Why I No Longer Share Supplement Copywriting Examples or Free Samples

Dear Reader, please know that this post was NOT an easy one for the Natural Health Writer to publish.

In fact, I started this post over one year ago (!) and then abandoned it, ’cause I just couldn’t decide if it was right.

I should have listened to my microbiome.

My decision is now final: I will no longer share my nutritional supplement copywriting examples with “potential clients.”

But do not despair, dear reader!

The Natural Health Writer is serving up an even tastier dish:

I am going to LOAD this site with a lot more great content that shows off my chops.

Supplement advertising examples, health and wellness copywriting examples, and every form of nutritional supplement copywriting under the sun.

I am writing this post to:

  1. Explain to Potential Clients why I do not share samples the way I used to;
  2. Help noob natural health copywriters understand how to avoid the pitfalls and leverage free samples for maximum benefit

Let’s get to it!

The Potential Client was befuddled. I had just flat-out denied his request for a supplement copywriting sample.

“So… you don’t share samples. Is this to protect yourself, or your clients, or what?” He asked.

“Exactly.” I replied.

And remarkably, this Potential Client did not argue the point.

He understood and respected my position. Which in turn compelled me to take him on as a client.

But for most, my new “no free supplement copywriting examples!” stance may seem counterintuitive. Antagonistic even.

But I have my reasons, dear reader.

I will now demonstrate my reasons with three anecdotes, followed by my analysis.

#1. “Your supplement copywriting samples are exactly what we were looking for!”

I was contacted by a nutritional supplement copywriter who was working in-house for a large natural health products manufacturer and retailer.

He had a “big opportunity” (::eyeroll::) for me.

His company needed a lot of help creating rich, detailed blog posts that were research-driven and FDA-friendly, but also served as SEO and conversion rocket fuel.

Of course, this SEO-tuned supplement content in blog format is my specialty.

Now, this particular fellow and I shared a mutual acquaintance who had spoken highly of him in the past.

So when he asked me for samples that matched his needs, I said “Sure thing, Bro!”

I looked over his company’s website and natural health products. I evaluated their content, making notes along the way of FDA red flags, missed supplement marketing opportunities, etc.

Next I went through my vast archives to curate supplement blog post samples for him that were aligned with his company, his product line, and his clearly defined goal.

For the Natural Health Writer, this amounted to few hours of work.

But ultimately, I sent over a selection of the greatest nutritional supplement blog posts the world has ever seen.

“Thanks Pat! I will follow up in a couple of weeks,” the Potential Client replied.

A month or so goes by, and I hear nothing. Meh, whatever. So I follow up with the guy.

“We’re still looking at supplement copywriters,” He replied. “But I will be in touch. Your work is great! In fact, your samples are exactly what we are looking for.”

After that… radio silence.

Some time later, I check out their blog… only to find it has been populated with posts that are incredibly similar in style, format and form to the samples I had shared months earlier.

‘Twas then the Natural Health Writer had a moment like:

Hmmmmmmm.

Boy did I feel like a dope.

But the last laugh is on them… because even though they did a great job stealing my moves, their blog posts were STILL riddled with highly risky red-flag claims.

Some of these claims were, in fact, not unlike the language that recently landed Mercola in hot water with the FDA.

::Facepalm::

#2. Natural Health Writer gets GHOSTED by a “Cheesy, Nutty” Potential Client after sharing supplement copywriting examples

This story is much simpler than the previous. A marketing guy from a supplement company contacted me via LinkedIn.

He needed sales-boosting nutritional supplement content, and lots of it. And of course, he wanted to see samples.

Mr. Nice Guy (that’s me!) said “Sure thing, Bro!” (I really want to name-and-shame this clown, but I will refrain).

One look at their website, and I saw that this company desperately needed my help with supplement copywriting, marketing, and a lot more.

supplement label with ugly branding
1979 called. It wants its branding back.

If they had the budget, I knew I could be a RAINMAKER for them.

Enthused at the prospect, I spent another couple hours gleaning my archives for relevant samples.

Further, since this company was super-close, relatively speaking (about a 4-hour drive), I offered to make a trip and sit down with him in person to discuss working together.

I sent everything over. Three weeks go by, no reply. So I send a follow up.

::crickets::

I wait another week, send another follow-up.

::silence::

Finally, a couple of months later, I remembered this debacle.

Realization of the ghosting ticked me off, so I sent another email politely expressing that I am no longer interested in working with them.

That last email was infantile and unnecessary, I know. Similar to:

I am breaking up with YOU.”

But whatever… it made me feel like less of a fool at the time!

#3. Fool me twice, shame on you. Fool me thrice…

This last one is a real doozy. One day, I will write the whole story.

But for now, I will do my best to keep it focused on the supplement sample topic.

A Marketing Director for a supplement company contacted me seeking help with sell sheets. Right up my alley!

We scheduled a call, and spoke for an hour about nutritional supplements.

As I looked over this company’s content, I must say, I was super impressed. Tight, credible, extensively researched copy, with nary a red flag in sight.

It turns out that the company founders were a couple of accomplished doctors. They simply no longer had the time to create this type of rich nutritional supplement content.

Yet again, here was a scenario where I knew I was the perfect fit for a supplement company’s needs. The Natural Health Writer could make all their copywriting headaches go away.

I discussed with the Marketing Director a timeline and an estimate, including detailed recommendations, to produce a Pilot Project sell sheet for them.

The Marketing Director was all-in, sounding very enthused for me to begin.

Over the course of the next week, I did a deep-dive on their brand, taking extensive notes along the way.

I then wrote up a detailed estimate, signed and ready to rock. I also sent an invoice for agreed-upon 50% project initiation fee.

I sent it out.

The next day I got the reply:

“Oh, my mistake. I thought you were going to do the first sell sheet for FREE within a week.”

Whaaaat?

The Marketing Director continued, “Can you send me some samples of supplement sell sheets you have written so I can show them to my bosses and justify the expense?”

nope.

Of course I said no! I immediately rescinded my proposal. The Marketing Director was shocked. LOL!

In anecdote #3, we have yet another variation on a discordant theme.

For the Natural Health Writer, it was another several hours lost in the void.

That, dear reader, was my tipping point, where I finally said…

I won’t be fooled again.

YEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!

My Analysis on Nutritional Supplement Copywriting Samples, Examples, Etc.

The more I thought about sharing my samples with Potential Clients, the less sense it made. Here’s why:

  • It is a waste of my time. I have 18 years’ worth of supplement content archives. I would always take far too much time to find samples that were highly relevant to the Potential Clients’ companies, products and needs.
  • It is not fair to my past clients. Somebody else paid me to create something amazing…. Why should I give that Blueprint For Greatness to a potential client for free?
  • Too many clowns have spoiled the show. Some Potential Clients have been genuinely appreciative and respectful when I send them examples of my supplement copy writing prowess. But as detailed above, many have also rude and disrespectful about it, even going so far as to ghost me and steal my moves. NEVER AGAIN!

Despite my ranting, there is a time for free supplement copywriting examples: Junior copywriters.

If you are a young natural health copywriter who has found this article, please take all of my commentary in context.

For those who are just starting out, the Natural Health Writer encourages you to share your samples!

And in some cases, actually writing a FREE SAMPLE (::shudder::) can even be greatly beneficial for securing new clients and starting a lucrative freelance writing career.

But once you get rolling, you must cease the freebies…. otherwise you are teaching Potential Clients that your work has little, if any, value.

Good luck rakin’ in the ducats then, noob.

Give ’em an inch, and they WILL take a mile.

Did you make it this far and STILL want to work with the Natural Health Writer?

If so, you have my respect and gratitude.

But how to get around this “I need to see samples!” issue?

Here is my pledge: Over the next several months, I will be loading the HECK out of this website with samples of my nutritional supplement content.

The Natural Health Writer has 18 years’ of complete and utter nutritional supplement industry DOMINATION under his belt.

“My archives are DEEP.” ~ The Natural Health Writer

Ergo, I can share my writing samples while still remaining true to my past clients. (for example, some pieces were never published, or supplements and natural health products may have been discontinued, etc.).

So watch this space if you want to work with me, but want to see some more of  my magic first.

In truth, dear reader, there is a much better way, however:

Email me at pjsdougherty@gmail.com, and let’s schedule a call.

I love talking about the nutritional supplement industry, especially with others who share my passion.

A 30-minute video chat (yes, I am real!) or phone call can more efficiently reveal if we will work well together.

Speak with me. After you hang up, you will have a general understanding of why The Natural Health Writer is The Greatest there is, and The Greatest there ever will be.

Work with me, and you will have proof of the same.

Until then, Dear Reader…

~ PJS, the NHW

P.S., OH! I almost forgot. There actually IS a way to get a “freebie” from the Natural Health Writer:

Challenge me and Defeat me at Words With Friends.

Doing so will win you a truly glorious prize: A free one-hour Natural Health Writer audit of one of your supplements.

(If you lose, you must send me a free bottle of said supplement).

Send me an email as your challenge, as I rarely check WWF. Then, Game on!

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