Comments on: Clients Suck! http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/ Direct Response Entrepreneur Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:10:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: dobermandan http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/#comment-3989 dobermandan Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:17:34 +0000 http://dobermandan.com/?p=1216#comment-3989 Hey Jeff, This is a GREAT idea. What would I have to do to see a copy of your Limit of Liability agreement? :) Dan Hey Jeff,

This is a GREAT idea.

What would I have to do to see a copy of your Limit of Liability agreement? :)

Dan

]]> By: Jeff Dobkin http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/#comment-3988 Jeff Dobkin Sat, 20 Nov 2010 02:57:31 +0000 http://dobermandan.com/?p=1216#comment-3988 Nice post, Dan... Here's what I do to get payment: When a new client sign up with me I send over my "Limit of Liability" form which they need to sign. This holds me free from liability in case their product doesn't work as promised. I learned this from the nutraceutical industry. Towards the end of the limit of liability form it states “transfer of copyright passes to client upon full and timely payment of all bills.” This way if a client doesn't pay, I can sue him for copyright violation. It's still a pain in the butt, but this is a lot stronger than most other clauses-which when you sue someone, you only get what they owed you (if that). With my contract you can sue for any amount and for each occurrence of copyright infringement. Hope this is helpful. Jeffrey Dobkin Nice post, Dan…
Here's what I do to get payment: When a new client sign up with me I send over my "Limit of Liability" form which they need to sign. This holds me free from liability in case their product doesn't work as promised. I learned this from the nutraceutical industry.

Towards the end of the limit of liability form it states “transfer of copyright passes to client upon full and timely payment of all bills.” This way if a client doesn't pay, I can sue him for copyright violation. It's still a pain in the butt, but this is a lot stronger than most other clauses-which when you sue someone, you only get what they owed you (if that). With my contract you can sue for any amount and for each occurrence of copyright infringement. Hope this is helpful. Jeffrey Dobkin

]]> By: Mel http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/#comment-3981 Mel Mon, 15 Nov 2010 02:59:56 +0000 http://dobermandan.com/?p=1216#comment-3981 This. Blog. Is. GOLDEN! And funny as the day is long! I'm lovin' it. Thanks so much, Dan! This. Blog. Is. GOLDEN! And funny as the day is long! I'm lovin' it. Thanks so much, Dan!

]]> By: Trevor http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/#comment-924 Trevor Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:18:53 +0000 http://dobermandan.com/?p=1216#comment-924 Great advice, Dan, but to all those copywriters out there who think that just because they are great writers, they can make a business work; think again. Dan was quite clear in his message; he has a handle on ALL aspects of the business; he is not just a great copywriter. So, to all you wannabe millionaires, remember there is more to making a DM business work than just your copy. Try capital to start with; and the guy who has the guts to put his last dollar up paying you. Not everyone looking for your services is a slimeball. Some will value your skills and fairly reward you. But do not expect the biggest piece of the pie. There is no risk in simply writing the copy, as invaluable as it is. There are plenty of people out there who will value your services and will pay you what was agreed. Simply use your instincts and deal with people you like and trust; no exceptions. And if they get rich off your copy and have put up all the loot? Well, if you have been paid fairly and in accordance with the agreement, good on them; and now that you have been paid you can put that all on the line and do it yourself. Remeber, that if there are some skills you are lacking in order to do that, make sure you are willing to pay for them!! Great advice, Dan, but to all those copywriters out there who think that just because they are great writers, they can make a business work; think again.
Dan was quite clear in his message; he has a handle on ALL aspects of the business; he is not just a great copywriter.
So, to all you wannabe millionaires, remember there is more to making a DM business work than just your copy. Try capital to start with; and the guy who has the guts to put his last dollar up paying you.
Not everyone looking for your services is a slimeball. Some will value your skills and fairly reward you. But do not expect the biggest piece of the pie. There is no risk in simply writing the copy, as invaluable as it is.
There are plenty of people out there who will value your services and will pay you what was agreed. Simply use your instincts and deal with people you like and trust; no exceptions. And if they get rich off your copy and have put up all the loot? Well, if you have been paid fairly and in accordance with the agreement, good on them; and now that you have been paid you can put that all on the line and do it yourself. Remeber, that if there are some skills you are lacking in order to do that, make sure you are willing to pay for them!!

]]> By: When Clients Suck… http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/#comment-874 When Clients Suck… Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:20:31 +0000 http://dobermandan.com/?p=1216#comment-874 [...] just read the latest post from Doberman Dan and I really think you should read it if you accept paying [...] [...] just read the latest post from Doberman Dan and I really think you should read it if you accept paying [...]

]]> By: Anthony http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/#comment-873 Anthony Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:08:19 +0000 http://dobermandan.com/?p=1216#comment-873 Dan I got three words for you: Joe Sugarman, baby. Excellent article. I come from the entertainment business where getting writers to work for free is considered an entitlement -- the writer's ability to eat and pay his/her bills be damned. Copywriters should market their own products. As an actor, I would scratch my head wondering why more writers didn't produce more of their own material but as I age a realization has crystallized within my psyche: It takes courage to wake up and put in the work to be successful, rise above mediocrity. Most folks don't want to work that hard. Anthony Dan

I got three words for you: Joe Sugarman, baby.

Excellent article. I come from the entertainment business where getting writers to work for free is considered an entitlement — the writer's ability to eat and pay his/her bills be damned. Copywriters should market their own products.

As an actor, I would scratch my head wondering why more writers didn't produce more of their own material but as I age a realization has crystallized within my psyche: It takes courage to wake up and put in the work to be successful, rise above mediocrity.

Most folks don't want to work that hard.

Anthony

]]> By: Byron http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/#comment-872 Byron Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:06:43 +0000 http://dobermandan.com/?p=1216#comment-872 Are you a little pi**ed of buddy? : ) Some great advice yet again Dan thanks. Enjoy the Kiwi adventure! Byron Are you a little pi**ed of buddy? : ) Some great advice yet again Dan thanks. Enjoy the Kiwi adventure!

Byron

]]> By: Ryan Healy http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/#comment-871 Ryan Healy Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:30:13 +0000 http://dobermandan.com/?p=1216#comment-871 Great post, Dan. And a timely reminder. Some of my percentage deals have worked out great... but in many other deals I got completely ripped off. Funny part is, all the warning signs were there -- I just didn't recognize them. I know for a fact I've lost tens of thousands of dollars due to deadbeat clients either not paying the commission, not paying the second half of the fee, etc. Fortunately, experience is a good teacher. :-) Ryan Great post, Dan. And a timely reminder.

Some of my percentage deals have worked out great… but in many other deals I got completely ripped off. Funny part is, all the warning signs were there — I just didn't recognize them.

I know for a fact I've lost tens of thousands of dollars due to deadbeat clients either not paying the commission, not paying the second half of the fee, etc.

Fortunately, experience is a good teacher. :-)

Ryan

]]> By: Courtney James http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/#comment-870 Courtney James Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:56:53 +0000 http://dobermandan.com/?p=1216#comment-870 Whoa. Dan, I just gave this exact advice to a writing friend of mine. Like so many of us, she had a few clients who refused to pay-up. You know, I'm happy to see this stuff spread over the internet because almost ever writer gets ripped off at least once and it's so frustrating! Solid advice Dan. I second it and will be posting the e-mail reply I sent to my friend on my blog too. No writer deserves to be ripped-off like this. It's pure theft at it's worst! Courtney James Whoa.

Dan, I just gave this exact advice to a writing
friend of mine. Like so many of us, she had
a few clients who refused to pay-up.

You know, I'm happy to see this stuff spread
over the internet because almost ever writer
gets ripped off at least once and it's so
frustrating!

Solid advice Dan. I second it and will be posting
the e-mail reply I sent to my friend on my blog
too. No writer deserves to be ripped-off like this.

It's pure theft at it's worst!

Courtney James

]]> By: Bruce Wedding http://www.dobermandan.com/clients-suck/#comment-869 Bruce Wedding Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:52:06 +0000 http://dobermandan.com/?p=1216#comment-869 Spot on, Dan. Behind the curtain of IM gurus hide many a deadbeat "millionaire". Three guys whom everyone knows still owe me money. The best thing a copywriter can do is market his own products as soon as possible and let the clients twist in the wind. Spot on, Dan. Behind the curtain of IM gurus hide many a deadbeat "millionaire".

Three guys whom everyone knows still owe me money.

The best thing a copywriter can do is market his own products as soon as possible and let the clients twist in the wind.

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