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10 Lies Freelance Copywriters Like to Tell You
Could it really be possible that some freelance writers would lie to you, saying whatever it takes to snag your business, justify their exorbitant fees, and turn you into a submissive client who does whatever they tell you?
Well… yeah.
It's sad, but in the years I've been in the business, I've seen companies burned, stung, robbed, and strung out by unethical copywriters who couldn't care less about them. To them, you're just a walking ATM machine, and they lay awake at night, figuring out how to press all your buttons.
I know because my clients have told me. Sometimes, they tell me because the lie worked, and they're thinking about taking their business away from my firm, but lots of times, it's the opposite. They know it's a lie, but they just can't figure out how.
As much as some freelance copywriters would like to believe it, business owners aren't stupid. You know when someone isn't being straight with you. Maybe you just need someone to verify it, and so that's what I'd like to do.
It's ironic for me, a freelance copywriter, to be writing on the lies told within our field – but who better to reveal their lies than someone who's right in the thick of it?
And here's why: they make the honest ones look bad. Plenty of copywriters operate with full integrity, but when we have to struggle with a reputation given us by less ethical writers… well, it's time to fight back.
Here are 10 of the most common lies copywriters like to tell. Take a look, so you'll be ready:
1. "Every project is unique and I can't quote you until I know more."
Every project is unique, true, but top copywriters wouldn't be where they are today if they didn't have a good idea of ballpark rates and averages. Most top copywriters display their rates in plain view – they have nothing to hide.
Anytime you see this line, you can be sure that you're dealing with either an inexperienced writer who isn't sure of what to charge or a sleaze who is out to charge an arbitrary rate based on how much they think they can squeeze you. Either way, you can do better.
2. "I need to know your budget before I can quote."
Why? So you can take all of it?
Writers who ask for your budget before giving you a quote are usually trying to figure out how much you can afford, or who want to push you just over your budget so they can get more out of you.
The good writers? They'll either try to find a solution that fits or say they'll be there to help when you do have the money saved up.
And they'll never ask you for your budget.
3. "I'm qualified, because I have a degree in English literature."
While having a degree is nice, those English lit degrees aren't any measure of quality copywriting. They're actually pretty useless where copywriting is concerned, because the field has far more to do with sales and marketing than with literature. Truth be told, most top copywriters don't even have degrees.
Degrees don't matter. Results do. The good copywriters aren't going to show you their credentials; they're going to show you what they've achieved for other clients, and they'll tell you about the results they can get for your business.
4. "I had to quote high because of the time I'll need to write this."
Want to know a dirty little secret?
Top copywriters produce fantastic copy in minutes. The actual writing doesn't take much time at all, and no copywriter worth his or her salt charges on an hourly basis. High rates are high because of the writer's skills, experience, reputation and ability to get results. Good copywriters charge that much because they're that good, not because they're that slow.
A writer who justifies high rates with high hours is trying to make you think he or she is slaving away for days. It might be true, it might not, but the bottom line for you is that you expect results, and a copywriter whining about time doesn't help you get them.
5. "Your email hit my spam folder."
This time-stalling trick isn't just used by copywriters – it's the perfect excuse for anyone who wants to avoid dealing with you, for whatever reason. Maybe they're running behind and can't deliver on time. Maybe they don't feel like making changes you've requested.
Whatever the reason for wanting to stall, the spam folder provides an easy excuse. Your communication disappears as if it never existed, and by the time the copywriter says, "Oops, I'm sorry," it's just too late.
The good copywriters? They know business, and they know that regular spam checkups is just part of the routine – no one's email gets lost.
6. "I'm booked, so I can only squeeze you in if you pay a rush fee."
This is pure psychological manipulation, and it works very nicely. A perception of being in demand makes you want the copywriter more, thanks to the magic of social proof.
The really in-demand copywriters don't play these games. They don't squeeze anyone, because they don't need to. They have plenty of work, they're not interested in filling up their plate, and they can afford to tell you that you have to wait your turn. Which you should do – it saves you money, and the results are worth it.
7. "You get what you pay for."
Meh, maybe, if we're discussing cars. But when it comes to freelance copywriting, there's no such yardstick. You'll find high-priced, poor-quality copywriters ready to take advantage of you and you'll find just as many low-priced, fantastic copywriters ready to get you results.
Unscrupulous freelancers use this "get what you pay for" routine to elevate themselves and make you feel cheap. This influences you to hire them to show you aren't a skinflint Scrooge.
But real copywriters? They simply point you to substantial portfolios and testimonials that prove they're worth every penny. They don't need to make you feel bad, and they don't want to.
8. "All you need to make sales is great copy."
That's just silly. If great copy was all we needed to make sales, we could do away with websites, marketing campaigns, driving traffic, providing good customer service – there's just no need!
Uh… no.
The best copy in the world won't do anything for your sales if you don't have a clear plan, tools, resources, tactics and strategies in place to draw in potential customers, convey trust and credibility and get their eyes on the page so they start to read. It's just one piece of a successful business.
9. "This copy will sell anyone."
Any copywriter worth his QWERTY knows this is a crock. You can't write copy targeting "anyone" – good copy is crafted to reach specific people with specific problems. It's laser focused on the ideal customer, and it repels anyone else.
Unscrupulous writers won't ask questions about your target market, and the result is that they won't sell much to anyone at all, including your ideal customer. They'll miss all the crucial elements of good copy, like hitting the right pain point, addressing concerns, providing convincing benefits and drawing in your ideal customer to a sale.
10. "I know what I'm doing, and if you're smart, you'll trust me."
This is meant to position them as an authority, but as anyone knows, people who feel the need to point out they know what they're doing probably don't know what they're doing at all. And frankly, if you weren't worried before, the statement "trust me" certainly raises an important question in your head: "Can I?"
The answer is… probably not.
Self-confidence in skills and knowledge is something that's easily communicated and nearly tangible. You don't have to be told – you can clearly see the copywriter knows exactly what he or she is doing without that person even saying a word.
Does a copywriter asking you to trust them guarantee they are shady?
No, but it's another red flag. None of the lies we've covered here are enough by themselves to condemn anyone, but put several of them together, and it should set off warning bells. The slimiest copywriters use each of these lies intentionally, and having a collection to watch for, it should be easy for you to spot them.
About the author: James Chartrand is a straight-shooting copywriter from Men with Pens.
Gosh James, that is actually quite a scary post! Lets hope that prospective clients will talk to people who have used us in the past and look at examples of our work before they make up their minds. I recently did a couple of paragraphs up-front for a prospective client to see if he liked my style. I hope that kind of honesty will convince him I am not a slime ball.
Yeah, Lucy. Informative but direct. It made me say what the heck also
Well, since I'm not actually a "copywriter" (or, for that matter, a "Canadian") I can't say for sure if these really are the lies those folks tell. But they sound pretty familiar, and I use most of them myself on prospective — and current — clients.
James, you've got some 'splainin' to do. How are we going to keep ripping off innocent customers if you pull back the curtain. First, you spilled the beans about your plumbing problems. Then — and I'm still smarting about this — you outed me as not really being as old as dirt.
Now this. I'll have to come up with new lies to tell. And ways to piss clients off BEFORE they've even become clients.
Like a current one (God's honest truth) who yesterday sent me a signed contract where right up above her signature she agreed to a 50% deposit before work started. And then this morning was complaining I had "trust issues" since I wasn't buying plane tickets and working on her stuff.
I I'd gotten her check, I'd be in therapy. But my psychiatrist refuses to extend credit.
Egads… I wasn't expecting this when clicking over!
"Every project is unique and I can't quote you until I know more." Any copywriter that doesn't have a template to squeeze clients into isn't good? Or is 'quote' synonymous with 'estimate' in your book? I'm not a copywriter, though pricing by the hour has saved me many times in the world of freelance web design / dev. The subject of freelance billing is pretty subjective topic and has covered a number of times. I'm sure you've read about it on Freelance Switch and the like, so I'd rather not open that can of worms here.
I agree that an English degree isn't a selling point nor does it qualify one to be a copywriter, but to call an English degree outright useless isn't fair. Any copywriter should have a good grasp of the language; why can't formal education help? And saying "Degrees don't matter. Results do." sounds nice on paper… wait! On second thought it sounds pretty cliche.
"…Top copywriters write fantastic copy in minutes … you can be sure that you're dealing with either an inexperienced writer who isn't sure of what to charge … most top copywriters don't even have degrees…" I was kinda put off by so many statements like these.
It sounds like you've been doing this long enough to come up with a formula that works for you, which is great! While we can probably agree that some of the stuff you describe is slimeball-esc, seems like you're spitting on others who simply don't follow your philosophy.
I read MWP from time to time and am a little surprised to see this article (though the 'straight-shooter' part is spot on!). I'm disappointed to see something this opinionated on KISSmetrics.
Yeah, I agree. This sentence right here is so misleading: "Top copywriters produce fantastic copy in minutes."
Robert Collier clearly noted in his book working on some pieces of copy for very long periods of time.
Sure, Ben Settle might spit out a 10 minute email on his email list, but good copywriting doesn't take minutes.
And if someone does spend minutes on great copy, good for them, but way too much of a generalization.
I agree with some parts though. Like why would a copywriter need to know someone's budget? They should quote their projects or rate without that information.
They might have a price in mind but be willing to work with a lower fee if that's all the client can afford. This article makes way too many generalizations.
Top copywriters are open with their rates? Okay.. So how much does Gary Bencivenga charge?
Totally agree with this comment. I'm a top copywriter. How do I know? I have a master's in science journalism, 30 years of experience, have written 4 books and about 2.000 articles, plus countless websites, datasheets, white papers, blogs, and landing pages… and make quite a bit over 6 figures a year doing it. Sure, I can write stunning copy in minutes–about anything I know everything about. But can I write sizzling stanzas about in-memory databases or Russian literature in minutes? Um, hell no. Here's why–the hard part of writing is the research and planning, which can take days, weeks, or months, depending on the topic. Writing words is easy. Writing cogent, well- researched copy that achieves a goal is challenging and time consuming. And the more research I have to do, the more I charge, and I believe that's appropriate and fair. Should you pay a deposit up front? Well, if I am going to have to do mountains of reading or competitive analysis or interview you for hours about your high-tech patent first… well, maybe. I feel like your pat pronouncement is oversimplified and a bit condescending. Just sayin.' Sounds like something only a mediocre copywriter who is all puff and no substance would say.
I've read this post before… it gets a lot of traction. And I found it irritating, no, downright insulting. I do not rip clients off. But I do ask for the scope of the project. I do submit a quote. And I have now reached the point of asking for a budget because clients can be incredibly unrealistic.
Well done. Sadly, with only a few modifications, this list applies to other service providers as well.
The employment world is filled with no-results/high web traffic people who hawk their wares but deliver poorly.
Vetting the vendor is so important to all… both the clients and the good guys. Hope you keep this article active in more places than just writerly sites.
Rita Ashley, Career Coach
I'm a copywriter, so thought I'd poke my head above the parapet and see what was going on over here. :-)
The "every project is unique" pricing line is so common. In fact, if you try to google copywriting rates, you'll find it extremely difficult to find a copywriter who will tell you what they charge on their website and I know this annoys clients who are searching for copywriting.
Sure, some projects are a bit more involved, but if you have prices on your site for standard types of copy, your customers at least have an idea of what you're going to charge for something tailor made.
Something like that though is usually inexperience rather than malicious intent. You could still get a decent copywriter who just hasn't a clue how to price their services yet, or how to deal with customers (not really something you want in a copywriter though).
If you're hearing more than one, it's not a good sign and I'd shop around.
As for me, I haven't lied to a client since I told Tim Brownson I liked his jokes…
(Of course I'm kidding Tim! :-) )
It's ok, I know when anybody tells me that they're lying.
@Tim – Even me, my sharp-souled friend ;)
@Lucy – It is a scary post, and my hope for it is that people simply find writers with integrity to work with. I've had too many people come to me with, "I've been burned before," for me not to speak out.
@Dick – The question is, will you still like me in the morning?
@Ted – You have thoughtful comments that I'm happy to respond to:
1. I'm sorry the tone and style of the post didn't work for you. I try to please everyone but my voice tends to be fairly straightforward and when I take a stand, even more so.
2. Copywriters (and designers) don't need templates, but as Amy mentioned, we all have a general gist of an idea that we can show clients ahead of time to let them know our price range. I'm sure you have a good idea of how many hours it takes to perform X or Y… and you can always give a range on what you're not 100% sure of.
3. I've taken English in college and university. Not one single course taught me how to write – all formal schools at the higher-education level expected students to already have that good grasp of language and be able to turn in papers easily. Now, that might not be the case for all schools, and some may have specific "how to write" courses, but I haven't come across any yet. If you know of some, link me up and I'll check them out.
Hope that helps clarify!
@Rita – Yes, sadly, it applies to many other service providers. I wish it was otherwise, truly.
@Amy – For every writer who asks, "How do I know what to charge?" there's a client asking, "How do I know what to pay?" It gets very crazy and that's one reason judging quality by price doesn't work well on the internet.
I'll agree that there are many inexperienced writers, too – that's why this post is important to them as well, so they aren't seen as dishonest!
Thanks James, I'm clearer on the quoting and pricing issue.
As per the college degree one, I think we agree on many points. I don't know of any "how to become a copywriter" classes and did not learn to be a designer in a classroom myself. In the case of writing, I'd tend to think someone with an English background has a strong foundation in writing and language. Not a requirement, but not rubbish either.
All these points seem to come completely from arrogance and arrogance doesn't sell all that well, does it?
"Rush fee"? I always thought that meant I should "rush" my business away….
Yipes, some of these are really awful (that someone would say them aloud, I mean). And how awesome would it be to be able to avoid scamy copywriters by simply steering clear of all of 'em! ;-)
That said, I have an objection about budget statements. I ask for a client's budget so that I know how to break down the project (for instance, if they only have enough to start the ecommerce portion of the site to begin with, and then we'll do a great blog later out of the profits). When they're cagey about budget, I've often found that's because they think the project will be magically free, and they only reveal that they have no money set aside (but could "probably get some for the right person") after asking really intensive questions that take industry-specific research and such. (So, yes, it would be more honest to say: I won't give you a quote without knowing your budget to make sure your eyes are not bigger than your stomach. But that probably wouldn't go over nearly as well as a simple, "And what's the budget you've set aside for the project?")
Unfortunately for the people doing the hiring some of the really bad copywriters are quite adept at selling themselves. Thanks for rounding up some of the worst offenses, James!
@John – I wish they did come from arrogance only. Sadly, they don't, and I think it's best to put the information out on the table.
@Jessica – I have and do ask client budgets from time to time, but usually in cases where I can see there might be a better solution for a client, or in the case of a custom package where a client needs more than our standard packages, or when I can see the client might benefit from a tighter solution.
In those times, it's useful to say, "Our usual package costs X, this add-on is Y and Z… would you mind if I asked your budget, and I'll see what I can do to help you out?" They usually like that.
I like number 5. It's always a sure sign that you're dealing with someone not worth their salt when they draw a line between price and hourly input.
Real pros sell their expertise… not their time. It's what I do and its what i'd expect anyone who I hire (for anything really) to do too.
Interesting. I have a theory: to know this much about the scams of copy writing, either you exercised those things above OR you have been scammed so many times, you had to learn what to avoid. Good copy writing does not take a long time? no. VERY long time. WHO made you a crusader for consumer who look for copy writers? Your article is simply a summery/collection of manipulative sales techniques used by all unprofessional sales people. Nothing New.
Goodness, what a post! And the feedback is pretty riveting, too!
I agree with Jessica on the fees front (although I acknowledge your response to her and do the same myself — and I'm more than happy to be flexible and work out ways to keep the cost down if that's what the client wants). I do list some of my fees on my website, but I certainly don't think you should be regarded as a dodgy copywriter if you choose not to list any or all your fees.
And, like Lucy, I also offer a 'try before you buy' service.
The bottom line is that there will always be the unscrupulous few that paint a dark picture of copywriters. But they are, thankfully, in the minority. Most copywriters are good at what they do and, more importantly, genuinely care about their clients — even AFTER they've been paid. ;0)
Ooops! Not that I'm saying you're painting a dark picture, James. Rather, the not-so-well-intentioned copywriters out there. ;0)
@Peter – I believe that once you have the experience under your belt, there's really no way you could feasibly charge by the hour and make it successful.
@Shmuck – You're right – there's nothing new at all under the sun. But everyone tries their best to bring a new angle or present it in a way that provokes action or reaction (such as your comment shows). Thanks for stopping by to brighten the day!
@Tracey – Try-before-you-buy can be a cool method that works for all parties involved, definitely, and it shows serious confidence!
Interesting article, and I do like your straightforward tone!
On the subject of college degrees: most colleges with a reputable liberal arts program have at least one writing class. I'm a college student at the second largest private university in the country, and I know for a fact that every single one of us has to take two writing classes. I'm not talking about classes where students simply turn in papers. I'm talking about classes that teach specific skills. They do exist.
Also, even if most English programs don't focus on writing skills, writing about complicated subjects for four years probably can't hurt. :)
I have encountered with bit another problem. Hired a freelancer content writer and everything was going fine until I manually checked provided article's copy on net. I was shocked to know that how he (freelancer content writer) just copy and paste exact content from other sources. And from there onwards I don't much trust on freelance content writer.
Patel, ple let me know if you know any good and affordable content writer.
Howdy James; your post is pretty spot on, but I think item 2 needs some nuance.
It certainly can be a warning sign if a copywriter is reluctant to quote before hearing a budget. But equally, it can be a warning sign if a prospect is reluctant to give a budget. Yet very often, the reasons for both parties being reticent about naming figures are quite benign, and very typical in a successful sales process.
For the copywriter, quoting blind can be a good way to lose sales that otherwise could have gone well. That's just because often clients have unrealistic expectations. You can manage these correctly and still win the project; or you can manage them badly and scare the client off.
I almost always ask for a budget up front, because what I'm really asking is how much the client expects to pay. Once I know that, I know how I need to approach the quote. If he gives me a low figure, I can discuss options to scale back the project while still giving him the best value for his dollar; and I can give him options which will upsell without breaking his bank. If his budget is high, I can suggest extra items which would add value to the project, should he want to make full use of his money.
When clients are reluctant to give a budget, it can mean they're tire-kickers. But it can also mean that they just aren't really sure how much they should expect to pay, and they're looking to you, the expert, for guidance—because they don't want to appear silly (or be ripped off). In a situation like that, I won't demand a budget from them; instead, I'll help them to set a budget by giving them an estimate, and then managing the project scope depending on how they reply.
Anyway, I realize you couldn't go into this kind of detail in the article, so I'm not really criticizing; more offering a counterpoint for those reading.
Kind regards,
Interesting list James.
I completely agree about your follow-up point that an English degree can actually be counterproductive. As we all know (or some will come to know), copy isn't about informing. It's about *influencing*. It's also creative writing at, some might say (and I might be one of them), it's most dynamic, since a short story about Joe and the flying saucer might not take you to the next income bracket, but lousy copy over a long period of time WILL (and in the wrong direction).
I'll add a couple of points before shoving off, though…
The bit about "great copy makes sales" is not, in my experience, coming from copywriters. It's coming from lazy entrepreneurs (talk about mutually exclusive terms that have fused together!) who believe, or rather, delude themselves into thinking that all they need to Think and Grow Rich is sales copy. That they have no business model whatsoever seems to be an inconvenience that can be dealt with "after I start getting some sales."
Also, I'll echo a point made above that scoping out a project, at least somewhat, before offering a price/price range is increasingly becoming mandatory. This is not by preference. I'd love to say $$$ for A and $$$ for B and $$$ for C. It doesn't serve me to distract my prospects with price. But, especially in new media, a harmless little phrase like "web copy" can be something that takes 2 hours (even in super duper copywriting time)or 20 hours.
It's different — and easier — when an agency project manager or account manager does the front-end work with the client (of course they take a fee for this, and more power to them). But when working directly with clients and developing projects, it's becoming very difficult to accurately estimate without at least a solid conversation…sometimes two.
To that end, I'd say learning how to interview clients and get them to "think" in terms of marketing and sales is probably the most valuable suggestion I'd make to new copywriters.
Thanks for posting your great article.
Hi James,
Pretty good article but I will politely disagree a bit with you on points 1 & 2. My view on #2 was stated beautifully by Bnonn so I don't see the need to repeat their well-thought and accurate explanation of how many ethical copywriters who ask about potential budgets operate.
Onto the first point.
When I started my copywriting career, I had a list of services and my normal fee for each one and here's what I discovered: Prospects and clients would ask for plenty of other types of marketing pieces besides what I already had listed on my site. Since I write both offline and online marketing, we're talking about a large variety of marketing pieces and even projects.
As I got different requests, I kept updating my copywriting list of services… until it started to resemble a Chinese restaurant menu. Then I started getting emails where prospects told me they couldn't find what they were looking for on the menu… and could they get a quote for their specific needs.
The other thing I discovered was having a list of services really needs its own webpage. Otherwise, you're breaking up the flow of your salescopy that's promoting your copywriting business to present the "menu".
The other problem with a menu approach is if you offer any type of multi-piece discount for a project. If you try to list every possible combination of "combo meals", that makes the menu even longer.
Anyways, that's been my experience and therefore it's my opinion as well.
Take care,
Well, for me, I never ask for their budget. Many will indeed think: Why, so you will know how much to take?
Or: Why do you need to know this?
(Actually, I DON'T need to know this.)
That's a good way to lose sales.
I just give them a quote, and then throw in that that if their budget is tight at the moment, we could work out an arrangement.
I always need to know more before quoting a price. That is common with experienced copywriters who work for major or small businesses.
I have had to charge a bit more, or I landed up charging less after knowing more about their project.
Maybe I didn't read that section right, but,
I'm sorry, I don't know where you got that one.
One has to know more. That is just common sense.
I do put my rates on my site, but it ranges form $100 up to $1,200.
That saves from having to have a price menu, that can actually take up a whole page.
Although I don't agree with everything, thanks for the read.
This seems like a very long-winded way of saying: "Trust me".
And like others here, I think it's reasonable to ask for a budget. Because every brief is unique – over the last 20-something years I've written everything from the back of a cereal packet to a 10-minute corporate film. The first of these I would probably charge by the hour (although it was part of a week). The second, for the whole project (although I was employed full-time at that point – by an agency who took every penny of the budget).
When talking budgets, I might say: "How good do you want it to be? Just good, really good, or astonishingly good?" Not everyone wants, needs, or has the money for, brand-creating or enhancing language. Sometimes they just want another way of saying: "Two for the price of one".
I like the "list of 10", by the way. It still works.
I have been hiring copywriters for years, owned my own advertising agency for over a decade and was an art director of one of the largest corporations in the world working with a team of copywriters. This article is absurd.
This post is subjective , an programmed by experience of trial an error in human relationship by the original author , and as it is true for him ( subjectively) also might not be true for other . So realy I just can say that beneth all text , there is good information in this post, so to say above 60% so for me this has a value . Thanks for shareing & careing .
Interesting list, James. Not sure how much of it is based in reality, though. As a writer for 30 years, I've never said any of these things to a client. I provide a writer portfolio on my website with a basic fee schedule, but that doesn't change the fact that each writing job IS unique and must be looked at on an individual basis. In particular, how can you know what to charge someone for 'polishing our web copy' until you know whether they just need some minor proofreading or a major rewrite (two entirely different jobs)? Clarification helps both parties.
I've never cared about client's budgets, and never ask about them. I'm a professional – either they can afford me or they can't.
On the very rare occasions that I charge a rush fee, it's not to gouge money out of people, it's because they expect a 4-day job to be done overnight, and I'm damn sure going to charge them for working until 4:30 am to get their rush job completed.
As far as degrees go, I think far too many advertisers of writing jobs miss out on exemplary copywriters because they stipulate a degree as a prerequisite – which is totally stupid. A good writer is a good writer, regardless of their university history (or lack of one).
And though I have never told a client 'you get what you pay for', I've had several clients hire me for jobs after they've had horrible experiences hiring teenage blog enthusiasts or 'expert English writers' from Bangladesh or Bhutan. I get called in to clean up the mess, or start all over again and do it properly. So in most cases this 'lie' is a true and valid fact of life.
No doubt there are unscrupulous freelance copywriters out there, just as there are also unscrupulous clients. But lying freelancers don't tend to last long – there are too many honest ones ready and willing to take their place when clients have had enough.
Kevin Casey
I was going to write a reply, but this one pretty much says everything I wanted to say.
Regarding most of the "lies" (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10), quite frankly, I've never heard anyone say anything of this stuff (btw, the spam-folder lie seemed pretty random).
I certainly do believe that "every project is unique." I can't give a blanket price for a 16-bage brochure without knowing what the subject matter is and what sort of brief I'll be working from. I've worked on brochures that require meetings, interviews, tons of presentations to digest, and the need to learn a lot of complex terminology. In contrast, I could write a brochure about hotels and zip through it 10 times faster. If it's a new client, I want to know as much as possible before I get trapped in a never-ending underpaid project.
As far as the "booked = rush fee" claim… Well, I wouldn't put it to the client like that. However, if I'm very busy and someone is asking for a fast turnaround (especially if it's a new client), of course I'll ask for top dollar. When working late and on weekends, family life really takes a hit. Someone's going to pay for that. And I don't think most clients find it unreasonable when you ask for more money for rush jobs. I've had clients propose it themselves.
Lastly, about getting what you pay for. Although this isn't always true, I find that it's very often – dare I say, usually – the case (at least in my experience). When I'm busy, I constantly team up with other freelance copywriters and I struggle with this situation. When a copywriter is good, clients try to work with them as much as possible. As a result, they're harder to get and they're more expensive for the simple reason that they can be. If someone is very cheap and always available, more often than not, there's a reason for it. Good and experienced copywriters are worth the extra money because they save me time and they bring fresh new ideas to the table. I've been lucky a couple times and found good copywriters who weren't expensive yet because they'd just left their jobs and were starting out as freelancers. But this doesn't last long. If they're good, clients keep them busy and they don't stay cheap.
Asking a client for their budget is NOT an indicator of wanting to rip someone off. I asks the question because I do not want my potential clients to walk away from a deal because I quoted too high. If they say their budget is lower than what I charge, I will tell them it costs more but that we can scale back the project to fit their budget.
Non-price transparency is NOT a sign of inexperience or fraud. Previously, I was a graphic designer and it was industry standard to quote by project. I do the same thing in my business because every project is different. For some projects, the client might need you to work with a committee. This takes more revisions, meetings, and headaches. Thus, I must charge more for it than I would working with one person.
There were somethings in this article I did not agree with. But, good read.
Throwing your competition under the bus may be an effective tactic for getting business in the short term, but you're the one propagating lies –such as writing copy actually only takes a few minutes. That flat fees are the only way to go — how do you quote a flat fee when the job is open-ended and involves many unknowns. Any copywriter worth their salt, who knows how important it is to differentiate their client and engage their target audiences, will tell you every piece is customized. We may know estimated costs, we may give detailed proposals, but still clients moan they're paying too much. May scope creep visit you frequently during the New Year.
I agree with you Susan, this was clearly written with click bait- to his site in mind! It uses great copy-writing tactics like generating controversy, which has lead to endless comments which leads to longer page views times, which leads Google to rank it higher and so on.
Also more social shares by being provocative- and without nuance- which of course brings the ire of pro's which again serve the author. So well done in that regard!
Its function to me- is to generate benefit to the author and set him up as being an expert who "exposes" lies in the industry- "lies" which in fact may not be actual or widespread.
Hopefully potential clients won't see the whole field of copywriters in a jaundiced fashion as a result of this piece.
This was a fascinating article in its way and well put-together. Thanks for it, James.
Now…I actually came here via me wondering what kinds of lies copy writers write for clients, not what lies copy writers use to hook clients. But that was interesting in and of itself.
Maybe someone has written about the whole topic of integrity in the field of copywriting. I was a journalist in the 1990s (until I quit in fall 2000) and have since stuck to only fiction but I have long been fascinated by advertising and PR though never could go into it because I felt I'd face too many issues about integrity.
The thing I wonder is if a company comes to offering a high fee…but you have to write something that you KNOW is not honest…does that happen? And if so, do you automatically turn it down? What if you need the money to pay for your sick mother's hospital bills?
I tend to view a lot of advertising as a misrepresentation of reality (i.e. a lie), especially the base assumption that I, the consumer, NEEDS whatever is being sold to me. But I am going too far with this. Anybody have any thoughts?
Knowingly writing false information is against the law. Most copywriters know this, and counsel clients that they while they can write about product and services in a good light, they cannot lie about them.
What have you got against copywriters?
I have written freelance copy for decades, and speak from massive experience with local and global clients of every size and description.
Not sure where you have culled your information. Fact is, it is much more likely that copywriters are played by clients than the other way around.
I have not gotten rich doing this, but my clients have.
And that is all that matters.
Interesting post.
I agree the copy can be written fairly quickly. However, its the research that goes into it that takes a long time, especially if you are unfamiliar with the niche.
Just as in every niche, you have specialists.
Copywriting in general is a person who can write good. However, if you get a specialist like a Conversion Copywriter then their whole focus is to get you conversions on your specific goal.
A Conversion Copywriter is paid to convert, to A/B test, to make sales so next time consider who you are hiring and what results they've had in the past – though that doesn't necessarily guarantee that you will have the same or better results in your copy.
As for charging…
Each client's business is very different, each client will have their own unique set of problems but charging them is always a difficult part since you never really know how long it will take to research, write and test the copy you've written for them.
So you have to take that into consideration as well. All you have is a approximate time frame, since most clients that I have interacted with do not like to pay hourly rates.
Having spent 20 years in marketing and the last 5 of that freelancing as well as running a social club for freelancers, what I am hearing more from this article is this:
1) You're angry at mopping up after shonky copywriters who shouldn't be writing. Guess what? We're all a little fatigued about this. But instead of a blog on "thou shalt not say this to a customer" how about writing an article on "here's what you should work on to be a better writer"? As a copywriter and a freelancer, you're part of a community. You start throwing hand grenades at us, you only hurt yourself.
2) You sound jaded and tired. Instead of criticising people for scheduling their work appropriately and using deterrents like rush fees to calm overly clients down, how about you take a holiday before that fatigue gets stronger and ends up being burn out or a serious mental health consequence? Stop blaming other writers for the stress you feel from overwork and deal with the overwork within your processes.
3) Your anger at the industry is misplaced because you've forgotten writing is a subjective art form. The whole idea of getting a writer to do your stuff is so you don't end up sounding like everyone else. If you've got someone who doesn't get to know the business, judges the scale of the job on every other project and can write the copy based on what's in their head in seconds, you're more likely to end up sounding like every other business out there. What you want from a marketing and a writing perspective is to have someone who cares enough to dig deeper and find the way to stand out. That doesn't happen if you're using a cookie cutter. You want to treat your customers like a McDonalds conveyor belt, that's fine. That doesn't mean the rest of us should be punished. Again, this makes me more worried about how tired and fatigued you are by your career. It's like the happiness and desire to help has left the building and has been replaced with a Lunch Lady Doris approach to slopping copy.
Sometimes, it's not what you say that's the problem. It's what you're trying to justify. Are you still happy writing copy? Because it sure doesn't sound like it. It sounds more like the dude at work who makes everyone uncomfortable for going the extra mile or helping more than them.
I'm very confused by all these people saying only amateurs charge by the hour. How on earth do you quote for work without factoring in how much time it will take? And how do you make a living by charging arbitrary amounts for work without considering the hours you'll be spending on it?
I know dozens of freelance copywriters an designers who all charge hourly rates, and clients expect them to. Whenever I'm asked to pitch for retainer work, I'm asked for an hourly fee.
All this 'you're charging for your expertise, not your time' stuff is total rubbish. Of course you're charging for your time! That's how business works.
If you charge your charge hourly rates, will you go to your clients' office to do the work? If no, how then will he know the exact number of hours you'll spend doing the job. Even if your client is using one of these web conferencing sofwares to monitor you, how can you factor in the time you'll spend researching?
I just came across this blather. Clients/businesses who know what they are doing can see right through phony copywriters or other business services. Most of these points can be very legitimate and caring, not shady. Besides, experienced copywriters know that they are not selling copywriting at all. They selling success for the client's customers. Besides, shady or not, a copywriter has to put words on paper, and guess what happens if the words don't pay off? They don't get paid.
I charge by the project because I am a very fast writer. However, I can also charge by the hour. I have also done both at the same time. If you're building a rate sheet, focus on results not your efforts, which are as-yet unproven. Give a price for products and services–$ for a trifold brochure, $ to research penguins, $ to call editors and place a press release, etc. That might seem obvious, but clients are not paying for you, they are paying for your results. So you're not charging for your expertise or your time, you're charging for the results the client wants. And that also rationalizes the #1 statement above, which is a GOOD thing but it is also something you never have to say out loud, it is simply the truth.
The author of this article hasn't got a clue about copywriting. Most of the points are inaccurate and little more than strawmen.
Every top copywriter I have spoken to disagrees with this. If you're new to this and looking for a copywriter, I suggest you cross reference before buying into this fear mongering.
Nothing can replace proper research.
I am of the opinion that every project IS unique. Quoting a price before you have all the facts just seems counter intuitive. Throwing out an average for an average job may be irrelevant to a new client's request, right?
I did laugh at #4. That sounds like something I would say. If I relied on writing to live I would starve to death. I think a seasoned writer could write a novel in the time it takes me to write a 1200 word blog post.
Though I did not agree with everything you said, I admire the article for how strongly worded it was. A teacher in grade school always gave me low marks on persuasive essays because I talked about both sides instead of taking a stand on one side of an issue. Even as an adult, anything I write in an attempt to persuasive or divisive turns into a confusing mishmash of point-counterpoint. (I told you I would starve to death as a writer.)
Fun! Now let's move onto lies B2B service marketers tell you, such as "We need to charge monthly because you get ongoing benefits!" or "We'll help you lift sales!" At least copywriters are offering a service that people ASK for.
I have been writing for over 30 years, and I take strong exception to your assertion that a top copywriter can turn out brilliant copy in minutes. I know a few pros and they tell me it takes them about 3 weeks to a month to turn out a great DM package.
I am also mindful of Hemingway, who said this: "The first draft of anything is sh*t."
These are some of the truest words ever written on the subject of writing.
I thought a lot of your other points about tricks that amateurs and hacks play were spot on.
Wow. What a disgusting person. Copywriters are treated like shit. You are why.
I know!
His article is so narrow and self serving it robs you of all credibility. I've got an idea for a sequel: Lies Business People Tell Copywriters.
I've been so burnt, ripped off, low-balled and shoulder checked by businesses, well, I'm going to institute an application process, so I don't even talk to people who don't recognize the difference between professional copywriters and others.
Of course copywriters want to know the scope of a project before quoting. It's like kitchen fitters saying, 'Yeah, a kitchen costs about three grand'. Then later, when you tell them your kitchen is the size of a football park, he or she has to up the estimate.
We'd never hire someone without getting a detailed quote from them first. It stands to reason that we can't expect them to do that for us without sufficient information. Absurd post.
Lying Copywriters. I agree: "Men With Pens" pretty well sums it up.
There's another side to this story. At times, what a client deems a "lie" actually stems from miscommunication or changes of direction by the client, who then expects the original quote to still stand. Sometimes clients don't share things with the copywriter at the outset because a step in their process is so familiar they don't think about it ("Oh, of course, we always have to have five managers' approval and revisions before we can publish") or because they do think about it and just don't want to pay as much as a good, honest copywriter should charge.
I'd love to see this post direct people to a "Why a Copywriter's Lie Could Be the Client's Fault" post.
Love MWP!
Good copywriters write good copy in minutes?
I was just reading Adweek Advertising and trust me, even Joseph Surgarman took weeks sometimes to understand the nature of a product/service, to research into who is the buyer persona and to put everything on paper.
You can write good copy in minutes if you have tons of experience writing about watermelons or oranges and this is what you did all of your life.
Even SO, good copy takes time sometimes.
Sure, some days the pen just flies on the paper, but some days it takes more to spit that concept that will sell.
About "I know what I am doing".
It seems that many business owners feel like they need to tweak the copy and trust me, many copywriters feel frustrated because in the end it hurts their reputation if they publish a lousy copy under their name.
If you don't mind your copy being changed by someone who doesn't understand copywriting, then it sounds like you are the one who is only in the business for money.
Whatever pleases the CEO, right?
As a whole, this post comes across as virtue signalling to prospective clients by the author. Most of these points are simply ridiculous. "Want to know a dirty little secret? A good copywriter can write good copy in minutes". As others here have pointed out, that's some disingenuous BS right there.
Wow – have to say I found this uninformed. Any writer worth their salt will NEVER provide a price until they know the full scope of the project. It's called a BRIEF. Sure there are ballparks but they very rarely reflect any resemblance to the final price… Client says I want a page of copy – OK – that's XXX – but he didn't tell you he wants that page of copy translated into ten languages and distributed by next week – oh… So you really know the price for that translation upfront? So you really think you've got time to do that project, get it signed off and that the translation agency will work miracles for you? This is naive at best – or perhaps just shows you haven't worked on complex projects … The need to know your budget before the quote is simple …. there is a big difference between a startup and big brands – and the expectations therein. Some copywriters are happy to reduce rates for startups – they may be happy to do all manner of favours for start-ups – a writer may say – look you don't have much budget but this is what I can do for the budget you have… whereas of course big brands would probably be expected to pay the going rate …actually I've just realised I don't have the time to go through every point … I have over 20 years experience (Senior Copywriter) and I've never read such rubbish!
I'm quite shocked at this article. I'm working on a project right now that involves rewriting and editing a 50 page website. Some pages don't need to change and some do. They aren't being clear on what exactly they need and the scope of changes they are interested in. I ABSOLUTELY need to know more before I give them any type of quote beyond an hourly rate. It's the difference between rewriting a fifth of the site or the whole thing.
What a misleading shit post.
Sure you may have gotten misled by some people before but this is just asinine. MOST copywriters don;t display rates because…every project is different!
Most GOOD copywriters ask for a budget up front not to screw you but to see if you're even worth the time.
For example, if you have a $200 budget for a sales page and I charge $5,000 MINIMUM for one, I only ask up front to see if we're swimming in the same pool.
If not, why go through all the hassle if you're only willing to pay $200?
Just like ANY INDUSTRY – you DO get what you pay for.
For better or worse.
To say otherwise is misleading AT BEST.
You had some good points here, but most of it doesn't reflect the reality of the freelance copywriting world.
Whoever wrote this quite a pisser.
Given their outlook on freelance copywriters, they are definitely, 100% one of those prospects you talk to and rather go broke than work with.
Red flag. Red flag. Back to pitching for new gigs everyone.
If they have ever freelanced before, they would know that every project is unique and isn't the easiest thing to quote. Should a prospect have an issue with my approach, they can gladly go find someone else. No harm done.
And for the record, I don't want someones whole budget, fool. I just want to have a working relationship that is beneficial to both sides.
You don't know how many times we hear "I have to be honest, we're a start-up and don't have a big budget for copy".
Well, I have to be honest, I am self-employed and I have bills that need to be paid.
So if you don't have the budget, I don't have the time.
Sad that this came from a reputable blog like Kissmetrics. What garbage.


text:
The Union Gospel Mission has taken up a challenge posed by its counterpart in Steeler country, hoping to draw attention to the needs of people living on the streets in the shadows of Qwest Field and Heinz Stadium.
The Pittsburgh Mission, Light of Life, approached Seattle's mission with the proposal.
If the Seahawks win, managers at Pittsburgh's Light of Life mission will don Seahawk jerseys to serve meals to homeless men, women and children within 10 days of the Super Bowl. If the Steelers win, it's the Seattle mission's staff that will wear Pittsburgh gear.

subset: commoncrawl


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Asked by sherribeare at 3:35 PM on Sep. 9, 2010 in Crazy for CreditsLevel 52 (475,652 Credits)
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Slight damage was caused to a Washington farm shed after a fire yesterday (Thursday March 6).
Firefighters attended the scene on the driveway to the farm at The Hollow just before 1pm.
Entry to the shed was forced after smoke was seen coming from inside.
Firefighters used a hose reel to extinguish the flames.
The interior of the shed was slightly damaged by smoke and the fire was ruled accidental.


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Our Incredibly Shrinking Earth!
http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/blogs/entry_img/2010/Jan/18/our-shrinking-earth.jpg The Earth is shrinking. Ok, not literally. But figuratively it is. Globalization, population growth, and other factors have brought us "together" as a world in some ways. And globalization is not just a recent phenomena. It's been going on probably at least since the Age of Discovery in the ...
- Jan. 18, 2010


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Lincoln Middle School is sending 11 students to the IESA State Cross Country meeting this weekend in Normal, Illinois. Continuing a long tradition of success, coaches Shaffer and Elzer led a terrific group of young men and women this season. In addition to the successes garnered on the field of competition, the Lincoln team represented itself well in the character department, winning the 8th Grade Girls' Sportsmanship Award for our athletic conference. As our tradition dictates, our state bound runners ran the halls of Lincoln while the entire school lined the route, cheering them on their way. We wish them the best of luck for a fun and healthy race!! Go Lions!!
What's Happening? >


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I thought for sure this was going to be another three part story like the Lugia arc we just had.
Seeing him in the show made me see just how crazy and obsessed Eusine is.
I really enjoyed seeing Suicune in this episode, It's been the one of the three legendary dogs/beasts/whatever I like the best.


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55 comments found.
After Wordpress 4.0 update my custome menus is not working, cant asign menu positions, the same menu show on top menu and lateral. Waiting for an update for the theme.
Hey, sorry, we'll take care asap!
Still Waiting the update, i got errors every time i want to change the menu.
Hi, how can I add links in the footer? If I add links in the footer text form in the theme administration panel they don't works. Thank you.
The footer only supports text, sorry
I have gravity forms installed on my site and the form looks beveled or inset? I don't know how to remove those styles that are affecting the form to look natural and better.. without that inset/beveled look. please take a look and let me know.http://www.phoenix.gomidesign.com/transportation-request/
Thanks, Omar
Hey Omar,
please ask the programmer of Gravity form where you can change its CSS settings. That will help
Hello Bebel team, As soon as I add additional pages my Main Page gets crushed (displays subpages instead of the main page with the slider). You can check the result here: http://kancelaria-bieniak.pl/ No response on the support forum for four days since I reported the problem.
oh come on.. 11 days left since I asked for help. This theme is useless if you can't upload additional pages!
Hey there,
sorry, we have totally missed this one!
We will look into it!
Hello Bebbel,
Can you tell me how to get more than 17 portfolio items on the portfolio page?
Thanks in advance
there should be no limit for portfolio items on the portfolio page.
Could it be that you have set the limit for posts per page in the wordpress settings -> reading to 17?
Hahahaha… that did it!
Why dind't I think about that?
Sometimes the most simple answer is the correct one.
Hi good afternoon, I need to show the section of "portfolio" in English and Spanish but the template options just let me show it in one language, I am using the WPML plugin and my site is www.cabven.com, would greatly appreciate your help. Greetings!
thanks for your purchase! You need to ask WPML for support on how to implement their plugin as we cannot support third party software, sorry
Ok I understand, thank you very much for your prompt reply. Greetings!
Hello Bebel,
Perhaps an stupid question, but I can't find the Revolution Slider when I search for it on my plugin page. Do you have an link where I can download this plugin?
Hey man,
its integrated in the theme and not separately provided
Is there a way to remove "/by Author i.e Admin"? on Pages etc I have tried Custom CSS but cannot get it to work with various commands. Can you help?
Great Theme. Thanks
please post your request in the support forum – we will help you out there asap.
Just tried to register but invalid activation key?
would you mind sending your activation key through the contact form here: http://themeforest.net/user/Bebel#from ?
We will look into the problem and activate you asap!
Thanks for your patience,
I purchased the theme this summer and it includes an old version of RevSlider which is now under the spot for JS Injection and all my web server is now corrupt regarding this theme .
Can you provide a latest version with at least RevSlider 4.2 …like today?http://blog.sucuri.net/2014/12/soaksoak-malware-compromises-100000-wordpress-websites.html http://www.cnbc.com/id/102272762#.
Thanks for your understanding!
very very sorry for the vast delay. We are now finally uploading the new version – if you need to get it earlier, please send us a mail through our profile page (http://themeforest.net/user/Bebel#from ) with a link to this discussion and we will get back to you asap.
hello, I installed the theme but I could not find the slider images. Is this theme being sold without the images???
yes the theme is sold without the images – the royalties for them would great;y exceed the costs of the item, that's why I know some authors provide XML files but using such ways causes us and our buyers to commit copyright infringement.
It is very easy though to add your own images and it is very cheap to buy them on Photodune.net.
If you bought the item because if the images you can ask envato for a refund.
Similar issue as paceo. Tried to register but invalid activation key.
As Bebel required paceo I sent the activation key through the contact form here: http://themeforest.net/user/Bebel#from ?
I got the reply: "Hi, thanks for getting in touch with Bebel Themes. Please note that we do not provide support via mail but only through our dedicated support forum?http://support.thebebel.com"
However, how am I supposed to ask for support through the forum if the problem lies in accessing the forum.
Any help is appreciated.
thanks for notifying us! We have added you manually to the support groups.
Sometimes the system seems to fail. We will be looking into that!
Pleas help i am getting this error .
Warning: include(images/social.png) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in D:\Inetpub\vhosts\rendezvous-group.com\httpdocs\wp-content\plugins\revslider\revslider.php on line 120
Warning: include(images/social.png) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in D:\Inetpub\vhosts\rendezvous-group.com\httpdocs\wp-content\plugins\revslider\revslider.php on line 120
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'images/social.png' for inclusion (include_path='.;./includes;./pear') in D:\Inetpub\vhosts\rendezvous-group.com\httpdocs\wp-content\plugins\revslider\revslider.php on line 120
Hey there,
do you use the version of the rev slider we include in our theme? Or do you use a new one?
Thanks, Bebel
Hey there, How can I change the translation? I prepared .po and .mo files, then I uploaded on a server and nothing change. Thanks, M.
please open a ticket in the support forum – there the programmer will lend you a hand and you might find your question already answered in a previous post.
Hey, thanks for the answer, but my activation key doesn't work. Best regards Marcin
did you also do the other changes that are required by the translation process?
Can you explain what steps you have taken so we can figure out why it won't work for you?
Hey, thanks for your answer. I prepared .po and .mo files (first in Loco Translate, second time in Google Translator+PoEdit). Then I put the files to "./wp-content/themes/construct/lang" folder and I added to the config.php file define('WPLANG', 'pl_PL'); line.
Best regards
PS Sorry for my English, it's not my mother tounge
Hey dejv81,
I just granted you access to the support forums. You might sign in now. The problem seems to have been that the themeforest API was not available due to DDos attacks. Thats why the verification process failed.
It is weird that the translation is not available for you. Could you send us the login data to your wordpress backend through our contact form here, so we can test it?http://themeforest.net/user/bebel#from
The documentation seems to be incomplete, where can I find how to create the slider as the one you have? I imported the txt file into revslider but nothing appears
Hey, here is the video http://help.thebebel.com/knowledge-base/slider-setup-video/
thank youuuu , now I get it you should post this video link in the documentation. cheers!


text:
They may have been soggy and thoroughly worn out but the members of the Grantham Goblins team, pictured, had every reason to be delighted after emerging as the champions of Kempton's It's A Knock Out competition in September 1987.
The 'home' side from the Dysart Road knitwear factory fought off the challenge of teams from other Kempton factories in Leicester, Grimsby and Sleaford to be victorious. Runners up were the Woolly Pully Wanderers from Leicester.
The teams had to compete over a "diabolical" course designed by Chris Ellis from the Leicester factory and, needless to say, they all ended up soaked to the skin.
But it was all in a good cause, for the Goblins weren't the only winners on the day, the event also raised around £1,500 for Grantham's Ambergate School.


text:
Siloing is an important SEO strategy that has massive potential for great results for large websites. Silos enable websites to be theme-centric, and make the themes visible to the search engine, resulting in higher ranking for the site.
The first step in siloing consists of establishing keyword-centric and community-centric themes for the website. An important consideration here is to keep the theme and content aligned according to the search pattern of users. Next, a landing page must be identified. The landing page is the page which the search engine should identify as being the most important of all the pages in the website. Here lies the key to success. Highlighting the importance of the landing page that contains most of the theme-centered content in the site and to which the other pages link, can make your website much more visible.
If the focus on the landing page isn't maintained, the links are diluted, losing the focus of the website itself. It brings down the search engine rankings and your website ends up being not that conspicuous after all. All pages dealing with a theme linking to each other won't improve the ranking of any page on your website. They'd all just have more-or-less the same page rank. Instead, if the links are controlled and all of them link to one landing page, the rankings for the landing page increase immeasurably. It is also important that the links aren't created in an artificial manner. The pages should be naturally linked.
These secrets of siloing could bring about positive results for large websites, through increased rankings and, as a result, better visibility.


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It is guaranteed that everyone who arrives in Peru is going to see a handful of destinations; Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. But for those with slightly more time for spare, what become the other must-see destinations for a Peru trip? The will be that there tend to be places than precisely what people see in a lifetime, but next two places are both very high to the must-see list.
Currently Neil continues his role in the lead of the seduction local region. Towards the end of 2005, Style decided that though pass the creme the river of the five colors (แม่น้ํา 5 สี) creme of seduction knowledge to five selected followers at a three-day seminar at his California building.
People have talked on what the island is changing, as is indeed , often the case. The government does have plans for tourism to put La Palma on the map. Currently the main problem is that the airport is not large enough to park the planes, and notably the runway not long enough to qualify for bigger planes for taking off. For a result, edinburgh airport has been expanded at huge related expenditure. This new airport is not open yet. Ask the locals and they'll say, "Small island, big airport!" However, I guess once several airlines strengthen their flight schedules and other airlines beginning of come, manchester airport will not seem quite so big.
On the hour boat ride for the island I managed to talk up friends of 4 people have been meeting the isle for get started building links time themselves about the solstice lake titicaca peru weather averages and also the importance within the work that needed being done places and that could join up if they wanted. I gave them enough information for the rightfully be very fascinated with the timing the just managed end up being going for the Island on the Sun. 2 of them didn't even know was the Solstice and none analysts knew guidelines and meal plans used from your Inca and Pre-Inca Empire for vital Solstice rituals.
When flying, take phone prices available at Peruvian Discovering. Unlike Lan, this airline's prices is the same for foreigners as these types of for Peruvians and it doesn't charge more for booking one-way tours. The downside is that they in addition provide less flights between 2 cities. Lan is, generally speaking, significantly more reliable. Tickets on Peruvian Airlines should be mount fitz roy wiki bought in country for the most powerful deals so it is best to book a good agency prior to. Other airlines to look at besides Lan are Star Peru and Taca. Informative not be as convenient as Lan but they tend to be cheaper.
I think people are trying to learm about the program and any extreme body building program, you best be in order to eat to discomfort and you will have to gain access to some supplements. Body Beast requires the following equipment for better results and you'll find doing this in the gym: curl bar, dumbbells, or resistance bands, flat-incline bench or stability ball, chin-up bar or resistance bands. You might even check these matters at your local store.
I hope you are all well . i shall write soon to bore you all stupid with more inane tales from the southern continent. Frankly if you're read this far you're either really bored to team members or accomplish it out of politeness. I appreciate either reason.


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Life Is Good Again
The U.S. Treasury did not default. Gabby Giffords returned to Capitol Hill to cast her vote and rally her House colleagues of the importance of unity. And it looks like our grandchildren will be paying off our nation's debt. Good news breaking all around (at least for many of us who have been supporting adult children and have no problem learning they may one day have to do the same).
Ever an optimist, I am a great believer in our flawed institutions and the flawed people who run them. After all, during my lifetime I've seen the most radical reforms. Among my favorites: how Big Tobacco was brought to its knees and forced to pay $368 billion in health-related damages, plus tear down billboards and retire Joe Camel. That was right up there with the break up of the Bell Telephone monopoly and the fall of communism.
And in the realm of anything is possible, it now appears Ben Sherwood is saving ABC News -- if not its ratings, at least its integrity. Swimming fiercely against the current, the new ABC News boss has announced the end of the scandalous practice of writing large checks for competitive news interviews under the guise of "licensing fees" for photos or video. See? If you wait (or live) long enough, the things you care about the most will turn out okay.
The end of checkbook journalism in network news is certainly on my current top ten list of the most urgently needed reforms. It is little more than an invitation to lie, a corruption of free speech, which is the very foundation of democracy. If your story, ahem, "photo or video" is worth only a couple hundred dollars, what might you do or say to make it worth thousands more?
Just ask the "Botox Mom" who got caught lying, in a paid ABC interview, about injecting her 8-year-old daughter before kiddie pageants. When California child services swooped in and took custody of the little girl, "Botox Mom" admitted, "I made it all up for money."
She'd originally sold the story to a British tabloid for a couple hundred bucks, then negotiated a lot more from ABC News. But just before they put her $10,000 check in the mail, she was forced to admit it was all a lie.
That scandal, and fee, was dwarfed by the recent news, delivered under oath, that ABC News paid $200,000 to Casey Anthony's lawyers for her defense fund, er, "for Casey's home video of her with little daughter, Caylee," before she went on trial for the child's murder.
Now to be fair, that journalistic black eye happened under ABC News president, David Westin, who is no longer there but recently scoffed at the practice in an interview with the New York Times. He explained the downside not as a journalism ethics breach, but as a bad business choice.
The economic tradeoff rarely makes sense, Mr. Westin said, in a time of budget and staff cuts at network news divisions.
"If you could prove that by spending $20,000 you would make $70,000, O.K., I can justify that," Mr. Westin said. "But I'll be doggone if you could go through any of those payments, trace them through and see if it made any sense."
So, if it didn't make any doggone sense, why did he continually authorize the payments? I certainly hope those at ABC News who are left holding the bag, so to speak, are not held responsible for their boss' decisions, made of course with the oversight by the network's V.P. of Standards & Practices.
If there are any lessons to learn from the Rupert Murdoch scandal unfolding across the pond: the buck stops with the bosses. It now remains to be seen if the newly acquitted, albeit vilified, Casey Anthony will have a soft spot for ABC News after that $200,000 fee which certainly made a big difference shaping her destiny.
Still, "Botox Mom's" check-that-was-never-sent had been authorized by the new ABC boss. So was the perplexing paymentto the most memorable of Rep. Anthony Weiner's x-rated texting friends, Megan Broussard. After being on the receiving end of his famous "penis" photo, the 26-year-old single mom sold ABC News not more damning photos of the congressman, but a few sexy photos of herself that she had texted back to him -- for around $15,000. The wink-wink "licensing fee" for her photos and texts coincidentally came with a free exclusive interview for 20/20 anchor Chris Cuomo, who defended the practice at the time in an interview with CNN's Howie Kurtz on Reliable Sources:
It is my decision. I'm the anchor of 20/20. I could have said, 'Don't do it.' I don't because it is the state of play right now. I wish it were not. I wish money was not in the game. But you know, it's going to go somewhere else. You know someone else is going to pay for the same things."
Well, now Cuomo's new boss has decided, rightfully so, that it's definitely going to be "someone else," not ABC News, who pays faux licensing fees. Bravo.
A Personal Disclosure
The recent New York Times story said ABC and NBC morning shows regularly end up in bidding wars for candid and exclusive interviews and, curiously, quoted an anonymous source who said he was afraid that commenting openly could jeopardize his job, "It's been like this for years, this hyper-competition."
As a producer at ABC News for seventeen years, I was involved in many routine licensing deals for real news photos and videos provided by people not involved in the given story.
I was I was executive producer of Good Morning America from January 1999 to mid-2004, Only once all my years at ABC did I negotiate a licensing fee to someone who also gave an interview (other than an occasional random tornado chaser).
During my tenure at GMA, we competed fiercely with the Today Show, but never with checkbooks. Back then, we'd try to steal each other's guests at the airport or their hotel lobbies. The biggest scandal was when Katie Couric's booker took a kidnapping victim shopping and bought her a new pair of jeans to wear on the air. (The booker got a brief suspension.)
When I paid for the above-mentioned video, neither the Today Show, nor any other show was in the mix. It was just days after the April 20, 1999 Columbine High School massacre when I first learned of a school video starring Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the two seniors who killed themselves after their shooting rampage that ended the lives of 12 random classmates and one beloved teacher. The spree, backed up with bombs planted in the cafeteria, was a well-planned inexplicable act of violence that left 24 more injured and an entire nation traumatized.
Their student video, titled Hitmen for Hire, was made four-and-a-half months before the massacre and appeared almost to be a dress rehearsal for the tragic events that would soon follow. Dressed in their now familiar long black goth trench coats, Harris and Klebold troll the halls of Columbine High School as hitmen for hire, offering their services to protect "the weak" from bullies. While a group worked on the project, it is Harris and Klebold who look into the camera and express intense anger and rage. The classroom assignment had been to come up with an idea for a new business.
Tipped off to the revealing class project by our reporters on the ground, there were no story brokers involved, no one who set out to profit off a tragedy or build a defense fund for a trial. It was quite the contrary. The father of the student who had possession of the video did not want his son or family involved with ABC News or any of the media for that matter.
I personally initiated the numerous conversations it took to convince the reluctant father to let ABC News license the video. In the end, we agreed a fee, the existence of which, not necessarily the $10,000 amount, would have to be disclosed to our viewers in the event we interviewed his son as well.
After the negotiation for the tape, and much further discussion, the dad and I agreed it was probably better to let his son grant an interview rather than risk having something leak, giving the appearance of a sneaky or underhanded transaction.
The boy was neither a friend or confidante of Harris or Klebold. He was just an accidental classmate. He had no one to protect, no story to change or color. Clearly, the video stood on its own as an important piece of evidence in the puzzle of why these students carried out their rampage.
The situation fit my personal litmus test for a licensing fee: if the seller doesn't grant an interview, would I still want to buy the photo or video anyway for ABC and would I be willing to offer the same amount. This video passed that test; if we didn't get permission to talk to the young classmate, we would have booked a criminal profiler to see what there was to learn.
As part of our continuing coverage of Columbine, we aired the video along with a live interview with the classmate. About a month later, Good Morning America broadcast a 2-hour town hall meeting with victims of all the school shootings, at the White House with President and Mrs. Clinton with Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson. For morning show viewers, Columbine was the biggest story of the year.
It was five years before the Jefferson Country Sheriff's Department released Harris and Klebold's Hitmen for Hire to the public, after which it became a big news story once again, on all networks. Five years after that, Dave Cullen included a detailed analysis of the video in his New York Times bestseller, Columbine.
Do I wish the video had been given to us? Of course. Do I think paying for it changed or influenced our reporting? Not one word. But the possibility that it might is the very reason to avoid the practice. Other than getting something on the air faster, there is little other benefit.
Convincing people to grant interviews for the sole purpose of setting the record straight has become more and more challenging over the years with the growing population of syndicated television shows like Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition and TMZ which routinely pay for interviews. But it is still the our mission. For 17 years, the following argument always seemed to work for me.
"If you want people to believe your story, and if you'd like to see your window into the story preserved in ABC News archives for future generations, then don't sell out."
This very simple strategy lead to an untold number of exclusive interviews on the most competitive stories of the day. A group of Menendez jurors, some whose homes were damaged in the Northridge earthquake during the trial, turned down cashier's checks to talk to ABC News.
After one long year of discussions, two members of the U.S. Marine Corps' elite silent drill team decided not to sell their incriminating video which showed egregious and dangerous hazing of the new inductees. Instead, they agreed to give it to ABC News to make a difference. They did. The result was a primetime news report which sparked the establishment of the first anti-hazing policy for Marines.
After much discussion, but no fees or financial consideration, another source provided me with sealed grand jury transcripts from the Michael Jackson child molestation case which was the first look at the strengths and weakness of the prosecutor's case. The list goes on.
In the end, the high cost of paying for interviews has nothing to do with the amount of the check. One can only hope that CBS and NBC follow ABC News as they begin to show the world you can put the toothpaste back in the tube.
This blog originally appeared in Shelley Ross' daily Xpress.


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387840263210771184.post2701104566596119288..comments2018-02-27T03:29:36.946-08:00Comments on The Moveable Alphabet: Coin Bank Game....I Highly Recommend It - UpdatedSusan Slocum Dyerhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387840263210771184.post-21211719700840587772012-12-07T21:37:10.260-08:002012-12-07T21:37:10.260-08:00I love this! I started money with my son in the la...I love this! I started money with my son in the last week, and he is really going to enjoy this game, I think. He has a sister a year older than him, and even though she has mastered money long ago, I think even she will enjoy playing this with email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387840263210771184.post-86981835444678049102009-03-02T11:23:00.000-08:002009-03-02T11:23:00.000-08:00Welcome Meg!!!!! Send pictures of your classroom t...Welcome Meg!!!!! Send pictures of your classroom to my email when you get a chance - email@example.com Y. Dyerhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387840263210771184.post-89694105421441357592009-03-01T10:51:00.000-08:002009-03-01T10:51:00.000-08:00Hi, SusanI stumbled onto this site early in Februa...Hi, Susan

I stumbled onto this site early in February and already I've incorporated this game, the coin Mystery Bag, and the Oil and Water experiment into my public Montessori classroom. They are all among the most-chosen works in my room. I appreciate your site for the beautiful pictures, links to other sites, clear directions and organization of the site, but most of all for the peace and joy that infuse every post. I can't wait to finish visiting the archives.
Thank you so much!meghttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387840263210771184.post-85578548005038528142009-02-06T12:49:00.000-08:002009-02-06T12:49:00.000-08:00Also, I am going to re-post the coin memory game. ...Also, I am going to re-post the coin memory game. It will be just below the coin bank game post. This will show one of the earlier works.

Susan Dyer

The Moveable AlphabetSusan Y. Dyerhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387840263210771184.post-69385052022333367992009-02-06T12:47:00.000-08:002009-02-06T12:47:00.000-08:00Hannah,Yes a three period lesson is presented. Als...Hannah,

Yes a three period lesson is presented. Also, my children use the blindfold with coins to learn their name and value. I forgot to add a photo of the control card that goes with the game which I am just about to do.

I also have a sorting exercise with coins for for young four year olds.

Return to my post and you will see the control card add.

Cheers,

Susan Dyer
The Moveable AlphabetSusan Y. Dyerhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387840263210771184.post-51419032571268200102009-02-06T10:42:00.000-08:002009-02-06T10:42:00.000-08:00This is a very simple game, and yet the simplicity...This is a very simple game, and yet the simplicity of things is often what attracts my kids to them. I do think you came up with a winner here! One question...what do you do to make kids aware of the monetary amount of different coins in the first place? Do you just do a three-period lesson on the values, or is there another way?

Thanks!Hannahhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387840263210771184.post-81281899533629891802009-02-06T06:07:00.000-08:002009-02-06T06:07:00.000-08:00This activity is great and just what i needed. Tha...This activity is great and just what i needed. Thank you so much for sharing.N from the Learning Arkhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4387840263210771184.post-33229411394966567192009-02-05T23:00:00.000-08:002009-02-05T23:00:00.000-08:00OMG I love this!! I have been trying to teach my ...OMG I love this!! I have been trying to teach my 4 and 3 year old about money with books and paper money from Lakeshore and coins and I'm SO lost!! Thank you so much for sharing this. And right on the heels of my 4 year old wanting to "look at the money in her piggy bank" tonight ($33 bucks, by the way!) They will love this. Love, love, love your blog. :)Hi. I'm, Maddy. And you are?https://firstname.lastname@example.com


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Voters head to the polls today in primary elections in Kentucky and Oregon, as Hillary Clinton continues her fight despite a growing sense in the Democratic party that Barack Obama will win the Democratic nomination.
Obama's decision to hold a campaign rally in a critical swing state, the site of his first victory of the primary season, indicates he'll embrace tonight's results as a tipping point in the race.
The Illinois senator and his wife, Michelle Obama, will address a crowd in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, the state where in January Obama broke out with a crucial first win over rivals Clinton and John Edwards.
Obama's aides expect that after the votes are counted in Kentucky and Oregon tonight, he will have attained a majority of pledged delegates, those awarded in primary elections and caucuses. The campaign says that's a signal the Democratic party has coalesced behind his candidacy. He is expected to stop short of declaring victory in the nomination fight, however.
The candidates are expected to split the contests, with Clinton, a senator from New York, far ahead in polls in Kentucky. Obama's campaign anticipates a narrow victory in Oregon, where on Sunday 75,000 people attended a rally for him.
Obama is far ahead in the delegate tally and by most accounts the popular vote, and has enjoyed a steady stream of superdelegate endorsements in recent weeks. Democratic party powerbrokers including John Edwards, George McGovern and Robert Byrd have aligned with him since the May 6 vote in Indiana and North Carolina.
But Clinton has vowed to soldier on, reminding voters that Obama has yet to clinch the nomination. He has 1,915 delegates to her 1,721, with 2,026 needed to win, according to the latest Associated Press tally. She has implored voters to ignore Washington media figures she claims are counting her out, although her rhetoric has largely shifted away from attacks on Obama. She will hold a rally tonight in Louisville, Kentucky.
"I admit, this has been a long job interview, but this is the toughest job in the world," she told a crowd in Lexington, Kentucky, last night "You know that. And you know that the next president will not only face all the problems we could recite tonight, but there will be problems we can't even imagine that will end up on the desk of our president. So as we think about this momentous election, you need to carefully consider the choice you are making. I'm asking for your support because I know I am ready to make these decisions."
Obama, meanwhile, has turned his attention to the general election and Republican presidential nominee John McCain. He has cautiously avoided appearing to drive Clinton from the race, lest he alienate her large number of supporters.
"I know this has been a long primary contest, so some Democrats have been worried that maybe the party is going to be divided," he said at a rally in Billings, Montana last night. "You know, you've got Obama supporters over here, Clinton supporters over here. Let me tell you something. We are not going to be divided, because whatever differences exist between myself and Senator Clinton, we are unified in the idea that, whatever else happens in November, the name George W Bush isn't going to be on the ballot."
Puerto Rico votes June 1 and Montana and South Dakota vote June 3.


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Demo - places grid across end result / preview
PC only. Plug-in set for Photoshop (R) and Paint Shop Pro (R) and Painter (TM) many others.
Plug-in is part of the Andrew's Plug-in series
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The plug-in set is a single plug-in but packed with 1000s and 1000s of colorful gradient combinations such as ellipsoids, angular, linear etc and many more. Packed with many output options to create unique color effects + effects modes + transparency settings + many color features + randomization features + presets + ...
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Visiting the American South is a vacation experience that many people end up enjoying during their lifetime. One of the best cities to go to when wanting to have a good time is the city of Houston, Texas. Houston offers a number of different experiences including a taste of Texas, the American South, a true international city, and a coastal region all in one. Very few people travel to this truly fun getaway city and end up disappointed. It really does offer a great time for every type of traveler there is.
Houston is a wonderful city to visit with tons of great things to do and see. The downtown area can be fun for all ages with its nice selection of restaurants, shops, and attractions. Uptown Houston is equally nice, with less of a business feel to it and a lot more shopping opportunities. There are other great things in Houston as well including first rate museums, luxury accommodations, bars and nightclubs, professional sporting events, tour opportunities, and more. Sometimes though, one of the best things to do on a vacation is to actually take a day and get out of the city being traveled to. Houston is perfect for this too as there is a nice selection of attractions and other communities within an easy drive of it.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is about two hundred miles to the west of Houston and can be driven to in about three hours or a little more. This drive takes visitors through a large section of Texas and gives them a great idea of what the rural parts of the state look and feel like. There are some wonderful little communities to stop in and explore along the way including Katy, Sealy, Glidden, Flatonia, Luling, and Seguin. San Antonio itself is a beautiful city that offers historical attractions, professional sports, museums, art galleries, landmarks, shopping, and more. One of the most popular features of San Antonio is the RiverWalk area where travelers are welcome to walk along or even take boat tours of a beautiful river area lined with parks, shops, and restaurants.
Kemah is a small community just south of Houston and works great as a day trip destination itself, or a fun place to stop on the drive between Houston and Galveston. Kemah features a lengthy boardwalk that not only is lined with things to do, but is also a great place to just sit back, relax, and do some people watching. There are restaurants, cafes, street vendors, amusement rides, and more all located immediately at the boardwalk. Kemah sits on Galveston Bay and has a very nice waterfront area where sitting back and enjoying the views of incoming and outgoing ships is yet another joy to be experienced there.
Galveston sits just short of an hour's drive to the south of Houston and is a very popular destination for those from around the country, as well as for the locals from Houston too. The city of Galveston and all of Galveston Island offer a fun day filled with tons of coastal activities. There are miles of beautiful beaches to explore, fun restaurants and cafes to eat at, historical landmarks to see, and of course great access to the water. Outdoor recreation on the beaches of Galveston is very popular and it isn't uncommon to see vacationers taking part in boating, swimming, diving, surfing, sunbathing, beach combing, wind surfing, kayaking, and more while there. Galveston also features the Schlitterbahn Water Park Galveston attraction which is extremely popular with families.
San Jacinto State Park
San Jacinto State Park is located just a short drive from Houston and is a very worthwhile trip for any traveler or travel group to make, especially for anyone with an interest in history. The park contains the San Jacinto Battleground Monument which commemorates the decisive battle in which Texas won its independence from Mexico. Also found at the park is the Battleship Texas. For a reasonable entrance fee, a vacationer can actually step foot on and take a tour of a real World War II battleship. Both of these attractions are well worth the time it takes to get there, which is not very much at all. There are other things to do at the park too including nature walks, picnicking, and even camping.
Lake Charles, Louisiana
The community of Lake Charles, Louisiana is located just 140 miles east of Houston. It takes about two and a half house of driving to get there, and the traveler goes through some great scenic areas along the way including coastline, rolling hills, lakes, rivers, and more. Lake Charles itself is a fun little town that features many things including casino action. Travelers of all ages can be sufficiently entertained both in the city itself and in the natural areas found in the immediate vicinity.
The community of Surfside is a low key beach community that sits a little less than an hour away from Houston. Surfside offers many of the same things that Galveston does, but is a little off the beaten path so it doesn't have the crowds during the peak summer months. The beaches at Surfside are beautiful and big enough to handle all of the vacationers that head there each year. The community also offers fun things to do including eat out, go shopping, and relax.
Schlitterbahn Water Park
For a fun time in the sun within an easy drive of Houston, many families rave about the Schlitterbahn Water Park in the community of New Braunfels, Texas. This community sits about 175 miles west of Houston and is about a three hour drive. It isn't just locals that rave about the Schlitterbahn Water Park though, travel magazines and television shows have consistently rated it the number one water park in the entire world for a number of years. There are beach areas, swimming pools, wave pools, water cannons, and all sorts of waterslides. For those wanting to make a weekend out of it, San Antonio is only about another forty five minutes down the road.
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While Houston is a fun city to go to based on what can be found there, an often overlooked benefit that the city has is how conveniently located it is to several area attractions. A traveler can spend their vacation in Houston and see all the great things that the city has to offer, and then they can see some very interesting attractions in the surrounding area as part of either a road trip or as something to do on their way to or from the city. Vacationing in Houston is a great idea for a number of reasons, but one of the top reasons is because of all the first rate things found in the surrounding area.