Aaaah, Compliance!
I’ve started working with a new client recently in the financial services/life insurance market.
We sent off a direct mail piece today to the legal compliance department for their “inspection” and feedback.
I’ve gotta say — based on previous conversations — I was prepared to dig in and battle to make sure we didn’t lose the direct response nature of what we were doing.
Another friend in the industry has told me many times about the battles he’s had to get things approved.
The legal stuff, the red tape. Gobbledygook. Legal mumbo jumbo. Fine print.
They’re not necessarily limitations, but in some businesses they are essential considerations!
So off went the proof to the client.
And then to compliance.
Stand tall I thought, be prepared to advocate! Defend thy words!
The email came back an hour later.
I was slightly hesitant to open it and read their reply.
Click. Open. Read.
Alas, my fears were unfounded!
Other than one small sentence to add in (my choice of the body copy or the fine print), all was fine!
Phew!
In some ways, it’s a great backup for my client — to “cover their a***” legally and make sure they’re not stepping out of bounds.
All that regulation and red tape to adhere to: enough probably to wrap the planet several times!
At the same time, as a copywriter, it becomes essential to get to know the ins and outs of an industry. For example, I’ve worked with the travel industry for 10 years in May, so there’s a lot of inside stuff I take into account when creating advertising and marketing projects (many times we even get to keep out clients out of trouble for potential problems that would have otherwise slipped through).
Just another consideration in this wonderful profession!
Now … let’s see how they go with my next project!
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