Ever spent an age putting together an email - for work or something else - only to fuss and fret about each and every word it contains?

You rewrite it; you change the order of a sentence; you substitute a less 'formal' word for something that sounds more...er...professional. Then you hover over the 'Send' button.

When it comes to writing the language we speak day in, day out, we can all feel a tinge of self-doubt every now and then. I certainly do - and I write for a living, for my clients and here on my freelance Yorkshire copywriter blog.

Whether or not we have a good grasp of grammar and punctuation is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to text-based fret. Try as we might, many of us still stress about what we write: whether that WhatsApp message sounded a bit rude, if your email could be misconstrued (I'm a poet and I didn't know it), or if there was er...too much of an...er...interlude between sending that email and getting a reply.

*'Do I sound like a pillock?'
*'Have I just used a word in the wrong context?'
*'Do I come across 'okay', or even 'fun' and 'likeable' on email or text?
* Is my humour a bit ‘out-there’?
*Sh*t, did I spell their name right?!

Ever asked yourself any of the above? In fact, how many of those questions pop into your head before you write the actual thing and hit that blinking 'Send' button.

My advice when you feel like you can't write? Just. Write. Something.

Seriously, just start. Once you've sent your email, don't give it a second thought. Unless you've called your boss a c*ck, it's probably a-okay. So is that text message you want to send to an old flame. Go on; why not...live a little. Unless you’re drunk and he/she is taken. Then maybe leave well alone and get yourself on Tinder.

‘Just Start’ (I bet Nike are sh*tting themselves)

I apply my patented 'just start' principle to everything I'm procrastinating about. There's nothing worse than the feeling of dread that comes with putting something off. So, today - do that thing you've been thinking about doing. Swallow the frog - or whatever it is they say.

Send that email, write that text, start that novel, organise the kitchen cupboards.

You know it'll make you feel better.

The point to this article? I'm not really sure. Other than the fact I've been putting off writing this for well over a week. Now? It's out there in the world - in front of your peepers - and I feel great.

So, take my advice - just start - and you'll feel great too.

Until next time…

Get in the bin! No, really. That’s where you (or rather, your email) will be heading if you commit one of the following ‘crimes’ when you email your chosen copywriter about the possibility of working together.

Start the Email with ‘Greetings!’

Show me a genuine email that starts with ‘Greetings’ and I’ll show you 1,0235 emails that aren’t. What is it about spam messages?! They literally all start with something wildly ‘olde English’ like ‘Greetings’.

Your email provider is probably so used to this keyword that the email in question will almost always end up in your ‘Spam’ folder anyway, but if not, you’ll probably veto it yourself and send it to ‘Trash’.

So, if you’re a bonafide copywriting client that starts emails with ‘Greetings’, perhaps you need to rethink your strategy.

Tell Us Your ‘Usual Copywriter is Busy’.

Now, come on folks…the first (unspoken) rule of buttering someone up to work with with you is to flatter them.

We don’t expect you to tell us you’ve been a ardent admirer of our work for decades (well, you can if you want) but we don’t want to know that you’re only getting in touch because your go-to copywriter is otherwise engaged.

Make us feel special, yo. Please.

Sob.

Ask Us to Do it Cheaper

No. Just no.

Copywriters (and indeed all other professionals) charge thus because they believe their service is more than worth the price.

Want it cheaper? Find someone else.

Tell Us You’ve Used 3 Copywriters and ‘No One Gets It’.

It’s not me (or rather, them)…it’s you.

Sure, one copywriter might not understand your brief. Two might fall short when it comes to meeting your objectives…but three, or more? It’s probably time to reassess how you brief your copywriter.

We copywriters are friendly folks; we’ll work with you and not against you, in order to ensure you get the perfect prose you’re after - but we aren’t mind readers and we do appreciate something of a steer from you too.

The client/copywriter relationship works both ways. Help us do good work and…well…we’ll do good work.

Send a ‘Round Robin’ Message

Again, we just want to feel special*, so allow us to feel that way.

If your email starts with ‘Hi there’ - and you’ve accidently forgotten to blind copy the other copywriters you’ve messaged, the chances are we’ll simply feel like nothing more than a money-saving exercise.

Sure, you have a budget and you also want to find the best copywriter for you - but pitting freelancers up against each other may rile some of the more sensitive amongst us.

Again, you don’t have to go overboard with the compliments (although, please feel free to do so - a spot of flattery will get you everywhere), but it is nice when would-be clients let us know we’ve been plucked from a sea of copywriters as a stand-out candidate for your project. In fact, it’s blimming brilliant.

*gets out tiny violin for one’s self

Want to work together? Say hello here - and, please, tell me you like my blouse or whatnot.

Until next time…

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