From The Golden Thread Mailbag …
Know Who’s Signing the Letter
By Pat Coffey

Dear Pat,

I just landed my very first jobs from DirectResponseJobs.com. I am going to write two sales letters for two different products. And I agreed to write them on spec. However, since I am new to all this, I don’t know when I should ask about payment or how much I should ask for.

Can you help me out with this?

Jennie C.

Hello Jennie,

Good for you. I’m happy to hear that you are making the most of www.directresponsejobs.com.

Just like you would with any project, discuss the terms upfront so there are no surprises. In this case, your agreement will be something along the lines of “if you decide to test my copy, I will be paid X on Y.”

Let us know how it goes.

Hello Pat,

The Accelerated Program for Six-figure Copywriting places much emphasis upon being knowledgeable about the product or service you’re writing about and the prospect to whom you’re writing. But unless you are writing a sales letter for your own business, shouldn’t you know something about the person who will actually sign the sales letter that you were employed to write? In other words, what might be his “natural voice?”

Dub M.

Hello Dub,

If you know as much as possible about the person who is signing the letter, it will make your job easier. Read everything that’s come from him or her in the past … get as many details as you can from your marketing director … and, if possible, do a phone or email interview. It’s the personal gems you sprinkle throughout your letter that add credibility … and help you make that all-important personal connection with your prospect.

That’s it for this week. Thanks to one and all. Keep those emails coming!

Pat