How To Interview Clients as a Copywriter: 30+ Questions To Ask in Your Next Interview

Preparing For The Interview

Before you can conduct a copywriting interview with a client, it’s important to take the time to prepare. Doing your research and setting up the interview ahead of time will help ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Doing Background Research

Researching your client is probably the most important step in the whole process. You need to get an understanding of how they present themselves online and to their customers, as well as what their unique selling points are.

Doing your homework means you’ll be more prepared for your interview and can tailor the questions to their specific needs. It is at this stage that you can get a sense of whether you’re a good fit for the project.

Here’s a checklist of things to do during the research phase:

• See what their main competitors are offering and how they’re positioning their product or service
• Read through any existing content they have. This will help you to determine what kind of style they prefer.
• Try to find any areas of improvement in their copy, website, or overall marketing strategy.
• Check out customer reviews. Are customers happy with their products and services?
• Try to understand their mission statement. What values do they stand for? What are their ultimate goals?
• Look into their social media presence. See what kind of content they share, and which topics seem to be performing best with their audience.
• Try to work out their brand voice and what kind of language resonates with their customers.

Doing all this before your interview means you’ll come armed with the information required for you to hit the ground running. During your conversation, you can always chime in with your ideas and provide any insights you’ve uncovered during your research.

Setting Up The Interview

Once you have done your research on the client, it’s time to set up an interview. Make sure that both parties are clear about when and where this meeting will take place so there is no confusion later on down the line.

Use Calendly, a free scheduling tool, to easily create an online booking system so clients can book in with you directly. It saves you time, relieving you of the hassle of going back and forth with emails trying to find an available time that suits both parties.

You should also make sure that all necessary materials are ready ahead of time such as contracts or questionnaires if applicable.

Creating An Interview Agenda

Creating an agenda for each meeting is key for staying organized during interviews with clients as well as keeping everyone focused on what needs to be discussed during this particular session together.

List out topics that need addressing such as goals for working together, budget considerations, timeline expectations, etc., so nothing gets overlooked during the conversation.

Conducting The Interview

It’s now time to finally meet your client. You’ve prepared well enough, and you’re ready to take your client through the discovery process.

Let’s look at how you can make this process a success.

Establishing Rapport with the Client

Start by introducing yourself and taking a few minutes to explain what you do and how you work. Don’t linger too long on this part, though. Remember, your job is to listen and learn as much as possible about the client and their goals.

To build a connection with the client early on, be open, friendly, and honest. Ask them how they’re doing, what their day-to-day looks like, and more general questions that will let you get to know them better. This helps you to create a more relaxed atmosphere and relieves some of the pressure that comes with talking business.

Asking Questions to Gather Information:

Now that you’ve established rapport, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty. Your questions should be tailored to the client and their unique needs. Focus on finding out what their goals are, how they want to present themselves online, who their target audience is, and how they want to stand out from the competition.

To simplify this, we have divided possible interview questions into three sections:

• What you need to know about the company/the product/customers
• What the project entails
• What your client expects from you

Let’s look at each section in more detail.

What You Need To Know About The Company/The Product/Customers

Here’s where you want to get a better understanding of the company, its services, its products, and its marketing team. You also want to know more about their target audience, their unique selling points, and what challenges they may be facing.

Some questions include:

• Which competitor in the industry do you think most closely embodies your vision?
• What would you say sets your company apart from the competition?
• Who are the customers that stay with you the longest?
• Who are the clients that you love working with?
• What are some of the most common questions customers ask about your product/service?
• What part of your platform/service do you think your customers get the most value from?
• Do you have an in house marketing team?
• What challenges do your customers have prior to choosing your product?
• How would you describe the user experience you offer?
• What would you like your customers to take away after using your product/service?
• What do you think is the biggest challenge that your company is currently facing in content marketing?
• What are the values you’d like me to convey about your brand?

What The Project Entails

This is where you can get into the specifics of what the client needs help with.

Some questions include:

• What are the primary objectives you’d like us to achieve with this project?
• What specific tasks/goals do you need help with?
• What do you feel is the biggest challenge we can tackle in this project?
• Have you worked with other freelance writers before? If so, what has been your experience?
• What criteria will you use to evaluate the success of the project?
• How many people need to be involved in this project?
• Will you expect me to work on multiple projects simultaneously?
• What is the timeline for this copywriting project?
• Do you have any existing resources — like press releases, studies, or articles — that we can use?
• What’s your ballpark budget for the project?
• What is your preferred method of communication?
• What would you describe as your biggest concern about working with a freelance copywriter?

What Your Client Expects From You

This is where you can discuss the client’s expectations and boundaries, as well as your own.

Questions may include:

• What level of detail do you need in the copy?
• What kind of tone and writing style are you looking for in your marketing materials?
• What is your process for reviewing and approving content?
• Are there any topics that are off-limits for your brand?
• What resources do you expect me to use when writing copy?
• Do you have any preferred formatting styles?
• What is your expectation of my availability as a freelancer?
• What kind of timeline are you expecting for this project?
• How often do you need progress updates?
• How much freedom do I have when writing copy?
• Do you have an example of a great post you’d like me to take inspiration from?
• Will you need any references or sources included in the work?
• What kind of feedback will you provide during the project?
• What kind of revisions do you expect?
• Do you have any specific instructions for how I should submit the deliverables?

By taking the time to ask these interview questions, you can ensure that both you and your new client are on the same page. Listening and asking the right questions is key to developing a great client relationship and delivering an exceptional project.

Copywriting is an art. Establishing rapport with clients and asking the right questions during interviews are key to providing effective services. Take notes, listen carefully, and tailor content for their target audience. #copywriting #emailmarketing Click to Tweet

Following Up After the Interview

After an interview with a copywriting client, it’s important to follow up to ensure that the client is satisfied and that you have gathered all of the necessary information.

Sending a thank you note or email is one way to show your appreciation for their time and effort. A simple “thank you” can go a long way toward building rapport with the client.

After taking notes during the meeting, take some time afterward to review them and create a summary of what was discussed. This will help both parties understand each other better as well as provide clarity on any potential next steps or solutions for addressing the client’s needs.

If there are still copywriter interview questions unanswered or if more information needs to be gathered before making decisions, then setting up additional meetings or calls can help move things forward in terms of getting closer to achieving desired outcomes for both parties involved.

After an interview with a copywriting client, don’t forget to follow up. Send a thank you note, summarize your findings and present solutions, and schedule follow-up meetings or calls as needed. #Copywriting #EmailListManagement Click to Tweet

Tips for Successful Copywriting Interviews

Copywriting interviews are an important part of the process for any business looking to hire a copywriter. It’s essential that both parties make the most of their time together and ensure they get all the information they need in order to make an informed decision.

Here are some tips for successful client interviews:

Be Professional and Respectful Of Your Client’s Time And Needs

Keep in mind that your client is likely busy with other tasks so try not to take up too much of their time during the interview. Stay on topic during the meeting and avoid tangents that could derail the conversation. Every question should have a purpose and should be relevant to the project.

Be Open-Minded

Remember that your client may have ideas or suggestions that can add value to the project. So be open-minded and willing to listen to whatever ideas or feedback they have. Share your own thoughts and opinions, but also be ready to compromise and adjust your approach where necessary.

Be Prepared To Give Examples Of Your Previous Work Or Projects

It’s important that you come prepared with samples of the work you’ve done in the past and be able to talk about how you went about approaching a project or the strategies you employed to create successful results. You want to show your potential client that you have the skills and experience necessary to produce the copy they need.

Send A Thank You Email

The goal is to thank your client for their time and reiterate that you’re looking forward to working with them. This will help show your client that you’re serious about the project and are eager to get started.

Ask Open-Ended Questions That Encourage Conversation

Asking open-ended questions will help you gain more insight into what type of project your potential client is looking for as well as how they envision it being completed. Ask about their goals, timeline, budget, writing style, and expectations so you can better understand if this is a good fit for both parties involved.

Take Notes During The Meeting So You Can Refer Back Later

Taking notes during a copywriting interview allows you to capture key points discussed while also providing evidence that shows you were actively listening throughout the conversation. This will also come in handy when preparing follow-up emails or documents after the meeting has concluded since it gives you something tangible to refer back to later on down the line.

FAQs: How to Interview Clients as a Copywriter

Some commonly asked questions include:

What is the best way to close a client interview?

At the end of the interview, it is important to thank your client for their time and express your excitement to begin working with them.

Try to summarize the key points discussed during the meeting and reiterate any specific instructions or requests they have made.

Also, provide a timeline of when you expect all work to be completed and ask if there are any other questions or concerns they have.

Closing the interview in this way will help ensure that both parties are on the same page and establish a strong foundation for future collaborations.

What type of questions should you ask in a copywriting interview?

As we’ve mentioned above, it is important to ask open-ended questions that can help you gain a better understanding of the project scope and expectations.

Try to ask questions that will reveal more information about their goals, timeline, budget, and any other factors that may impact the outcome of the project.

You can also try to discuss your own qualifications and experience so that potential clients can have full confidence in your abilities. By asking the right questions and listening carefully, you can ensure that you have all of the necessary details to create a successful copywriting project.

How do you build a good relationship with clients after an interview?

Creating a good relationship with one client starts with building trust and understanding.

Take the time to listen to their needs and goals, as this will help you identify how you can best meet their expectations.

Make sure to provide timely updates on the progress of the project, as this shows that you are invested in the success of their business.

And the most important part: strive to deliver quality work that surpasses expectations, as this will help build a strong and lasting bond with your clients.

How do you approach clients for copywriting?

Cold emailing is an effective way to get clients for your business. When approaching clients for copywriting, it is important to be professional and articulate.

Start by introducing yourself and your services, then explain the value you can bring to their business. Be sure to emphasize how your skill set will help them reach their goals faster and more efficiently.

Provide examples of successful projects you have completed in the past that demonstrate your expertise.

Conclusion

As a copywriter, it’s essential to ask the right questions and be prepared for any potential issues that may arise during the interview process.

By following these tips and avoiding common mistakes, you can ensure that your interviews with clients are successful and help you get closer to achieving your goals as a copywriter.