Sometimes, clients ask for guarantees writers can’t really make, like promising a specific conversion rate for an email sequence, or a certain profit from a launch.

And while writers can promise a lot—quality content, created according to best practices, written in the voice of their client—they can’t promise specific outcomes from their copy.

It’s not always easy to tell a client these things can’t be guaranteed. So today, we’re talking about how to keep your clients happy, without over-promising something you can’t deliver.

From the vague “I’ll know it when I see it” or “This isn’t quite right” types, to the constantly shifting “Whoops, I changed my mind” type, to the type that never seems to give any feedback at all {but still isn’t quite satisfied with your work}, navigating the editing process can be difficult.

So in this episode, we’re breaking down strategies you can use to turn vague or unhelpful feedback into critiques that are clear, kind, and actionable.

In this episode of the Brand Your Voice podcast, we’re talking about managing writer-client relationships. This one has tips for both writers AND business owners outsourcing their content, so anyone can dive in!

Some writers hate talking to people. And even if you’re not super introverted like us, facing down a sales call can still be pretty anxiety-inducing. After all, if you can’t land clients, you won’t make money.

The problem is writers often head into a sales call so focused on their need to make money, they ignore all the red flags screaming, “Don’t book this client!” You need to learn to detach from the outcome, or you’ll end up with clients who aren’t a good fit for you.

Sometimes, business owners hire writers to hand off specific writing tasks. Other times, they hire to get strategic input.

And content creators themselves often fall into one of these two types: the task-focused creator or the strategy-focused creator. In this episode, we’re breaking down the difference between these two roles, plus helping writers identify their preference and business owners identify who they should hire.

When you think of networking, you probably think of a corporate event. A room full of dozens of people in business suits, all looking to climb the career ladder. And whether you’re an introvert overwhelmed by the prospect of talking to all those people, or an extrovert excited for it, one thing is always true: it’s a lot of pressure. But while building relationships is important, it doesn’t have to be so intimidating. In this episode, we'll go over how to network as a writer.

Here’s a common problem for business owners: you need money, so you focus on sales. Then you land a bunch of sales, and panic about delivering on what you’ve promised. So you focus on delivery, but then you’re not selling. So you panic about sales, and focus on that… See the problem?

It’s called the feast-or-famine cycle, and it’s an exhausting way to try to run a business. In this episode, we'll go over some ways you can learn to keep your work at a manageable level and break the cycle.

Change can be scary, especially when it comes to your business. There are real financial consequences if you try something new and everything blows up in your face. But making sure your business evolves with your needs is actually key to its success. By giving yourself permission to try something new, you can evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Today we are talking about why it's important to take the leap and try something new in your business!

Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries. They make the world go ‘round. It’s a topic so important, we had to cover it twice.

At their best, boundaries benefit both you and your clients. They set you up for the best quality work AND the best quality working relationship. But how do you figure out when to set boundaries? In this episode, we'll teach you how!

It’s always going to be easier to reconnect with someone you’ve previously worked with than it is to find someone new to hire you. When you have an established relationship, you can use it to turn a former client into a repeat customer, or ask them to refer you to someone else.

So approaching client relationships with retention in mind from the start is super important. Instead of wasting a huge amount of time and energy always trying to make new connections, invest a fraction of it into the relationships you already have. In this episode, we will be talking about how you can build a great relationship with your existing clients.