Warning To New Freelance Writers.
Your Dream Freelance Writing Assignment
Could Become A Nightmare.
A friend was so excited when she landed her first freelance writing assignment. She danced around her flat, jumping for joy, disturbing her cat.
Yes, she had got her first writing job, and she was overjoyed. Finally, she had made it and the future was bright. She set to work immediately, intending to impress.
However, when I paid a visit some weeks later, the scene was one of doom and gloom.
Her writing career had come to an abrupt end. Her first writing job had become a long, painful, drawn-out affair, a profitless burden.
Question: So what was the cause of her problem?
Answer: She had failed to ask all those key, vitally important questions before diving into her project with gusto.
Of course, she had determined how much she was going to be paid right from the start, but that’s not all that you need to clarify with a client before you begin work.
For all new freelance writers, here are the essential key questions you should ask all your potential clients before you agree to become their content writer.
Payment
Yes, you want to know how much they will pay you.
But, here’s the magic question to ask rather than just blurting out: How much are you going to pay me?
Politely ask your client — what is your budget for the work?
Let them give you a figure before you offer a rate for your services. If their budget is laughably low, then it’s best to beat a retreat. If it is high, then there is room to manoeuvre to a greater fee than you would normally charge.
Be savvy and get the best rate you can.
And you will want to know how you will be paid (PayPal?). Will they expect you to submit an invoice? If so, when?
If possible, a direct deposit to your bank is the best option (if you trust handing over your bank details to a client) because PayPal and others will charge you fees.
Could you factor in any fees to be paid at your payment rate?
If you can, do it.
Determine Their Exact Needs
From the beginning, you need to discover exactly what they want.
Is it to be more than one article? If not, then how many? How many words per article do they expect? How many edits are you expected to perform before a satisfactory completion? What is the completion process? — how is your writing to be delivered to the client?
Answers to these common-sense questions will give you an idea of the ‘depth’ of the project. You can then comfortably assimilate it into your writing schedule.
Time Pressures
Many clients are in a hurry. They may have specific, tight deadlines. It is obviously important to ask what those are; do they want one or five articles a week, two a month, etc.?
And also what is the turnaround time — how long will you have to produce a piece of work, submit it, and then when will you have to present the next piece?
This needs to be seriously considered so that you do not put yourself under unnecessary pressure.
Remember, you write because you enjoy doing so, but working to exceptionally onerous deadlines will quickly lead to burnout.
Writers’ Guidelines
The well organised and, or, the larger client will often have written guidelines for writers they contract. Always ask if there is one available.
A style guide will be of great help to the writer. It will highlight the tone of the writing required, possibly the minimum length, the audience for the writing (e.g. professional, under 40 years) and the voice to be used for the writing piece.
If no such guideline is being offered, then always ask the questions so that you don’t waste your time writing an item that your client will reject because it does not ‘fit.’
Are You Comfortable With The Overall Process?
Every client is different and will have their own set of requirements. As you get further information from them, you will get a ‘gut’ feeling about the overall writing process — good or bad.
Do they expect you to produce a draft first, or many drafts to be edited and then returned to you? How long will you have to correct each draft and then resubmit? Or will they just accept the final article?
Will they be giving you a list of keywords, a proposed headline or a general outline to follow?
Always ask the questions.
Introduction
Some large corporate clients may have an ‘introductory’ or onboarding process. They might want you to use a particular software or their writing program.
They may require that you sign a contract before starting any work. Of course, any contract needs to be read carefully and understood.
Are they insisting on a particular start date?
This is information you need to find out before beginning your creative work for them.
My friend became embroiled in rewrites, resubmissions, changes of focus by the client, and some genuine awkwardness that made her first writing venture a stressful and laborious writing episode. If she had asked at least some of the vital questions at the outset, then I believe her experience would have been more positive.
Why not create your own questionnaire so that you know exactly what to ask a potential client? If you wish, send them a copy so that both parties know exactly where they stand at the very beginning of their relationship.
A common-sense approach and a professional, positive attitude will not only impress your clients but also safeguard your career.
Finally, after asking those important questions, if you are not happy, if your inner voice is warning you to steer clear of that client, then do just that. Decline with politeness and move on.
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