In a tough economic climate, it is common for companies to do whatever it takes to save money. While this often times means hiring freelance writers, it also means trying to get the best deal possible. For this reason, clients may attempt to negotiate a better rate. The question is: are you willing to partake in this type of discussion?
There is nothing wrong with negotiating your rates. But of course, you only want to do this if the end result is a mutually beneficial relationship. In other words, your client should not be getting the “good end of the stick.†If you will do the job for less because you are interested in striking up a relationship with the client, there is nothing wrong with moving forward. Just make sure you are not wasting your time – you should receive as many “benefits†as the client.
Of course, there are also drawbacks of negotiating. Above all else, you are going to make less money. Along with this, your client will expect you to give them the same or better deal with every future project.
Also, it can be hard to avoid the habit of lowering your rates for future clients. If you do this once you may begin to feel that it is the only way to get work again. In most cases, nothing could be further from the truth.
I know many freelance writers who will not lower their rate, regardless of what it means. On the other side, there is a group that has no problem with this. Personally, I take it on a case by case basis. If I think I can benefit from negotiating, I am 100 percent open to doing so.
There is nothing worse than a confused client. Not only do they feel lost, but there is a good chance they will blame you for their current situation. Rather than deal with this, you should always do what you can to avoid confusing situations.
Here are three basic tips that I use, time and time again:
1. Discuss every detail of the project before writing the first word. Believe it or not, some writers (and other professionals) neglect to do this. If you and/or your client are not clear on the details, I can almost guarantee that some level of confusion is going to ensue.
2. Ask questions if need be. If you have a question, no matter what it may be, make sure you ask for clarification. Along with this, let the client know that you are available to address anything that may be on their mind. Keeping an open line of communication is more important than most writers realize.
Tip: this is why I make myself available via email and phone. If there is an urgent question I can be reached right away.
3. Confirm, confirm, confirm. I am in the habit of confirming every detail of a project before I actually get started. After receiving all the project details, I run my plan by the client one last time to ensure that everything is as it sounds. Yes, this may be portrayed by overkill. But I believe in the saying “it is better to be safe than sorry.â€
By following these three tips, you can avoid a situation in which there is confusion between you and your client.
Before a client hires you, there is a very good chance that they are going to ask for work samples. In fact, this happens almost 100 percent of the time. The samples that you show will go a long way in deciding whether or not you land the gig. This leads to a simple question: which samples should I show the prospective client?
If possible, you want to show samples that are on topic. So, if you are in discussions with a personal finance website you want to pull out samples related to investing, money management, budgeting, etc. You may not have samples that are an exact match, so get as close as possible.
Is it okay to write an article just to use it as a sample? Of course it is. If you think this will better your chance of landing the job, go for it. Even if you get turned down, at least you have another sample for future use.
I have a folder on my desktop that is full of 20 or more samples. Keeping them organized and in one place makes it simple to find and send one or more within a matter of minutes. Every time I write a piece that is “sample worthy†I make a copy and add it to this folder.
How many samples you send depends on what the client is asking for. Some only want to see one piece. Others will ask for three to five or more. Do your best to comply with their request, without delay.
One last note: always let the client know that you have more samples if they want to see them. You may be surprised at how many times they come back with one final request, just to get a better idea of your overall writing style.
With this advice you should have an easier time deciding which samples to show.
As a freelance writer you are going to be asked the following question time and time again: how much do you charge per word? This is something that many people/companies will ask before they hire you for a project. While it may seem like an innocent question, you have to be careful about how you answer. The last thing you want to do is underbid and find yourself working for less than what you believe to be fair.
Before you ever talk money with a potential client, make sure you have a very good idea of what the project will entail. This way you can put together some reasonable numbers, and in turn answer all questions that are asked of you.
If you do not feel comfortable giving an instant quote, tell the client that you will get back to them as soon as possible with more information. This will give you time to think about the task at hand, and decide how much you will charge per word.
Don’t feel comfortable charging per word for a particular project? If so, you need to explain this to your client while giving an alternative. For instance, you may want to quote a per project price for one reason or the next. Whether or not the client accepts this is another story entirely. They may have their own reasons for wanting you to work on a per word basis.
It goes without saying that you have a general idea of your per word rate. Just remember that each and every project is unique. You have to be careful with the numbers that you spit out.
Time and time again you will be asked how much you charge per word. Make sure you give an accurate quote, based on the project as well as the client’s needs.
As the month of September gets into full swing, I have a couple openings in my freelance writing course. I am happy to say that one of the two members who just left me is now working as a full-time writer. This always puts a smile on my face!
If you have any interest in snatching one of the two available slots, contact me as soon as possible. Generally speaking, openings usually fill up within 24 hours.
No matter if your goal is to go full-time or simply learn more about a particular aspect of the industry, I can help.
I hope to have a couple more of you onboard soon enough!
One of the best ways to increase your income as a freelance writer, while ensuring that you stay busy at all times, is to land long term clients. Of course, this is easier said than done. Everybody wants to find clients that are willing to give them work, month in and month out. As soon as possible, determine if a client will be around for the long haul.
Have you asked? There is nothing wrong with asking your client if they are going to have more work in the future. In fact, they will be glad to hear that you are willing to help them now as well as down the line. Some freelance writers dance around this question, when they should really just come out and ask.
In many cases, you can look at the amount of work you have received in the past in order to find your answer. If you have been working for a client for several months and a slowdown is not imminent, you may have the answer to your question. Of course, firming this up with your client is never a bad idea.
Many clients will tell you up front, before you take on the first project, whether or not they will need your services over the long run. I have found that many clients want to keep you on board for as long as possible because this cuts back on the time they have to spend finding somebody else to work with.
As long as you do good work and continue to look for the right types of clients, you will eventually find those that are willing to keep you around for an extended period of time.
