As a copywriter, meeting up with deadlines can be one of the most stressful aspects of the job. The pressure to deliver high-quality work on time while maintaining an excellent professional reputation can be overwhelming. It’s understandable to feel swamped and unsure how to handle the tension.
However, copywriting deadlines are crucial because they guarantee that we complete the work and that the client understands what they will receive and when. (A satisfied client is aware of the procedure and the timetable.)
With a strategic approach and the right mindset, you can meet even the most strenuous deadlines with success. We’ll discuss steps you can take to turn a potentially nerve-wracking experience into a manageable, even enjoyable one.
Steps to Meeting Tight Copywriting Deadlines
The following steps are methods we use as copywriters to meet deadlines for projects:
Discuss Reasonable Deadlines With your Client
When discussing deadlines, be honest about the time you need to produce high-quality work and factor in any revisions. That’s why it’s essential to understand the project timeline from the outset. It’s also a good idea to set intermediate deadlines.
Remember that setting a realistic deadline is beneficial for delivering high-quality content and helps build trust and maintain a positive working relationship with your client. Include a thorough description of the extent of the work, the price, and the deadline for completion when sending your proposal.
(Occasionally, a customer might ask you to do work a little more quickly in the middle of a project, but only do so if you’re sure you can meet up)
Be Realistic with Project Timelines
Before your client’s final copy deadline, give yourself 3-4 days. During this time, you can carry out modifications to work done.
It is essential to have submitted a copy to your client to be reviewed, so you can get feedback on things they’ll like to be changed and make changes before the final deadline. In cases where their revisions or suggested adjustments do not suit the content of the job, you can make better suggestions to them on what will work better.
This step helps you determine when you might complete the first draft. (You may include this in your proposal for more transparency).
Here are some procedures your project can follow on acceptance to keep a seamless journey.
- Call your client
- Creating your creative brief
- Concepting
- Outline your work
- Write copy
Different projects require varying writing times due to various factors such as (The client’s needs, the niche, and what industry is to be targeted). You can give yourself more time than you need to cover the basics; however, always err on caution.
NOTE: Your editing time should be at least half that of writing time!
Think In Terms of Days, Not Hours
Most copywriters find it hard to estimate how long it will take to write a copy or content they’ve never written before, especially for new clients.
A trick you can use to estimate time is calculating in terms of days and not hours. Calculating in days gives you time to work on the content within hours of each day at your pace, letting your creative juices flow.
Consider “Sleep-on-It” Time
Giving yourself a night to reflect on your draft is crucial before you start editing. Giving your brain some “off” time to think things through is essential, resulting in a better copy.
NOTE: For the vast majority of clients, the conclusion of the day on Friday is equivalent to the beginning of the day on Monday.
This, for you, makes a significant difference. Giving yourself the weekend allows you to breathe easier while working on creating quality work.
Give deadlines to your clients.
Your clients must also be reminded that making changes is a regular part of the process, and you must receive feedback on time to implement any requested changes. Therefore, the sooner they offer input, the faster you can adjust.
You can politely email clients if they take the time to provide feedback. They should understand that they must give you feedback as soon as possible to meet the agreed deadline. Below is a sample:
Hi, I wanted to see how the feedback was going. I’ll need your requested adjustments by [DATE OR TIME] to make the changes and send you the finalized copy by [DATE], keeping our timetable in mind.
Make Mini-Deadlines For Yourself
Staggered deadlines are essential when writing copy for clients, as it helps you overcome tight deadlines. However, it would be like relying on a brick wall to halt your car if you pace yourself through a big assignment with just one deadline. Although it might work, you’ll get hurt.
Incorporating smaller deadlines before your primary deadline — also called chunking — can help you pace yourself (enables you to know how much work needs to be done and at the work timeline). They must be realistic timelines that you can enforce. For instance, many individuals promise themselves, “I will surely, have this done tomorrow,” only to completely ignore that deadline because there are no repercussions.
It’s excellent if you can genuinely adhere to deadlines stipulated by the client without chunking. However, if you need to improve or are a procrastinator, we advise you to pace yourself this way to ensure efficiency and accountability.
How About When Life Still Happens?
Naturally, life can get in the way even when you properly plan a task and allow yourself plenty of time. In circumstances that are out of your control, where you cannot carve out any more time to meet up, it is vital to get ahead of the situation and let the client know well before the deadline is up.
Best case, you get a deadline extension, and worst case, the project is handed over to another writer. But either way, giving your clients a heads-up preserves their confidence and trust in you.
There is no standard method of establishing copywriting deadlines; however, the more you incorporate a pattern into your schedule, the better you’ll get at meeting a tight deadline. By prioritizing tasks, having a solid plan, staying focused, and being open to asking for help, you can turn a potentially daunting experience into a manageable one.
