Dear Direct Response Letter Subscriber: Whether you are a copywriter or a client, this is something you need to understand about what copywriters deliver to clients. Unless otherwise agreed, what copywriters deliver to their clients is copy -- and copy only. By that I mean I give my clients a file with words. They have hired me to write the copy. I deliver the copy to clients as an attached Word file via e-mail. They are buying the writing, the words. Again, unless otherwise specified in the agreement, the copywriter does not do layout, HTML, coding, illustrations, graphic design, or anything other than write the words. In the print age, when I wrote mostly direct mail, ads, and brochures, I would occasionally have clients, upon receiving my copy, say, "Aren't you going to put this into a layout?" When I reminded them I did the copy only and they would have to hire a graphic designer to do the layout, some seemed confused, others disappointed, and a few shocked. To solve this, we started putting the following wording into all our agreements for print promotions: "Bob will submit your copy as a Word document. He does not do graphic design or layout." I suggest you do the same, using of course your name instead of Bob. This removed the ambiguity and ended the problem. When the Internet came along, I began writing web pages and e-mails ... and when I sent the copy to the clients, some would complain, "This isn't in HTML!" When I told them I did the copy only and they would have to hire a web designer to do put my copy into HTML format, many seemed surprised and some were upset. To solve this, we started putting this wording into all our agreements: "Bob will submit your copy as a Word document. He does not do HTML." Again, I suggest you do the same. In fact, so many copywriting clients had the false expectation that they were going to get my copy in an HTML layout that we began putting "He does not do HTML" in all caps in the agreement. Sincerely, Bob Bly Copywriter / Consultant 31 Cheyenne Dr. Montville, NJ 07045 Phone 973-263-0562 Fax 973-263-0613 www.bly.com Follow Bob:      I welcome your feedback! Did you like today's message? What other topics would you like to see covered in my e-mails? Please let me know at: [email protected] As always, please feel free to forward this e-mail to a friend! If you liked this essay, and want to read 75 more just like it, get my new book "Don't Wear a Cowboy Hat Unless You are a Cowboy -- and Other Grumblings from a Cranky Curmudgeon," which you can order here: www.bly.com/KindleCowboy Disclaimer: The Direct Response Letter only recommends products that we've either personally checked out ourselves, or that come from people we know and trust. For doing so, we sometimes receive a sales commission.