🪦 RIP Google Optimize

Happy Wednesday! If today’s email looks a little different, it’s because we’ve just migrated to a new email service provider. We’ve got a few more exciting announcements to follow, but in the meantime, hit reply and let us know if anything looks funny.

Now, onto today’s important business: Google Optimize, Twitter API, and NFTs. Plus when it’s okay to work for free, and two questions you must ask every new client before you start writing for them.

Read time: 3 minutes and 49 seconds

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Making the Rounds

• RIP Google Optimize.The free split-testing tool will disappear after September 30, 2023, joining Stadia, Hangouts, and Google+ in the product graveyard. Pour one out.
  
  

• Twitter new’s API pricing will force many 3rd-party apps out of business. CEO Elon Musk has argued its necessary to reduce bots and spammers, but given developers will now need to pay a minimum of $42,000 per month to access the cheapest plan, representing a 14X increase in price, it’s likely that many will have no choice but to cease operations.
  
  

• Meta waves goodbye to NFTs. Despite launching support for NFTs on Facebook and Instagram less than a year ago, the company just announced it’s winding down support for digital collectibles.

Working With Clients

When it’s Okay to Work For Free

Should you ever work for free?

It’s a hotly-debated topic in freelancing circles.

Some say yes, some say so.

Us?

We say it depends.

Should you agree to do unpaid work for every Tom, Dick, and Harry in your DMs?

Hell naw.

But on the flipside, being strategic about working for free can help you land whale clients.

Here’s why…

Emailing one of your Dream 100 and asking them to hire you is a bad idea.

They’re busy and they don’t owe you anything.

But emailing or DM’ing someone on your Dream 100 list to legitimately compliment them and let them know how their work has impacted you…

… Then offering a small number of free assets (ads, emails, thumbnails, short-form videos, whatever it is you specialize in) with NO strings attached…

Now that can be a very effective client acquisition strategy.

Assuming the work you’ve done is good and aligns with their brand, of course.

Why?

Because you’ve flipped the script and done them a favor.

So the chances they’ll actually look and/or test your assets is much higher.

Now... how do you know which businesses to target with this strategy?

Here are 3 criteria:

1. They run paid ads

2. They email their list regularly

3. They have lots of testimonials and social proof for their products & services

These are all signs of a healthy business with a healthy marketing budget.

Start from there, then use your judgment to filter down further.

From The Copywriting Gig

Two Questions You Must Ask Every New Client Before You Start Writing

Writing for a new client is a nerve wracking experience.

You’re worried about capturing their voice and tone…

While at the same time still making sure the copy’s strong and positioned to convert.

What if they hate it?

What if they think you’re a terrible writer?

What if they’re slack jawed at how shockingly bad it is and ask for their money back?

These are some of the thoughts that can go through your mind as you wait for feedback on the first draft.

But the good news is..

There’s a simple set of questions you can ask to avoid the most common pitfalls and get them to volunteer all their pet peeves in advance.

Here they are:

QUESTION 1: Have you ever had someone write for you before?

It’s a simple question, but a revealing one.

If they answer no, this is an opportunity for you to manage expectations.

Walk them through your process.

Remind them that the first draft is not meant to be the final draft.

Put any doubts they have at ease.

Etc, etc.

The second question only applies if they answer yes…

Which is:

QUESTION 2: What did you like or NOT like about it?

By getting them to tell you what they liked — and more importantly, what they didn’t — you can go into the first draft armed with valuable intel.

Maybe they think ellipses are dumb…

Maybe they prefer to say “going to” instead of “gonna”...

Or maybe they LOVE when using all-caps to drive the point home.

Point is:

95% of the stuff that’s likely to come up for revisions in the first draft can be screened for.

And making sure the client is happy with the first piece of copy they get back from you is key to retaining them long-term.

So make sure to add this to your onboarding process.

Gig Alerts

Looking for clients? These freelance jobs were posted on Upwork in the last 24 hours:

• Build a funnel in Funnelish

• Create Script for a Marketing Video

• Experienced You tube add media buyer for various niches.

• Online Event Marketer (with Social Media experience)

• Graphic Designer

• Logo Creation

NOTE: We only share job postings from Upwork. We’ve found it to be the most trustworthy platform with the highest-quality clients.

Furthermore, job postings must be for high-income skills like copywriting, media buying, funnel building, graphic design, remote closing, etc in order to qualify.

Quote of the Day

"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go."
— William Feather

Consistency isn’t sexy.

But it’s often what separates those who make it from those who don’t.

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