Comments on: Freelancing and the Black Hole: The Absence of Feedback http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/ Copywriting Beyond the Words :: The Freelance Writer's Life Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:46:36 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Tom Chandler http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-7475 Tom Chandler Fri, 11 May 2007 00:05:11 +0000 http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/#comment-7475 OK Michael. Enjoy yours as much as I did mine. OK Michael. Enjoy yours as much as I did mine.

]]> By: Michael A. Stelzner http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-7189 Michael A. Stelzner Thu, 10 May 2007 00:47:46 +0000 http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/#comment-7189 Welcome back Tom - My turn for a vacation now! Welcome back Tom – My turn for a vacation now!

]]> By: Tom Chandler http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-7054 Tom Chandler Wed, 09 May 2007 03:50:37 +0000 http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/#comment-7054 I've been on vacation, but I'm gratified to see the interest in this post. Working for yourself can be damned difficult for all sorts of reasons, and the lack of feedback is often one of them. I’ve been on vacation, but I’m gratified to see the interest in this post.

Working for yourself can be damned difficult for all sorts of reasons, and the lack of feedback is often one of them.

]]> By: Engin Iye http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-6732 Engin Iye Mon, 07 May 2007 05:33:28 +0000 http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/#comment-6732 Man, I have been there too. Although copywriting is relatively new to me, I have been doing sales campaigns, new product launches while working in marketing for over 15 years. Not knowing gets the wheels spinning in the mud . . . not knowing doesn't give you that prod to keep going in the direction you are pointed. Sucks. I used/ am using software/program that is kind of like cheating. It has straightened me out on stuff not related to copywriting. Go figure. This is my first visit here and to find someone that has the same issues as me lets me know that I am human and others share my very small boat. Thanks for the forum to vent, help and learn. E Man, I have been there too. Although copywriting is relatively new to me, I have been doing sales campaigns, new product launches while working in marketing for over 15 years. Not knowing gets the wheels spinning in the mud . . . not knowing doesn’t give you that prod to keep going in the direction you are pointed. Sucks. I used/ am using software/program that is kind of like cheating. It has straightened me out on stuff not related to copywriting. Go figure.

This is my first visit here and to find someone that has the same issues as me lets me know that I am human and others share my very small boat.

Thanks for the forum to vent, help and learn.

E

]]> By: Steve Roesler http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-6514 Steve Roesler Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:40:10 +0000 http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/#comment-6514 Tom, I'm not a copywriter but I have been a consultant for 30 years. When I ask for feedback, it's usually pretty generic and "Aw, shucks, that was just fine." If something doesn't work, I hear about it in detail. That's true of all of my clients. But I've never, ever lost a client due to poor performance. Some I've had as long as 15 years. It's kind of like the spouse who says "Of course I love you, I'm still here, aren't I?" It's not what we want. But it's more often than not what we have to settle for. Eager to hear about the mountain trek... Tom,

I’m not a copywriter but I have been a consultant for 30 years. When I ask for feedback, it’s usually pretty generic and “Aw, shucks, that was just fine.” If something doesn’t work, I hear about it in detail.

That’s true of all of my clients. But I’ve never, ever lost a client due to poor performance. Some I’ve had as long as 15 years. It’s kind of like the spouse who says “Of course I love you, I’m still here, aren’t I?”

It’s not what we want. But it’s more often than not what we have to settle for.

Eager to hear about the mountain trek…

]]> By: Rob http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-5881 Rob Sat, 28 Apr 2007 20:06:37 +0000 http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/#comment-5881 Tom- True marketers live/die by response. I would personally go nuts not knowing response rate for work done. That's what I love about Adwords and PPC in general. You know when you have the right message. Enjoy your vacation. Tom-

True marketers live/die by response. I would personally go nuts not knowing response rate for work done. That’s what I love about Adwords and PPC in general. You know when you have the right message. Enjoy your vacation.

]]> By: Tom Chandler http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-5855 Tom Chandler Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:48:17 +0000 http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/#comment-5855 Leif: Hopefully, if somebody doesn't like your work you already know. I'm more concerned with response rates. Leif: Hopefully, if somebody doesn’t like your work you already know. I’m more concerned with response rates.

]]> By: Leif http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-5755 Leif Sat, 28 Apr 2007 05:56:23 +0000 http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/#comment-5755 Give a choice, I would always prefer knowing that someone likes/dislikes my work than not knowing. Traditionally, here in Sweden where I live, you are usually only told something when your work is disliked. It's just our way :) Give a choice, I would always prefer knowing that someone likes/dislikes my work than not knowing.

Traditionally, here in Sweden where I live, you are usually only told something when your work is disliked. It’s just our way :)

]]> By: Roberta Rosenberg, The Copywriting Maven http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-5292 Roberta Rosenberg, The Copywriting Maven Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:30:42 +0000 http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/#comment-5292 I don't think I've actually received a hard sample in about 2 years. I generally do get digital samples because I insist on proofing the final print-ready art myself. I don’t think I’ve actually received a hard sample in about 2 years. I generally do get digital samples because I insist on proofing the final print-ready art myself.

]]> By: Tom Chandler http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/comment-page-1/#comment-5278 Tom Chandler Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:22:13 +0000 http://copywriterunderground.com/2007/04/25/freelancing-and-the-black-hole-the-absence-of-feedback/#comment-5278 Wow, lots of comments, especially considering I wrote this so very late at night. Yvonne: I wish I struck a better balance between work and play; I still spend far too much time sitting. Michael: Point taken. But I'm egotistical enough to make it the client's fault when something doesn't go right... 8-) Roberta: Direct mail has always been a "death by a thousand paper cuts" kind of gig. For some reason, going online has made direct more complicated instead of less. You know the frustration of crafting good creative, only to watch it go down in flames due to a bad drop, bad list, dumb offer, etc. Anne-Marie: I suppose you could view it from a customer service perspective -- and my primary motivation (besides nosiness) is that I can't do it better the next time if I don't know what happened the first time... Walter: You hit that one on the head. Ironically, I got my first Web site because I simply wasn't going to send another package of print samples out the door (never to be seen again). I wanted an online sample case. Now I can't even keep that stocked -- getting even digital samples is tough. Wow, lots of comments, especially considering I wrote this so very late at night.

Yvonne: I wish I struck a better balance between work and play; I still spend far too much time sitting.

Michael: Point taken. But I’m egotistical enough to make it the client’s fault when something doesn’t go right… 8-)

Roberta: Direct mail has always been a “death by a thousand paper cuts” kind of gig. For some reason, going online has made direct more complicated instead of less. You know the frustration of crafting good creative, only to watch it go down in flames due to a bad drop, bad list, dumb offer, etc.

Anne-Marie: I suppose you could view it from a customer service perspective — and my primary motivation (besides nosiness) is that I can’t do it better the next time if I don’t know what happened the first time…

Walter: You hit that one on the head. Ironically, I got my first Web site because I simply wasn’t going to send another package of print samples out the door (never to be seen again). I wanted an online sample case. Now I can’t even keep that stocked — getting even digital samples is tough.

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