Get Started: Tell Us About Your Brand & Copy Needs

Please remove this client intake form insights section before publishing.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the Client Intake Form, explaining the purpose, key insights gathered, and strategic value of each section:

1. Business & Contact Information

Purpose:

• Establishes basic details for communication and context.
• Helps categorize the client by industry, which may influence tone, terminology, and competitive positioning.

Key Insights:

• Website (if applicable): Reveals existing branding, messaging strengths/weaknesses, and SEO opportunities.
• Preferred Communication Method: Ensures smooth collaboration.

2. Project Overview (Service Selection)

Purpose:

• Identifies the client’s immediate needs and prioritizes deliverables.
• Helps scope the project and avoid misaligned expectations.

Strategic Value:

• Brand Messaging vs. Sales Copy: Distinguishes foundational strategy (e.g., voice development) from tactical execution (e.g., ad copy).
• SEO Content vs. Conversion Copy: Signals whether the client prioritizes organic growth or direct response.

Red Flags:

• Clients who check every box may need guidance to focus on high-impact priorities.

3. Business & Audience Insights

Purpose:

• Uncovers the client’s market positioning and audience understanding.

Key Insights:

• Ideal Customer: Assesses whether the client has a clear audience profile (or if they need help defining it).
• Unique Value Proposition: Many clients struggle here—this reveals if messaging needs refinement.
• Top 3 Goals: Aligns copy with business objectives (e.g., "increase conversions" vs. "build trust").
• Current Challenges: Exposes gaps (e.g., "Our website doesn’t convert" or "We sound generic").

Pro Tip:
Clients who can’t articulate their uniqueness may need a messaging audit before copywriting begins.

4. Project Details & Expectations

Purpose:

• Clarifies practical constraints and preferences.

Key Insights:

• Existing Brand Guide: If yes, the project is about execution; if no, it may require strategy work first.
• Competitors They Admire: Reveals aspirational benchmarks and industry trends.
• Tone of Voice: Tests their self-awareness (e.g., a B2B tech firm wanting "playful" tone may need guidance).
• Timeline: Rushed projects may require prioritization or additional fees.

Red Flag:

• "ASAP" timelines often correlate with unclear briefs or unrealistic expectations.

5. Suitability & Alignment Check

Purpose:

• Filters ideal clients and prevents mismatches.

Critical Insights:

• Expected Outcomes: Distinguishes ROI-focused clients (e.g., "boost sales by 20%") from those seeking brand polish.
• Past Experiences: If they’ve had bad experiences, probe why (e.g., "Last writer didn’t understand our industry").
• Budget Range: Sets realistic expectations. Low budgets may indicate need for smaller projects (e.g., a single landing page vs. full rebrand).
• Discovery Call Willingness: Clients resistant to audits/calls may not value strategy—potential red flag.

Pro Tip:
Use the budget question to tier offerings (e.g., "For $1,500, we can focus on your homepage and sales page").

Why This Form Works

1. Qualifies Leads: Filters out unready or mismatched clients early.
2. Guides Scoping: Reveals whether the client needs strategy (messaging framework) or execution (polished copy).
3. Prevents Scope Creep: Clear service checkboxes set boundaries.
4. Uncovers Hidden Needs: E.g., a client asking for "website copy" may actually need a full messaging overhaul.

Suggested Add-Ons:

• Follow-Up Questions for Clarity:
  If they select "brand voice," ask: "Can you share 3 brands whose voice you admire?"
  If their audience is vague, ask: "What’s the #1 problem your customers complain about?"
• KPI Tracking: Add a question like "How will you measure the success of this project?" to tie copy to metrics.

Final Recommendation

For enterprise clients, consider adding:

• Stakeholder Input: "Who else needs to approve the final deliverables?"
• Compliance/Legal Needs: "Do you require copy to adhere to industry regulations (e.g., healthcare, finance)?"

This form balances efficiency with depth, ensuring you gather actionable insights while respecting the client’s time.

Please remove this mandatory questions recommendation section before publishing.

Here are the essential mandatory questions for your Client Intake Form, ensuring you capture critical details while keeping it user-friendly:

1. Business & Contact Info (Must-Have)

Business/Organization Name
Primary Contact Name & Email (For contracts and deliverables)
Industry/Niche (To tailor tone/strategy)

2. Project Scope (Critical for Scoping)

What services are you interested in? (Checkboxes – ensures alignment)
Briefly describe your business & what you offer (1-2 sentences – reveals clarity gaps)

3. Audience & Goals (Non-Negotiable)

Who is your ideal customer? (Demographics/pain points – if they don’t know, they need audience research first)
What are your top 3 goals for this project? (E.g., "Increase conversions by 20%," "Refine brand voice")

4. Project Logistics (Avoids Miscommunication)

Timeline: ☐ ASAP ☐ 1-2 Weeks ☐ Flexible (Sets expectations)
Budget Range: ☐ 500−500−1.5K ☐ 1.5�−1.5K−3.5K ☐ Custom (Filters mismatches early)

5. Suitability Check (Key for Fit)

Have you worked with a copywriter before? (If yes, ask: "What worked or didn’t?")
How will you measure success? (E.g., "More leads," "Better engagement")

Why These Are Mandatory:

1. Prevents Scope Creep – Clear service selections and goals keep projects focused.
2. Filters Unqualified Leads – Budget/timeline questions weed out mismatches.
3. Saves Time – If a client can’t describe their business or audience, they may need a consultation before a project.

Optional but Recommended:

• Competitors they admire (Helps with positioning)
• Tone of voice preferences (Useful but can be refined later)

Pro Tip: Mark mandatory fields with an asterisk (*) or "Required" in your form. For example:
"What’s your #1 business goal for this project? (Required)"

Would you like a version with conditional logic (e.g., skipping irrelevant sections based on responses)?