Unlike a full-time job, freelance copywriting requires working with multiple clients to make ends meet monthly. Like a full-time job, however, the most successful copywriters have good people skills to see them through their careers. Developing client relationships with progression and longevity is crucial to a freelance copywriting career.

Today, we’re discussing how the human touch can set you apart in copywriting.

Why is it important to build relationships with clients?

Like with any job, copywriting is about working with other people. Strong relationships with your clients can lead you to new work, long-term contracts, and genuine advancements in your career. Clients with a positive relationship with you will advocate for your abilities and recommend you highly to others.

Getting to know your clients better can also give you greater insight into their goals. Understanding why they want what they want can push your work to the next level and lead to a long, fruitful relationship. Managing client relations is a soft skill that can be complex but highly rewarding when you do it right.

How to build client relationships

There are several factors to consider when building lasting client relationships. Building relationships is a two-way street. Beginning with an open mind will help you find clients who can reciprocate and create a long-term relationship.

Be a strong communicator

The primary focus of building client relationships should be communication. Open and transparent communication is an incredibly crucial tool for freelance workers. Since you’re not likely to meet your clients face to face, you must ensure you understand them and vice versa.

Whether you’re starting a new project or learning more about their business, you must be able to ask questions and receive the information you need from your client. Let them know when they can contact you to receive the fastest reply to keep communication efficient and effective.

Keep calm 

Maintaining a cool head under pressure will impress your clients. It also helps you to keep calm if something goes wrong so you can focus on finding a solution. Consider our first point about communication with this, too. If something goes wrong, reach out to your client quickly and update them honestly and calmly.

Clients appreciate someone level-headed and focused on fixing an issue rather than panicking or complaining. If the problem is your fault, apologise for your mistake. If the client has caused the problem, tell them politely what they can do in the future to avoid this issue. Provide professional advice and consult them on how they would like you to proceed.

Accept feedback

Reacting badly at receiving feedback is one way to lose a client’s interest fast. In your career, you’ll receive both helpful and less helpful feedback, but being gracious about either type can set you apart as a copywriter and improve your client relationships.

Ensure you thank anyone who provides feedback on your writing. Even if you don’t find the feedback constructive, your client took the time to read your work and formulate some input, which deserves thanks. If the feedback can improve your writing, don’t be too proud to consider it.

Practise good customer service

Freelance copywriting is not a customer service job. However, maintaining a polite and positive attitude when talking to your clients helps build strong relationships. Approaching new challenges and projects with a bright mentality reassures your clients and encourages them to have a similar mindset.

Presumably, if you’re a freelance copywriter, you love writing. Share some of this passion with your client and show curiosity about their work. Clients like to see freelancers show a genuine interest in their projects. Openly expressing your joy for your work adds a human touch that nurtures client relationships.

Show your personality

Striking a balance between an excellent customer service manner and your unique personality creates the most robust relationship between you and your clients. Attentive listening when talking with your client is crucial. If they mention their pet or a holiday they’re planning, consider asking more personal questions like their pet’s name or where they’re holidaying.

Developing a personal relationship with your clients benefits both of you. Your client gets reassurance that you’re genuine and have a vested interest in their business. As a freelance copywriter, you also get the approval of a client who might recommend you to others or at least provide a strong testimonial supporting your work.

Can you build client relationships remotely?

In days gone by, it was more common to build client relationships in person. Client dinners, tickets to a show, all the things you’re used to seeing in the likes of Mad Men were part of a good ad agency’s client relations. Things are a little different for the freelance copywriter of today, however.

You can absolutely build client relationships whilst working remotely. It’s an excellent opportunity to work on your written communication skills. Most freelancers communicate with clients through email more than other formats. Beyond email, video calls are also a great way to talk about projects and get to know clients better.

What are the most important aspects of a client relationship?

Without a doubt, effective communication is the most crucial aspect of a client relationship. Focus on establishing honest and trusting links with your clients to set yourself apart as a distinguished copywriter who brings a human touch to their business.

Outside of communicating respectfully and efficiently with your clients, the quality of your work is crucial to your client relationship. Use the open conversations you’ve established to recommend changes if you think their ideas can be better. Showing initiative and giving clients an insight into why you’re the best copywriter for them is essential for a strong relationship.

Finally, a reciprocal, realistic approach to your projects is vital. Your client should know what to expect from you, and you should know how to deliver on it. You have both established everything from timescale, word count, style and pay before the work begins. Securing these client relationships leads to long-term success as a freelance copywriter.

Standing out as a freelance copywriter is challenging. Getting to know your clients and their work in-depth helps build valuable relationships that aid you in cultivating your own space in the copywriting world.

FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about building customer relationships.

What are the keys to building lasting customer relationships?

The principal key to building lasting customer relationships is communication. After all, it’s how you get to know anyone. Talk to your clients extensively about the project, ask questions, but also approach them as a person. Use empathy and honesty to view your relationship from their perspective and consider how you can be the best writer for them.

What makes a strong client relationship?

You can build strong client relationships with trust, mutual respect, and a positive attitude. Clients want to like you, so showing some of your personality and embracing their own with an open mind goes a long way. Offering your unique insight into their ideas and suggesting ways they can expand shows your commitment to the relationship’s longevity.

What are client relationship skills?

One of the most considerable client relationship skills is empathy. Being able to view a situation from the perspective of someone else is essential to building good relationships. Listening and communicating are also crucial client relationship skills for copywriters. You can create solid client relationships if you can comprehend a client’s concerns and satisfy them with your answers.

How do you build relationships with difficult clients?

Maintaining manners and engaging your active listening skills builds relationships with difficult clients. Most need help understanding you or being understood by you. Some clients are just tricky personalities. Decide if a relationship with them has enough benefits to be worth your resources. If it does, engage your customer service skills to build trust and respect.