Comments on: 4 Deadly Freelance Writer Roadblocks http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Thu, 17 May 2012 02:49:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1415 Michael Stelzner Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:16:16 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1415 Great comments and feedback everyone! These really are big problems. Great comments and feedback everyone! These really are big problems.

]]> By: nettie hartsock http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1398 nettie hartsock Tue, 12 Dec 2006 04:42:50 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1398 Hi Mike, Great questions! This does not happen to me as much as it used to because if I have someone that comes to me with that direction, then I tend to try to talk them out of using me if they won't budge on the technical stuff. I'm the "backseat writer" for my clients, and in living up to that self-imposed moniker I really want my clients to get the best out of my work. I do suggest as Janice noted in her comments, different ways for them to use some of their more strict tech-jargon marketing collateral and I do at the onset in writing an outline with the client ascertain what we're missing so it's helpful to drive the direction toward getting good content to fill in those spaces. With case studies, which I really primarily am doing now and love doing, it is often easier because mine are very story-driven and focused away from just marketing gunk and because they are typically shorter 1000-1200 words you really have to make certain they are not just boring marketing brochures! Hi Mike,
Great questions! This does not happen to me as much as it used to because if I have someone that comes to me with that direction, then I tend to try to talk them out of using me if they won’t budge on the technical stuff. I’m the “backseat writer” for my clients, and in living up to that self-imposed moniker I really want my clients to get the best out of my work.

I do suggest as Janice noted in her comments, different ways for them to use some of their more strict tech-jargon marketing collateral and I do at the onset in writing an outline with the client ascertain what we’re missing so it’s helpful to drive the direction toward getting good content to fill in those spaces.

With case studies, which I really primarily am doing now and love doing, it is often easier because mine are very story-driven and focused away from just marketing gunk and because they are typically shorter 1000-1200 words you really have to make certain they are not just boring marketing brochures!

]]> By: DDenise Kincy Grier, Freelance Writer http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1386 DDenise Kincy Grier, Freelance Writer Tue, 12 Dec 2006 02:46:09 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1386 I just wanted to say how much this blog is helping me. I have a long way to go, if ever, before I write white papers, but there is SO much information here that is useful to every freelance writer. Thank you. I just wanted to say how much this blog is helping me. I have a long way to go, if ever, before I write white papers, but there is SO much information here that is useful to every freelance writer. Thank you.

]]> By: Janice King http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1385 Janice King Tue, 12 Dec 2006 02:22:17 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1385 My favorite tactic for dealing with engineers who want to include a complete technical dissertation in every marketing document is to give them another outlet. I will suggest that the technical details will be best presented in a technical white paper or other document. This usually satisfies the engineer's need for acknowledgment and expression. It's also important to remember that an engineer probably knows that not all of the technical detail will make it into a brochure. Sometimes, they just need to give you a brain dump in order to feel comfortable that they have given you all the input you might need. Janice King, Author Copywriting That Sells High Tech www.writinghightech.com My favorite tactic for dealing with engineers who want to include a complete technical dissertation in every marketing document is to give them another outlet. I will suggest that the technical details will be best presented in a technical white paper or other document. This usually satisfies the engineer’s need for acknowledgment and expression.

It’s also important to remember that an engineer probably knows that not all of the technical detail will make it into a brochure. Sometimes, they just need to give you a brain dump in order to feel comfortable that they have given you all the input you might need.

Janice King, Author
Copywriting That Sells High Tech
www.writinghightech.com

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1383 Michael Stelzner Mon, 11 Dec 2006 23:15:12 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1383 Hey Kristen and Tom; There's a reason I selected an image of a big bull standing in the road. Yes, that can be a real big issue. I think one way to prevent these problems from happening is to set expectations up front. Get an outline approved, remind the client who "they" said the target reader was, ... Mike Hey Kristen and Tom;

There’s a reason I selected an image of a big bull standing in the road.

Yes, that can be a real big issue.

I think one way to prevent these problems from happening is to set expectations up front. Get an outline approved, remind the client who “they” said the target reader was, …

Mike

]]> By: Copywriter Underground http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1382 Copywriter Underground Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:14:33 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1382 This was always a real problem, especially when dealing with technical or high-tech startups. I can't count the number of times that clients asserted to me that bullet points were all that was necessary to make the sale. Frankly, tech specs are great - provided they're so spectacular they provide fodder for a dramatic marketing statement. More often, they're simply "me-too" information, where they function largely as a sleep aid for readers. This was always a real problem, especially when dealing with technical or high-tech startups. I can’t count the number of times that clients asserted to me that bullet points were all that was necessary to make the sale.

Frankly, tech specs are great - provided they’re so spectacular they provide fodder for a dramatic marketing statement.

More often, they’re simply “me-too” information, where they function largely as a sleep aid for readers.

]]> By: Kristen King http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1375 Kristen King Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:17:54 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2006/12/11/freelance-roadblocks/#comment-1375 Ugh, this is so exasperating! I'm fortunate in that this doesn't happen too frequently for me, but even once is too often in my opinion! If you hire me to do a job, let me do the job. I generally take the "in my professional opinion from a marketing standpoint, XYZ is the most effective way to approach this. You're the client and you're writing my check, so I'll do whatever you want, but I strongly feel that you'll get the most out of your marketing dollar if you take this route. How would you like me to proceed?" More often than not, they concede. And when they don't, I just don't use that particular project in my portfolio, and I think seriously before accepting another project from the client. Kristen www.inkthinker.blogspot.com Ugh, this is so exasperating! I’m fortunate in that this doesn’t happen too frequently for me, but even once is too often in my opinion! If you hire me to do a job, let me do the job. I generally take the “in my professional opinion from a marketing standpoint, XYZ is the most effective way to approach this. You’re the client and you’re writing my check, so I’ll do whatever you want, but I strongly feel that you’ll get the most out of your marketing dollar if you take this route. How would you like me to proceed?” More often than not, they concede. And when they don’t, I just don’t use that particular project in my portfolio, and I think seriously before accepting another project from the client.

Kristen
www.inkthinker.blogspot.com

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