A while back one of my friends (one of the best copywriters in the game) was saying how badly he wanted OUT of client work.
How he was sick of slaving away for clients.
How it was just a “glorified job.”
And, how it was literally KILLING him.
(With the doctor bills to prove it.)
Below was my response to him.
If you’re wanting out of client work or just want to build an online business I think you may find it useful.
Hit it, Maestro…
I can relate.
I always hated working for clients.
Instead, I wanted to do the “partnership” copywriting model.
That way, I could JUST do the ad writing and get paid on the overall sales of a business (not just a one time fee). So I tried it in the golf biz unsuccessfully, then tried a similar deal with some folks in the biz opp market and this time all was well.
It actually worked.
At least, for about 4 months.
These people weren’t sociopaths looking to screw anyone.
But in December 2010 when I was on retainer for them, they started throwing all kinds of work on me, which was fine, I was getting paid pretty good.
But I didn’t enjoy it.
I liked the people well enough.
I got along with everyone.
They even offered to put me in one of the best hotels in Vegas for one of their events (how can you not like people like that?). But, I hated working with other people (I prefer to work alone). I hated being under anyone’s authority (In this case at least 3 different people…) And, I realized I was not building any of my own equity — and was, at the end of the day, still an employee (although a well paid one).
So what did I do?
The week of Christmas 2010 I wrote a business plan.
The goal:
To liberate myself from client work by end of 2011.
’twas a one year plan.
And I busted my gluteus assimus to achieve that goal.
I was doing that client work, plus building a side business in a male health niche (writing 10-20 articles per day, plus 5 auto-responder emails and my BenSettle.com daily email, plus editing the then “Crypto Marketing Newsletter”.)
I worked like a mule.
In the end it took only HALF as long.
I officially stopped doing client work August of 2011.
(Right in time for the “Email Players” launch.)
Anyway, I say this, to give you hope.
You got your ____ product, and you are formulating a plan. It may not take you long to bust out of having to do any client stuff at all. If I were you (and I was going to do this, but it’s not really my bag) is back end personal coaching for $1k per month (or more, whatever you want).
Get 5 or so coaching clients.
(With a waiting list for more in case any drop out.)
At that level you can pay your monthly nut, at least.
Plus, it liberates your time.
And, lets you build your info biz side up faster.
(No clients required.)
The part that sucks is the in between time of uncertainty and realizing you may have to change course a few times. For example, the strategy I was using for that side niche (article marketing) went belly up when Google (that very next month — after banging out almost 1,000 articles in a month) started killing article ranks (at least, the way I was doing it).
But hey, it’s the destination, not the journey, right?
Actually, I HATE that quote.
Just take me to the destination…
But just make a business plan and stick with it.
You might get there faster than you think…
Anyway, maybe someone needed to hear that.
Also, there’s one thing I left out:
My secret weapon for getting “client free” fast was email.
I’d already been mailing daily for a few years and had formulated and tested (in multiple markets) my own special launch process for new products (which is based on SIMPLICITY and only a few “moving parts”).
And so, that was essential.
Oh, and BTW…
I realize some people like doing client work.
And, I think it is a good option to have.
(Especially in this crazy economy.)
Just realize:
Using emails the right way gives you an instant edge.
The kind where clients seek you out.
And, not the other way ’round.
You can learn my system here:
Ben Settle
