As a beginner copywriter, handling client revisions and feedback is an essential skill that you’ll need to develop to build strong, long-lasting relationships with your clients. While feedback can be incredibly valuable in improving your work, it can also feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to freelancing. In this article, we’ll explore how to handle revisions and feedback professionally and how to use it to improve your writing.
1. Understand the Client’s Expectations from the Start
Clear communication at the beginning of a project is crucial to avoid misunderstandings later. Before you start writing, make sure you fully understand your client’s expectations, preferences, and the specific goals of the project.
Ask the following questions:
- Who is the target audience?
- What tone and style should the copy have?
- What are the key messages and call to action (CTA)?
- Are there any specific guidelines, keywords, or SEO requirements?
By setting clear expectations upfront, you’ll reduce the likelihood of significant revisions later on. Having a solid understanding of the project scope will also help you write copy that aligns with the client’s vision.
2. Approach Feedback with an Open Mind
When you receive feedback, especially if it involves significant changes or corrections, it’s important to approach it with an open mind. Even if the feedback feels critical or overwhelming, remember that it’s an opportunity for growth. Clients provide feedback because they want you to meet their needs and deliver high-quality work.
Take a step back, and don’t take the feedback personally. Instead, view it as a constructive tool that will help you improve your skills and strengthen your relationship with the client.
3. Clarify the Feedback
If the client’s feedback is unclear or vague, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. It’s better to ask questions and get a clear understanding than to make assumptions and deliver work that misses the mark.
You can ask:
- Could you explain which parts of the copy you would like to see changed?
- What specific elements do you feel are missing or need more focus?
- Is there a reference or example you have in mind for the tone or style?
Clarifying feedback ensures that you’re addressing the right issues and that the final product aligns with the client’s vision.
4. Stay Professional and Courteous
When receiving feedback, it’s important to maintain a professional attitude. Avoid becoming defensive or argumentative, even if the feedback feels harsh or overly critical. Remember that your goal is to deliver the best work possible, and handling revisions gracefully will demonstrate your professionalism.
Respond to feedback in a courteous manner, express gratitude for the input, and reassure the client that you’re committed to making the necessary changes. A polite and professional demeanor will build trust and make the revision process much smoother.
5. Be Efficient with Revisions
Once you understand the feedback, it’s time to implement revisions. Be efficient in making the changes, but don’t rush the process. Take your time to ensure the revisions are well thought out and properly executed.
Some tips for efficient revisions:
- Prioritize major changes: Address any significant structural or content-related issues first.
- Make smaller tweaks later: After making the big changes, go back to fine-tune the smaller details like sentence structure and tone.
- Track revisions: Keep a list of changes you’ve made so that you can easily refer back to them and ensure nothing was overlooked.
Being efficient with revisions will help you meet deadlines and show the client that you respect their time.
6. Set Boundaries Around Revisions
It’s common for clients to request multiple rounds of revisions, but it’s important to set clear boundaries regarding how many revisions are included in the price of the project. Make sure your contract or agreement outlines how many rounds of revisions you’re willing to provide and how much additional work will cost if the client requests further revisions beyond the agreed-upon rounds.
This will help you manage your time and prevent clients from asking for unlimited revisions, which can become time-consuming and draining.
7. Use Revisions to Learn and Improve
Every revision you make is an opportunity to learn. Take note of any recurring themes in the feedback and use them to refine your writing process.
For example:
- If a client frequently asks you to adjust the tone, it may be a sign that you need to spend more time researching how to write in that tone for future projects.
- If you consistently get feedback about improving the structure or flow of your content, you may want to review your writing process and incorporate new techniques to address those issues.
By reflecting on client revisions, you can improve your writing skills and make fewer mistakes in future projects.
8. Offer Solutions, Not Just Problems
When presenting your revisions, it’s a good idea to not just make the changes but also explain the reasoning behind them. This demonstrates that you understand the client’s vision and that you’re invested in providing a high-quality product.
For example:
- If the client wanted a more persuasive tone, explain how you’ve adjusted the wording and sentence structure to make the copy more engaging.
- If the client requested fewer technical terms, explain how you’ve simplified the language to make the content more accessible to the target audience.
Offering solutions, rather than just making changes, shows that you’re proactive and thoughtful about your work.
9. Deliver the Revisions Promptly
Once you’ve made the necessary revisions, deliver them promptly. Clients will appreciate quick turnarounds, and it demonstrates your reliability and commitment to meeting deadlines. However, don’t rush the revisions—make sure they’re thoroughly revised and polished before sending them back.
If you need more time than initially anticipated, be sure to communicate with the client and set realistic expectations. Keeping clients in the loop shows that you’re dedicated to delivering quality work.
10. Learn How to Manage Multiple Clients’ Revisions
As you gain more clients, you may find yourself juggling revisions for several projects at once. Managing multiple rounds of revisions can be overwhelming, but with proper organization and time management, it’s doable.
Here’s how to manage multiple clients’ revisions:
- Create a revision schedule: Allocate specific times each day to work on revisions for each client.
- Use project management tools: Tools like Trello or Asana can help you keep track of feedback and revisions for different projects.
- Prioritize by deadline: Address revisions based on the urgency of the client’s needs, ensuring you meet the most pressing deadlines first.
Being organized and keeping track of revisions for multiple clients will help you stay on top of your workload.
Conclusion
Handling client revisions and feedback is a crucial skill for any beginner copywriter. By maintaining clear communication, approaching feedback with an open mind, and being efficient with revisions, you’ll build stronger relationships with clients and improve your writing over time. Use each revision as an opportunity to learn and grow, and remember to set boundaries to protect your time. With practice, you’ll become more confident in handling revisions and delivering top-quality work to your clients.