Behind every successful business online is an excellent copywriter who has done magic with the client’s website. The copywriter’s job is to create compelling content to generate leads, traffic and sales to the client’s website. But it’s the client’s job to help the copywriter understand what they want to achieve with that content. Somewhere down the road, there can be many requests and changes, which is why it’s best to have a contract in place. We know how hard it is to get started. For that reason, we are in the process of drafting a copywriting template for content and copywriters to download directly from our website.
But here is what you need to know about copywriters from a legal perspective.
Managing scope creep
Scope creep is a big issue for copywriters. Scope creep is when the client makes requests or asks you for changes outside the agreed-upon scope of work. This can include the number of revisions, payment terms, tone of voice, turnaround times etc.
- A client can ask you to do a revision after revision, and you will have no choice but to keep doing as he asks. Why? Because you have nothing in writing.
- A client can ask you to finish the job in a week, even though you’ve already agreed on two weeks. You are not protected because you have nothing in writing.
- A client can pay less if they claim they are not happy with the copy. Can you argue without a contract? No.
If you don’t make these terms clear in your project agreement before starting work, it would be hard to say no to the client. If you want to protect your business and cash flow, you should outline these aspects of the work in the contract for your client to agree to and sign prior to starting any project
Hand in a copywriting contract
It portrays a professional image if you hand the client a contract to sign – it’s there to protect both parties. As often as not, copywriters will ask for a deposit, which is fine. Clients should know they won’t ghost them because they are protected by the contract.
Final draft
The final draft is ready. All you have to do now is ensure the client has the final sign-off. This part is crucial, so they don’t return to you in a month’s time and say something wasn’t right. Although the chances of this happening are slim, you should be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Payment terms
Payment terms should be clearly outlined in the copywriter contract. The contract should contain details on how you want to get paid, when you are to be paid, and whether you want to be paid in advance, in instalments or milestones, or at the end. Payment terms are really important, so getting a deposit or if you’re working on a retainer ensuring some form of payment (ideally all) is upfront prior to work being handed over is crucial.
Avoid agreeing getting paid at the end. More often than not, copywriters without a copywriter contract end up with no reward at all. Make sure the client is aware of your expectations from the start by having the payment terms detailed in your agreement.
Bottom line
As a copywriter, you’ll likely deal with different clients and requests all the time. To prevent frustrating issues and wasted time and money, you must protect yourself, your business and your cash flow with a copywriting contract.
If you are not sure where to start, we have a Copywriting Contract Template which works for most copywriters. Or you can reach us if you need a customised version.