How I keep clients coming back every month ($1,000+ retainers)

What good is landing a client if you can’t keep them?

Not much good at all!

In the past few years, I’ve made over $570,000 as a freelance copywriter.

Want me to clue you in on a little secret when it comes to how I did it?

One of my keys to consistent, recurring $10,000 months?

I KEEP CLIENTS HAPPY.

You see, it’s one thing to be able to sign a client.

You can deploy plenty of shifty, scammy tactics to twist someone’s arm until they hire you.

But if you do bad work, they’re out the door the next month.

And you’re right back at zero.

This causes endless freelancers to go through feast and famine…

One month good.

Two months bad.

One month good.

Three months bad.

And so on.

One of the best strategies I’ve taken to avoid this trap over the years?

2 things:

1. Retainers.

2. Quality work.

First off, let’s talk #1 retainers.

I recently signed a new copywriting client (I typically have 3-5 at any given time).

We just finished up month two together.

We don’t have a contract (I think they’re unnecessary for most client work).

But, that does mean that it’s easier to “come and go” if a client wants to end the relationship.

But, they usually like to stick around with me long term (for 12+ months).

So, I sent her an invoice the other day for month three.

And…

Ka-ching!

Paid.

I’m working with her on a recurring basis ON RETAINER.

So she’ll pay me a four-figure check every month…

And I’ll deliver the goods.

Set rate.

Same thing.

Every month.

I like the consistency. I like the predictability. And locking in 3-5 of these ensures it’s easy to consistently hit $10,000 months over and over again.

While many copywriters continue to hunt down a new client every month for a one-time project…

I eat good every month.

No feast or famine here.

If you want to avoid that roller coaster trap, I highly encourage you to lock in retainer deals.

Another option is to lock in revenue share deals — which is a less risky option for a client (since they only pay you for the results you bring in).

Like my copywriting student C.

He recently closed two revenue share deals for 10%.

In his first month with one of those two copywriting clients:

He sold $12,000 USD — which meant he made $1,200 USD from one client.

Once he sets up all his email automations, he’ll be earning a lot more than that every month (and that’s just from a single client).

And he just closed a third client, but this time instead of a rev share deal, he locked in a retainer for $800 USD.

So he’s got 2 clients at 10% rev share and one client for $800 USD per month.

At this rate, I predict he’ll hit $3,000-$5,000/month in the next 30-45 days.

And within 3 months be making $8,000-$10,000/month — closing in on six-figure copywriter territory.

So, we talked about how to keep clients — the #1 thing being locking in retainers (or revenue share deals).

But, what about the second thing (which is even more important)?

#2: Quality work.

If you land a client, you might get paid once.

But if your copy sucks, and you can’t get them results…

They ain’t paying you again.

You gotta remember, this isn’t a 9 to 5.

You’re not getting paid to show up, punch in, and push some buttons.

You’re getting paid to bring results.

You’re an investment for a business owner.

If they give you $1,000, they’ll expect you to bring in $5,000-$10,000+ for their business.

Thankfully this is pretty easy to do when you’re practicing and studying consistently every day for 30+ days.

Back to my most recent “new” copywriting client.

We finished month two.

But, that’s not all.

I took on a new project for her this past month.

To build her a new website using new beehiiv’s web builder.

Web copy (especially designing websites) isn’t really my forte…

But, I let her know her current website isn’t doing her brand justice and is reducing conversions.

So, I decided to pitch her the project.

I took it on.

Delivered draft number one.

And she loved it.

Want to know one of my sneaky little secrets to increase the odds a client is happy with my copy?

When I deliver the copy, I don’t just send it over in an email and call it a day.

Depending on the size of the project (and this one’s a bigger one)…

So I did a 10 minute video, showing her the old website (and why it wasn't working well).

Then I showed off the new website (and why it will work).

This is a great way to clear up any confusion about your work, avoid unnecessary meetings, and even reduce the odds of revisions.

I mentioned this in a recent email to you… but I’ll say it again cause it’s crucial.

You aren’t done selling yourself to your client once you land them.

You need to continuously sell yourself over and over again.

I even started the Loom video by letting her know we recently hit 8,000 subscribers (part of my role with her is to grow her email list, manage her email marketing). And I helped her take it from 6,900 subscribers two months ago to 8,000 (99% organic growth).

So I started off the video with a win (in a different category), then proceeded to show her the new website.

Next thing you know, I’ve got money in my account because she paid the invoice for our next month together.

The same thing happened with my copy student I mentioned above, C.

The moment he got that first result for his client — generating $12,000 USD in sales in month one…

He leveraged that win to keep him as a client. AND, C took it to the next level, and negotiated better terms — taking on a new project that’s not at a 10% commission… but at 30% commission!

So C tripled his earning potential with this client because he got that quick win.

THAT is how you build a six-figure copywriting business.

It’s not just writing copy and next thing you know you’re making $10k/month and sipping coconuts on the beach.

Sure, the coconuts on the beach taste sweet (I know because I’m literally in Thailand right now for a few months lol).

But I didn’t get there by JUST learning to write copy.

I learned the BUSINESS side of freelancing.

HOW to craft deals.

HOW to serve clients.

HOW to overdeliver.

HOW to build case studies.

HOW to build long term partnerships.

If you want to win as a copywriter…

Land your first client fast.

Hit your first $1,000 month.

Reach $5,000/month so you can quit your job.

Hit that coveted $10,000/month so you can do anything, anytime, anywhere, in any way you like…

You need to stop treating this like a side hustle.

And start treating it like a real business.

When you do that, you’ll start to move quicker than you could ever imagine.

If you’re ready to fast-track your progress, then reach out to me about my copywriting coaching.

I’ve got a few spots left for my April programs.

I’ve got group coaching and a 1:1 mentorship.

I don’t take everyone who applies.

I’m not going to babysit you and force you to work.

You have to do the work.

You have to write the copy.

You have to pitch the clients.

But, I’m going to be with you every step of the way:

• Critiquing your copy (unlike other coaches who don’t give feedback)

• Giving you custom-tailored advice via coaching calls (with me, not some other random “coach” who you don’t know)

• Answering your questions daily via VIP access in the DMs (where you can pull on the knowledge of a copywriter who’s earned over half a million with the written word)

Plus, you’ll get lifetime access to my robust, 70-video Six-Figure Copywriter Course (worth $347 USD), so you have a proven roadmap to hit your first $5,000 month in the next 3-6 months.

My copywriting coaching will take you from knowing nothing about copywriting… to good enough to land clients in weeks.

Even if you consider yourself a “bad writer”, you’re brand to the online stuff, or you struggle with the business side of things.

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, then reply to this email with “April” now.

-Brandon “recurring clients = freedom” Storey

Here’s some proof that my coaching works (and it works FAST):

If you’re sick and tired of waiting around for your life to change…

You’re stuck in the corporate rat race…

And what you’re doing just isn’t working…

Then this might just be your ticket out.

It’s up to you.

Reply with “April” if you’re ready to make a change.