What do you do if your copywriting clients have unclear expectations?

AWAI taught me that it's important to have a discovery call with potential clients that delves deeply into aspects of the business including their customers, business stats, and expectations of the project. You need to gather detailed information which may require this discovery call as well as follow-up emails before you are ready to present your project to the client for approval in a Proposal. Make it clear also that your number of revisions is limited, say to three times. Any further revisions require an additional fee.

I keep asking my client questions till I’m not clear about the niche and what type of content he exactly wants. It’s better to properly communicate with your client, discuss his requirements, and share your opinions/ideas relevant to them.

When faced with unclear expectations from copywriting clients, initiate a thorough discussion to elucidate their goals, target audience, tone, and desired outcomes.

I avoid this situation by providing a questionnaire containing 31 questions to clients. In this way, we both get a clear-cut picture of the pain points.

Communicate the importance of clarity for effective collaboration. Encourage open dialogue to address any uncertainties and establish realistic timelines and revisions.

I often ask my clients that share relevant samples of previous work(if any) so that I can study it and have an idea about its tone and the format I have to use. I ask my client if he wants me to follow the same format or come up with something different from this one. Once the work is done, I share the draft and ask if I need to make any changes to it. Usually, the client is satisfied, and sometimes they politely request me to add some points to the content (which I do). It's better to always ask your clients for feedback, this eventually improves the quality of work.

This helps clients visualize possibilities and articulate their preferences more clearly. Samples serve as a reference point for discussion, guiding them toward refining their expectations and enabling a smoother collaboration process.

First copies never get approved. Unclear client expectations be a stormy sea for copywriters! Here's the key: chart your course at the outset. Set expectations for revisions - how many rounds are included, how you handle extras. It's like knowing your supplies before setting sail. Transparency prevents last-minute squalls and keeps everyone on deck, working towards a smooth voyage to copywriting success.