Good enough? Use this 5-point checklist...

5 quick ways to check if a client measures up [The Writer’ s Life]( June 17, 2020 Hi {NAME}, The idea of getting clients is intimidating for new writers … and even some more professional ones too … The thought of putting yourself out there and having someone determine if you're "good enough" can quickly produce a moment of hesitation. But it's important to remember that this is a two-way street … Your version of the writer's life is unique to you. And not every client or writing opportunity will be "good enough" for what you want it to look like. Ultimately, you want to work with clients who are the right fit for you. AWAI Success Jen Adams remembers that feeling of wondering if she was "good enough" … But then she found a solution that completely turned things around. She created a five-question "good enough" checklist to help her make decisions about which clients and projects to go after. And she shares it in today's issue, so you can benefit from this quick assessment tool. Jen, now Managing Director of [The Professional Writers' Alliance](, built her copywriting career from zero to over six-figures a year when she embraced this new mindset. When it comes to the world of paid writing, there are so many ways you can earn good fees with just your computer and internet access … with no limit on what you can make. (Here's a list of 75 top writing projects in our [Pricing Guide](.) But the base — the foundation — for all of them is persuasive writing. Equipped with the proper training, you can be making money as a paid writer in no time — from home. Our [Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting]( has become the industry gold standard for learning the art of persuasive writing. Regardless of which writing path you ultimately choose, or writing projects you decide to take on, it gives you a foundation in writing copy and content that gets results. If you want to make a great living as a writer like Jen, it all starts with [this one program](. And to help give you a bit of a push forward, we've deeply discounted it for today only … [Check it out!]( To your success, Rebecca Matter President, AWAI 5 Quick Ways to Check If a Client Is "Good Enough" for You By Jen Adams [Person using laptop interrupted by cat on desk staring at him] Ever been browsing the job boards, wondering if you're good enough to go after a particular client or gig? I can't even begin to count how many hours I've wasted that way. In the early years of my career, landing new clients was agonizing. I'd see a job or a client that was interesting or seemed like a good opportunity, and resolve to go for it. But then about half the time, I'd talk myself back out of it. I was an expert at convincing myself that the client wouldn't like me … that they wouldn't think I was "good enough" for them. As a result, I'd chicken out of applying for the job at all. Maybe you can relate. And maybe, like me, you can change. It requires a bit of mental gymnastics, but it works. In fact, this one mental change is what helped me double my income and hit that long-hoped-for six-figure income milestone. What changed? The question … The Power of Flipping the Question As a new writer, I often asked, "Am I good enough for this client?" I never asked, "Is this client good enough for ME?" But it turns out, that was the exact reframe that I needed. It made a HUGE difference. It boosted my bottom line, rapidly carrying me up over the six-figure mark. It made me more confident as I approached clients. And, most importantly, it let me spend a lot less time worrying about clients and a lot more time writing for clients. Win, win, win all around. Here's how it works … Your Quick Five-Question "Good Enough" Checklist To judge whether or not a client is "good enough" for you, there's two steps you have to complete. One you do in your head, and one you do on paper. First, the head work. Take a moment and imagine your ideal writer's life. Brush past specifics like niche or specialization, and lean into the feeling of your perfect writer's life. For me, based on where I was in my life, I wanted a low-stress life where I wrote part of the day, and spent the rest of the day with my family. I have a lot of care-giving responsibilities to juggle, so a feeling of flexibility was important, too. I also wanted to have the joy of regular checks in the mail, even when I wasn't working crazy hours, and to feel like I was working with good people on interesting projects. Based on that definition of the perfect writer's life, I then outlined the broad strokes of what a good client would be for me. - A client who was organized enough to have reasonable deadlines for projects — no culture of 24/7 work, constant rush jobs, or nonstop last-minute changes - A client who was remote friendly, so I could keep being with my family and traveling to family events and medical appointments as needed - A client who had the budget to pay respectable rates for projects, so I could focus on doing a few bigger projects vs. lots of little ones to hit my goals - A client who paid royalties, so I could work once and potentially be paid over and over for the same project - A client who had products I could be proud to sell, with a support staff of reliable professionals I'd be happy to work with Now, I'm well aware that my list seems very different from other ways of defining your niche or specialization. So how did I translate this "out there" emotional definition of a good client into a quick checklist I could use in the real world? I took out a sheet of paper and wrote down five questions that went to the core of what I wanted from my writer's life. Here's what my list looks like right now: - Does this client have a "remote friendly" structure? - Does this client have established best practices for commissioning, reviewing, and regularly publishing new copy? - Does this client have an email list and marketing structure capable of supporting a copywriter at my fee level? - Is there the opportunity here for me to earn royalties? - Do I like the products and respect the professionalism of the team? Notice that all of these questions are "Yes or No?" style. That's intentional. It prevents my brain from waffling around and being tempted by less-than-perfect situations. With this list, I can look at an opportunity and know in a matter of minutes whether the client is potentially "good enough" to make my current writing dreams come true. No more overthinking it, no more self-doubt, and no more agonizing over job postings. Instead, when there's not a fit, I move right on to the next posting. Or, if I'm in active conversation with the client, I'll say, "I don't think this is a fit for me right now. Let me refer you to another writer." And when there is a fit, I'm all-in. I apply for the opportunity right away if it's an online posting, or if I'm talking with the client face-to-face, I'll say, "This sounds great. Let's figure out what our first project together should be." By reframing the question and shifting how I looked at clients, I've been able to dramatically improve my experience as a working writer. I'm matching myself with clients that are a better fit for me, and since there's a great fit, I'm better able to do good work and make a great income. Today, I invite you to try this for yourself. Spend some time thinking about how your ideal writer's life would look and feel on a daily basis. Would you be happiest in a busy, deadline-driven work environment where there's always something to do? Do you want to sit with co-workers in one location or be free to travel? Is there deep satisfaction for you in fact-checking or editing, or do you prefer the narratives challenges of long-form sales letters? Next, design your own quick five-question "good enough" checklist. Put it down on paper, so you can refer to it often. And, make sure all your questions are in Yes/No format so you don't leave your brain room to overthink things. There's more than enough writing work out there for all of us, and moving on quickly from less-than-ideal opportunities gives you more time to find your own group of perfect clients. Finally … if you don't mind … I'd love to see your results! Post your ideal life and "good enough" client checklist [in the comments here](. And, as you use this strategy to land the clients that are truly right for you, be sure to come back and share your successes. Want to learn more about how you can find clients that are "good enough" for you? Jen is sitting down with AWAI's own Tim Matassa for a special FB live interview all about landing better clients. Watch [here]( for details. Editorial Note: Want to Grow Your Writing Business Faster? Join our professional writers' community and get access to the tools, training, templates, and industry connections you need! You'll land better clients, make more money, and run your writing business with ease. [Check out more details here.]( Join The Professional Writers' Alliance for a Dollar! Right now you can join The Professional Writers' Alliance for just a dollar! With all the membership perks at your fingertips, you can find and land clients easily … Run your freelance writing business efficiently … Minimize your "unbillable" hours so you can spend more time writing and making money … And join the ranks of well-paid, fulfilled, professional writers. [Get your invitation to join for $1 here!]( FLASH SALE: Save 40% on Your Own Recession-Proof Contingency Plan Until 11:59 p.m. Tonight! Nobody could blame you these days for feeling a distinct lack of control over your situation. But throwing your soap-scrubbed hands in the air and hoping for the best isn't your only option. 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