation yourself … or move on.

But anything else (that isn’t exposing truly vile behavior or business practices) is just complaining.

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David Patrick