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Copywriter’s Contracts: The Good, The Bad and What You Need to Know to Keep from Getting Hosed by Your Client

It used to be that a quick four-line Memo of Understanding between you and your client was enough before beginning a project.

Not any more. Cover yourself legally when you start a copywriting project.

Get more info right here.

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How to Communicate Effectively With Your Readers... Every Time

Beth Ann Erickson

As a freelance writer, you need to speak directly to your reader. If you don’t do this, you’ll lose them. Period.

So, here’s what you need to do:

First, understand that the average American reads at around the seventh grade level. This means you should forget using “million dollar” words. Understand that you certainly do not need to dumb-down your message, just use terms that are readily understandable.

The general rule is this: write like you speak.

Don’t try to write in any kind of “literary style.” Just communicate in the same way you would if you were sitting at a table across from your reader and speaking to them.

This means you’ll probably break more than a few grammar rules. This means you’ll probably start more than one sentence with the word “and.” This means your high school English teacher’ll probably accuse you of being a bad writer.

But it also means you’ll become an effective communicator.

Now we need to ratchet this advice up a notch.

Next, you need to study how your potential reader speaks, and write using that style.

This means you get to become a chameleon of sorts, assuming the persona of your reader.

For example, if you’re writing a piece for an upscale magazine targeting professional businesswomen, you’ll use a different “voice” (using different terminology and jargon) than you would if you were writing a piece for the National Enquirer.

If you’re trying to sell fishing lures to avid sportsmen, you’d probably use a different voice than you would if you were writing a piece for PC magazine.

You’re a wise writer when you research your market thoroughly before submitting anything. Read their marketing materials. Study their direct mail campaigns. Chances are, they’ve perfected the voice they use and you can reduce your learning curve by a lot when you study their materials.

Ah… writing isn’t for the faint of heart, is it? It’s a lot of hard (but fun) work. And the writers who recognize this increase their chances for success.