What do you do if your copywriting ideas are being dismissed in client meetings and presentations?

Refine ideas based on client feedback, provide evidence of effectiveness, collaborate openly, and showcase successful case studies to gain credibility.

Identify what the client needs not what you want to offer. Untlimabley you can advise but if you want the business do as the customer requires.

In this line of work, it's important to brace yourself for the possibility that not all your ideas will be immediately embraced, and some might even undergo significant changes. But that doesn't mean you should give up on what you truly believe is the right path forward. My advice? Dive deep into your research and gather solid evidence to back up your ideas before pitching them. Believe wholeheartedly in the value of your idea and present it with confidence – people tend to respect those who exude certainty. Also, don't forget to be resilient. Choose your battles wisely and be willing to adapt while staying true to the essence of your original idea.

When your copywriting ideas get dismissed, directly ask for detailed feedback... Understanding the "why" can guide your revisions. Illustrate your points with examples, like mentioning a campaign by Old Spice that used unique humor to stand out, mirroring the creativity in your suggestions. If skepticism persists, suggest a small-scale test of your idea, similar to how Dropbox tested different referral incentives, finding the most effective through real-world data. This approach can shift the conversation from subjective opinions to objective results, showcasing the potential impact of your creative decisions.

If my copywriting ideas are dismissed in client meetings, I'll seek specific feedback to understand their concerns and adapt my approach accordingly. I'll conduct further research on the client industry and audience, enhance collaboration early in the process, and refine my presentation skills to better articulate the value of my ideas. Importantly, I'll stay resilient, using rejection as an opportunity to learn and improve.

If your ideas are being dismissed one of the most important things you can do is to put yourself in the shoes of your client and listen. You may have the greatest ideas in the world but you have to ask yourself first, how will this idea help the client reach their goals?, which is the filter through which they are ultimately translating everything. You may also be overcomplicating things. Practice simplifying ideas using key words from the brief you know will resonate with your client. Also, if you're a publisher, articulate clearly how your brand genuinely aligns with the attributes and ambitions of your partner.

9 times out of 10, the feedback I get from a client leads me to creating a better version of the copy/content, even if it may be frustrating at first. I think active listening plays a huge role in receiving this feedback in the best way. Listen to what's said (or not said), and "listen" to the body language where possible. Taking a step back and listening in these ways will inevitably uncover a new way of thinking about the copy/content.

When your copywriting ideas get the cold shoulder in client meetings, it's time to tune in & hear what they're saying. Take a step back & listen to their feedback. Maybe they've got insights into their audience that you haven't tapped into yet, or there are certain tones and styles they prefer that you haven't quite nailed down. Listen Attentively. Ask for Clarification. Don't hesitate to ask questions. It shows you're invested in understanding their needs. Adapt and Iterate. Use their feedback to refine your ideas. Don't let a few rejections shake your confidence. it's all about collaboration and finding common ground. Your goal is to create copy that not only resonates with the audience but also satisfies your client's vision.

A key part of the adventure is to ask and then listen. Everyone has something to offer and often great ideas, including you. They say a camel is a horse put together by a committee, but in my experience, an idea shaped by a group with strong points of view and mutual respect generates a the result greater then the sum of it's part. It takes courage to get surprised!

People speak when they know someone's hearing them. Don't fall in the trap "I got you from the first sentence." You can't. And it is a demonstration of arrogant and repulsive behavior. Even if you are experienced in the field, each client has a different story. Listen to it and seek for the essence. This will help you build trust and understand more details about the vision. And doing so will increase the possibility of creating the perfect message. One more reason to pay attention is that sometimes clients are not perfectly clear in their concept, therefore they need your support to crystalize it.

Asking questions will guide your future planning and assist you by understanding exactly what to improve and how you can be more efficient this will save time, effort, increase expertise and client satisfaction

When facing dismissal of your copywriting ideas, it's essential to ask questions for clarification. This demonstrates your engagement with the project and allows you to gather valuable insights into the client's perspective. Inquire about specific aspects of your ideas that didn't resonate and seek clarity on what the client is seeking instead. By understanding their objectives more deeply, you can tailor your approach to crafting copy that aligns more closely with their expectations. Asking questions not only helps you gather crucial information but also shows your commitment to delivering work that meets the client's needs effectively.

Before even presenting ideas, read the room. Find out what resonates with the clients. If possible find examples of previous ideas that were well received. Also remember what works for one client may not work for another, so avoid using a well-used presentation especially for new clients. Requirement gathering is the key to success!

Proactively seek clarification on dismissed copywriting ideas to demonstrate engagement and gain invaluable insights into the client's perspective. Understanding their objectives better will pave the way for more successful copy in future meetings.

Life is a series of rejections and the only real growth comes when one takes those rejections head on and humbly and figures out how to learn from them. When faced with repeated rejections, you have to take a step back and remind yourself that it's not personal, it's not you, because you are an ever-evolving being that can always grow and improve. Admit that your ideas aren't meeting expectations and clarify as to why, this is the first step to learning. What specifically am I offering that is not meeting your needs? What specifically are you looking for from me? It will not only pave the way to a better understanding of your expectations, it will open up the lines of communication and trust that can only lead to future success.

You'll have to dive deeply into the roots of the idea. And if necessary to change all that parts you like. Indeed it's hard separate yourself with something you believe is appropriate, but it's a part of the game. Also, by refining your copy you will A) broaden your research and find new sources/examples and B) discover new perspectives. It will make you more confident in your elaboration and you will tune easily with clients needs.

Really listen to what the client is asking for and address that in your work. Some pieces may be very fun and clever but they miss the mark because they aren’t really communicating the key message. Go back to the drawing board if needed and be sure to integrate the key messages of the campaign into the creative work. Let the wittiness be the icing on the cake.

Struggling to get your copywriting ideas greenlit? Try involving the client more! Collaboration helps you understand their vision. Brainstorm together or ask for their input early on. This approach creates copy that aligns with their needs and makes them feel like part of the team, boosting approval chances.

It's not an excuse that your clients don't want to be more helpful in the process. Maybe you should involve them more in it. Try to break the corporate rules (or at least pass by them) and learn more about your client's personality to build trust. Ask them about other aspects of their business and challenges that they are facing in real life. Talk openly and seek for advice if you're not sure how to proceed. Engage your clients by sharing your ideas on a regular basis and proactively looking for a feedback.

Collaboration above all else is crucial, if they feel like the idea is theirs you'll have no trouble engaging their full support.

Cooperation increases ideas and creates elegance resulting in new combined patterns. Everyone enjoys the learning and benefits from the practice. If you're careful to build upon ideas of others and not argue against them, everyone involved takes ownership of the blend. The result is much more than the sum of the parts. It works like a building game instead of a competition. You may find it's better to own half of a great idea than all of an unexamined proposal. You and the others will become a team, each valuing all the ideas. A game I have played at parties creating group visual art with each person adding one thing makes more than any could do alone. It's like a story that no one of us could write, and it works for all creative projects.

Be grateful to your clients. Even if they reject your suggestions or their feedback is harsh. It may be unpleasant but yes, we have to learn from our mistakes or from others' mistakes. Focus on the positive experience and write down all pros and cons. There are no bad lessons. All the challenges can be useful for next projects and clients. To adapt, we have to exercise not only our skills, but our mindset and perceptions.

Viewing rejection as a learning opportunity is key to growth as a copywriter. Each dismissed idea offers valuable insights into what doesn't work, guiding adaptation and improvement. Analyzing feedback for common themes or recurring issues helps refine approaches for future projects. Through continuous learning from these experiences, one can develop a more intuitive sense of client preferences, ultimately increasing success rates in pitch meetings.

Refer to the creative brief or strategy. Are your ideas aligned with the strategy that ideally has been agreed to before hand? As a former cmo who approved a lot of creative, the first question I always asked is ‘is the creative on strategy?’ Not it is good or bad or do I like it / is it on strategy? This adds some level of objectivity to what is often a subjective and frustrating exercise. Second question - how would the target audience react? Not you the cmo or your boss - the target audience?

To avoid a lot of rework, it is very important that the client's brief is well defined and aligned between the parties. Also, whenever possible, structure the project development in stages, so that the client can provide feedback throughout the process, before the final delivery. Furthermore, it is interesting to make an agreement with the client, at the beginning of the project, that approvals cannot be just "I like/I don't like" but argued based on what was aligned at the time of the briefing and considering the brand guide. Negatives need to be constructive, that is, direct the next versions assertively. Ana Couto, a reference in Branding in Brazil, has a expression in her method that is great: “approve or improve”.

Consider assessing why your advice is being disregarded and by whom. Example: maybe there’s an underlying reason the client isn’t saying like restrictions on what can be spent/budget restrictions or lack of knowledge about the importance to protecting their company, ideas, processes, etc. with legal registrations (copyrights or trademark protections) that protect these assets. Maybe it’s a COO who hasn’t received enough data, adverse examples, or simply needed stats to back up your reasoning. So it could simply be just providing more information and supportive data that changes that ‘no’ to a ‘yes,’ we should copyright our content, works, etc.

Rejection of a piece of copyrighting is an emotional decision. It does not have a right or wrong answer. If it has, a robot will do a fine job. Even when the client agrees to the copy, it does not guarantee a positive return for the products and services. In a digital world, we trust data. The A/B test is underutilized. Adapt the client's comments in the copy, if you agree, it is fine. If you do not, suggest to the client to do an A/B test. And follow the data.