Where commercial writers* hang out
* a.k.a. copywriters, business writers, corporate writers or marketing writers…

 
The Well-Fed Knowledge Base

Over the years, I’ve answered a LOT of questions from readers on many aspects of the commercial writing business. All those contacts ultimately spurred me to start my one-on-one paid mentoring service (http://www.wellfedwriter.com/mentoring.shtml), as I found I just didn’t have the time anymore. In one of my better moves, I saved a lot of those Q&As and here’s the result. However long or short it is now, it will keep growing over time. Just click the thumbnail descriptions below to go to the full text further down.

Want to add your Q&A to the list?
Have you recently figured something out about the business that you didn’t know? Be generous and share your newfound knowledge! Just phrase your revelation in the form of a Q&A and send it to me at peter@wellfedwriter.com and we’ll get it loaded up. Pooling our experiences will make this resource grow quickly and ensure that it covers a lot of ground. Thanks in advance for sharing your stories!

PB      

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Clients who complain that some piece of writing isn’t right, but can’t explain why. 

Q: As a custom publisher, I work with clients who complain that an article or some other piece of writing isn't "right" but can't make any suggestions as to what's wrong. I verify that content, quotes, etc. are accurate. “What exactly don't you like,” I ask? “Well, I'm not
a writer,” they say, “you're the writer. Just fix it!” Have you any experience with that?!

A: Yes, I've occasionally run into that, though most clients I work with on the corporate side know they need to give you a little more to go on than some vague, nebulous sense that it's "not quite right" minus any specifics.

A good question I always ask is, "What's missing for you?" AND/OR, "If you had this piece side by side with one that you indeed thought had hit the mark, what would be the difference?" I realize these are all ways of saying the same thing, all ways of trying to quantify the missing element, but sometimes it just takes a different approach. Try to get them to show you a piece that DID work for them and figure out what's different. Go through the list of possible culprits. Is it tone? Flow? Readibility?

Most importantly, and I feel very strongly about this, if they refuse or are unable to give you any specifics while at the same time confirming the accuracy of all the content, it's not my problem any more. If I've made an extra effort to zero in on the problem and they've not been helpful at all, then it's about their laziness, not my lack of effort. I realize that we have to make the client happy as our first goal, but what else can you do at that point? You might say, "Mr. Client, I really want to get this right. I pride myself on doing just that consistently with all my clients, but I'm not a mind reader. I've been doing this for a long time and this piece is typical of what I write for the rest of my clients, who have been very happy with my work for many years. I really don't know what else to do at this point."
 

Is it important to get permission from clients to use samples in your portfolio?

Q: Is it important to get permission from clients to use samples in your portfolio?  If so, is it equally necessary for both paper copies and online portfolios? If a client says ‘no’, is there any way around this (removing their names from the writing samples, etc.)?
 
The reason I ask: Much of my current work is for a well-known company (press releases and newsletter articles), which I do via subcontract to a communications firm. I’ve never asked the communications firm if it's OK to use these pieces in my portfolio, because I'm afraid they'll say no (they might not want to bother asking the client for permission, etc). I show the samples in in-per meetings, and send them by mail/electronically, but I've always wondered if that's OK. I would love to post these samples on my website, but am hesitant to do this without permission. But if they say "no", I'm stuck! Also, I notice that in "The Well-Fed Writer", you suggest using early versions of copy (before it is edited by the client). Would this cause problems if the original client got wind of this?

A: Bottom line, for the most part, this is a non-issue. It virtually never comes up and rears its ugly head. NEVER has for me. Nor has the issue of using earlier versions.If a client gives you a sample, that’s an implicit understanding that they’re giving you permission to use it as well. No other permission is necessary. With ads, you ought to be able to get "tear sheets" from the agency which are essentially printouts of the ad. If you know the designer who's working on the ad, let's say, ask him or her to print you out a few color copies of the ad. The only exception to the above is if the piece is “internal” communications – only for the eyes within the four walls of a company. In those cases, be sensitive to material that could be…sensitive. In those cases, if you want to use it, you’ll likely only be able to use the raw text, and then only after you’ve “sanitized” it of all company references.  
 

How do you deal with a client who refuses to pay the total agreed-upon amount?

Q: How do you deal with a client who refuses to pay the total amount agreed upon in the contract? (i.e., you receive a check upon agreement of your contract for a 1/3 of the amount and in the end that's all they decide to pay you - saying they feel you've charged them too much)

A: If you're dealing with good, established companies, and you should be and I did from day 1, it should NEVER happen. Reputable clients just don't pull garbage like that. More importantly, if it does happen, then you’re partly to blame for not covering yourself with a bid letter (brief one-page “contract” outlining terms of a project, what you’re charging and what they’re getting for that; see pp. 135-6 of TWFW). If it DOES happen, keep pushing and if they refuse to budge, threaten to put the word out in the community that they stiff their writers. But if you pick your clients well and cover yourself with a contract, it should
never happen (and frankly, it’d be rare even if you didn’t cover yourself…) .
 

Do I charge less than my normal rate for a not-for-profit?

Q: What do I charge a not-for-profit (NFP)? I've read elsewhere that halving your normal hourly rate is appropriate.

A: I typically don't discount much if anything at all for NFPs. “Not-for-profit” is an accounting term which generally has little to do with how much money they do or don't have. Take the Red Cross or United Way. Sure, they're called non-profits but they're rolling in cash. If on the other hand, it's a small local organization who obviously doesn't have a lot of money, then you make the call. I wouldn't halve it though - maybe 25% less, if that. I just finished a ton of work for a worldwide charity and they didn’t balk one bit at my healthy market rates. More importantly, they got excellent work at a fair and competitive rate, work which undoubtedly boosted their contributions FAR more than what they paid me. 
 

Are commercial writers expected to do graphic design too?

Q: Is a commercial writer responsible for doing the layout and graphic design as well?

A: ONLY the writing. As I tell people all the time, I'm living proof that you really need to know very little about design to make it as a writer. In my nearly 13 years in the business, I’ve run into, maybe, two people, who did both well. Clients don’t expect it.

Sure, if you know you’re only going to be dealing with small and relatively undemanding (aesthetically speaking) clients, and you want to learn some basic design to be able to lay out simple brochures, newsletters, and ads, fine. Knock yourself out. If, however, you’re planning on playing in a larger market, with bigger clients, don’t bother. You’d be much better off forging alliances with good, established graphic designers, and working together to bring “turnkey” (a.k.a. “end-to-end”) solutions to your prospects than trying (futilely, I might add…) to compete with these often-20-year-plus veterans.

I recently mentored a couple starting a commercial writing business and they excitedly told me that were planning on getting up to speed on graphic design (which they‘d be learning from scratch) so they could be a total solution for their clients. And my response was, “Why? Why would you want to put yourself through this?”  
 

How do I know what the word counts should be on a particular project? 

Q: How do I know how many words it’ll take to fit in, say, a trifold brochure? Does the client give you a word count? Do you just guess or do you have to meet with a design person first? Because of the variables, determining length of copy could be difficult. For example, a trifold brochure might be in any combination of font styles and sizes with varying leading, etc.. How can you guesstimate a job without specifics? (And I hate to even admit this, but how do you calculate word counts in MS Word?

A: Word counts are one of those things that seem like a big issue now, but it really isn’t at all. Play with formats a bit to get an idea. For a trifold brochure, for instance, in Word, lay out a piece in landscape format, 3-columns, and put text in and see how much it takes to fill up the space. Or find some brochures out and about in the world that are done well, and actually sit down and count the words. Word counts are something you get a sense for after awhile, once you know the space you’re writing to. Rarely will the client give you the word count. Again, as a rule, you’re working closely with the graphic designer.

As for how you actually figure out what a word count of a particular document is in Word, you simply go to File, then Properties, then Statistics. Voila!
 

How should I quote this particular project? 

Q: One of my hi-tech clients I mentioned has become a regular, and I’ve been asked to offer a quote for writing a private placement memorandum (PPM) for a real estate partnership. The gig would be ongoing, with one PPM every quarter. The first PPM would be the toughest, and follow-ups much simpler as they’d use the first as a template. How would you quote a 25-70+ page document to be written with input from attorneys and the real estate partners?

The value of a typical real estate investment they’ll be pitching to investors is on the order of $30 million, so there’s no question I’m adding value. And they don’t want to pay their attorneys to do it at $400/hour! I’d appreciate any hints or help you can give. Thanks!

A: Bottom line, estimating is all about time. You just need to ask the questions to determine the parameters of any project and then break it down into the any background reading, research, meeting time, concepting, copywriting, and editing, and figure out how much time for each (background reading and research won’t apply in most cases), and them multiply by your hourly rate to get an estimate (which is fine delivered as a range to the client). There’s no “typical” price for any project out there because every project differs in scope. And as such, there’s no definitive source for pricing guidelines. Some like to refer to the pricing guide in The Writer’s Market, but in my experience, they offer such huge fee ranges within a given category as to render the info virtually meaningless. 

As for how long a project should take, good luck finding any reference on that as well, for the same reason: there is no typical project. My advice is to find an experienced writer in your market, take him/her to lunch, pick their brains, and get some blanks filled in for yourself. That said, the best antidote for confusion is simply experience. You do enough projects, and you’ll get a sense of how long something should take. Hope that helps. And by the way, I discuss this on this on p. 68 of TWFW: Back For Seconds...
 

RELATED: I’m not sure what the client wants, and hence what to charge.

Q: I am about to work with my first client, a high-tech company specializing in WiFi. The client has sent me my first projects: a 20-slide PowerPoint presentation and a three-page white paper that both need revision. I’m not developing any content from scratch. I’m working on an estimate right now for this but I am not sure what to charge her. I’m not exactly sure what she wants, so I can’t really estimate how long it will take. I feel like there are some unanswered questions that need clarification before I can proceed and accurately estimate my time.
 
A: You, in essence, answered your own question... ;) I’m trying to get you to think independently here, and by that I mean, if something’s not clear, you need to ask questions of the client until it IS clear. Think about it. There’s no way I could tell you what to charge her, because I don’t have the answers to the questions either. If you have an idea of what you THINK she wants, ask her if you're right in your assumptions, and keep asking until you get agreement on a direction. If you proceed, and you're still unclear, there's a very good chance that you'll turn in something that doesn't hit the mark. It's only by nailing them down on what they're looking to have done that you can reasonably ensure that they can't come back and say, "This isn't what I wanted." NOT a fun thing to hear after you've spent a lot of time at it. If you're still unclear after you've asked a bunch of questions, a good strategy is to do one small section, and get her OK that you're on track. Hope that helps.
 

How might spotting grammatical errors in newspaper ads lead to work?

Q: I read all of the display ads in my local paper for leads. I consistently find ads that, while the content is pretty good, have grammatical errors. How would one approach such businesses to offer his/her services without offending them?

A: I’m not sure that’s the best way to land work, unless, perhaps, you’re doing it just as a door-opener, as an entrée to bigger projects) or you can dramatically improve them (and not just grammatically). Sounds more like an editor than a copywriter. If there are a few errors, they may want to know which ones and then you're done. Doubtful that they’re going to hire you for any kind of significant $ just to fix their grammar. As for how to approach them, you can just say, I noticed your ads and can see how they can be improved, and then they'll ask how, and then you're back to the above scenario. You're better off trying to land ongoing clients with bigger projects, as I talk about in my books. Just my two cents. 
 

Avoiding esoteric references on your web site (or in marketing materials)

Q: PB Note: I was recently steered to a reader’s site and her writing business used a word that looked like a misspelled version an every day word. I pointed it out, to which she replied that the word wasn’t in fact misspelled, but was a variant of the word. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’d never heard of the variant, and she had nothing on the home page explaining that it indeed was a variant. My reply  follows…

A: Then you need to spell THAT out. I had the same conversation with a writer whom I was mentoring recently. His web site had a theme, which was very esoteric and at the end of one page, he had this very cryptic saying. I asked him what it was all about and he explained that it was part of a larger theme. I said that given that most people won't be familiar with the theme at all, it’s entirely wasted there, and all it'll end up doing is confusing people – NOT the state you want your prospective buyers to be in.

Same with your site. I didn't know about that variant; it IS an obscure reference, and unless you spell it out, the overwhelming majority of people WON'T get it, and it WILL be perceived negatively (misspelled word on a professional writer’s site). Write for your audience, NOT for you. And explaining it not only turns it into an attention-getter, but the definition of it (in her case) gives you a good hook for your services as well.
 

How to quote a book ghostwriting project

Q: I've been asked to quote on a possible ghostwriting gig - 'My story, and how you too can get to the top' kind of thing. I know it's a 'how long is a piece of string kind of thing', but assuming an average length book and a relatively smooth process in terms of access to the subject for interviews and background material, can you give me an idea of how long you would expect something like this to take, and what one could expect to be paid for their trouble?

A: Every ghostwriting job is different, has different parameters, different forms of source material, etc. But, that said, I've not heard of any ghostwriter who was simply given an outline and expected to write a book from it. If they want a good book, it's customary to work very closely with the writer and give them everything they need - whether it's a lot of source material, transcribed lectures, scheduled interviews with subject matter experts, etc.

All we writers have is our time, so before you get involved in any GW deal, ask as many questions as it takes to get very specific parameters for your participation so you can provide the most accurate estimate of the time involved. Find out how you're going to get the source materials, what'll be involved on your part in securing that content, how many meetings or interviews will be necessary, how long the book is going to be, what their timeframe is, etc.

As for pricing, start with your hourly rate, and using the parameters you receive, figure out how much time you think it's going to take, and always factor in some extra time. If the client changes the parameters of the project after initially setting them, you need to go back and renegotiate the terms. Good clients who understand how the world works won't expect you to do more work than originally contracted for the same price.

If you’re not sure of the whole extrapolating thing (i.e., how long each piece of the puzzle is going to take), then perhaps you offer to do a chapter or two, see how it goes, time-, money-, and hassle-wise, and once done, sit down and reassess where you are, and set the final terms of the project. 

And so as not to fall out of touch with your network, be careful about taking on a job that involves your participation on a full-time basis. Most writers will commit to X# of hours a week to work on the project, leaving time enough to take on other work, and stay plugged into their existing client base. FYI, it's been a long time since I've done a GW project, but a friend of mine I recommended for one is in the midst of a project right nor for a 250-300 page book and she's getting roughly $25K to write it. Hope all this helps. Good luck with it! Prices can range from $10K-$50K+, depending on one’s experience.
    

Good writer (but poor negotiator, easily rattled) wonders if she’s got what it takes

Q: All my life I’ve been told that I was a great writer. I’ve gotten tons of feedback over the years from people all across the spectrum, though little of my writing has been for pay. I truly do feel I have a natural gift for the written word. That said, after reading your book, I’m just not sure I have what it takes. I’m not very good in negotiating situations, and often get flustered when put on the spot, and it seems that I might find myself in plenty of both in this field.
 A: On p. 70 of TWFW: Back For Seconds is this quote from a budding writer that sounds awfully familiar…;) “I’ve written for years – columns, articles, book reviews – so knew I could write. But, there wasn’t a lot of money involved in that writing.” I’ve heard this many times before: when there's little at stake financially, the pressure isn't on. But when suddenly, someone's willing to pay top dollar (or even medium dollar...) for your work, all one's anxieties show up. We're happy to virtually or actually give away our talent for free in return to not have to worry about how good it is. After all, if it's not good enough, so what? They didn't pay anything for it, so what can they really expect? But with competitive payment comes expectations.

Well, let me share something. For starters, you'll only wrestle with that a few times and once you get the same kudos from people paying you well, you'll realize that your talent is real. And secondly, no matter how long you do this, chances are, you'll feel a twinge of doubt in your abilities at the beginning of EVERY project you do. After 13 years, I still do. Talk about irrational. And then, I get into it, the ideas start coming, and the feeling passes.        

And I'm not sure what you're imagining this field is like, but there are precious few times when you're put on the spot and forced to come up with JUST the right reply. Most meetings are information-gathering sessions. No one asks you to brainstorm some idea on the spot (unless that's the stated purpose of the meeting, in which case, there are a bunch of people in the room, the focus ISN'T on you, and it's fun and interesting experience; AND if you don't think you'd do well in a situation like that, then steer clear of them. I'd LOVE to do more work like that (getting paid your hourly rate to sit around a brainstorm is very cool), but truth is, I've probably done it less than 5 times in my career).

And if someone does ask in a meeting for your to come up with an idea, you just say, "I'm afraid it doesn't work that way. I need to go home and percolate on this awhile." All you need to do in most meetings is get all your questions answered.

Not to mention that I can't remember the last time I had to "negotiate" a fee. I tell them what it is (usually by email, but sometimes by phone) and they either say yes or no. And if they say no, sometimes we alter the parameters of the project a bit so it's acceptable. But, it's NEVER some white-knuckled, showdown-at-the-OK-corral high-stakes poker game. And if someone, in a meeting, or on the phone, asks you point blank what you would charge, you say, "Let me crunch the numbers for a bit, and I'll get right back to you," and tell them when you will. Totally acceptable, understandable, and I'd go so far as to say, expected reply.

If you’re really concerned about your work being up to snuff, then work your way up slowly. Start charging $25 an hour (tell them you're starting out, your normal rate will be $75-80, or whatever, but that you're trying to get established and build a portfolio, etc.) and grow from there.
 

Navy guy: Is this a scam, AND what happens if I’m deployed during a project?

Q: I've just visited your website, The Well-Fed Writer. No offense, but a friend of mine has unequivocally declared your book to be a scam. However, I find myself intrigued. You haven't promised to make me rich beyond my wildest dreams, which seems to be the hallmark of the scam artist, and I find that reassuring. And I have some questions…

First of all, I do not have any sort of a degree. It seems just a little unlikely that anyone would be willing to hand over a writing project to someone who is (let's be brutally frank here) under educated by today’s standards. Second, I am currently serving in the US Navy. What happens if I do actually have a project on hand and my sub is unexpectedly deployed? Would that destroy my credibility? Or is there some way I could work around that, say by a referral to another freelancer?

A: As for your friend's assessment of this opportunity as "an unequivocal scam," well, believe me, I don't take offense. I may have at one point, but now comments like that just amuse me and I try to just have fun with them! How exactly do people arrive at such conclusions? What exactly is scam-like about this? Does he not believe the field exists? Do he not believe the hourly rates are legitimate? Can he not fathom that corporate America would go outside their hallowed halls to get help?

As you point out, if I WAS a scam artist, I should be promising a lot more than I am, which is that it's NOT a get-rich-quick scheme, that one should count on six-to-twelve months gear-up time, that you do have to be a decent writer, etc. VERY scammy. Hmmmm, maybe, I'm a scam artist with a conscience and I just can't bring myself to make outrageous claims, so I tone them down somewhat. That could be it... :)  

Rest assured, it's for real and there are tons of folks out there proving it every day (and who, incidentally, are profoundly indifferent to those out there who believe it ain't legit...).

As for your questions… While one can never know what any given client is going to ask on any given day, I've NEVER been asked where I went to college or even if I DID go to college. It's just not an issue. Sure, people may assume that you have, but the point is, it's not germane to the issue at hand, which is: Are you a decent enough writer to handle the writing project for which I am considering hiring you? Frankly, that's all they care about. If you have a decent gift for writing, and that comes from nurturing it and reading a lot, NOT higher education, that's all that matters. That’s one of the nicest things about this field: it’s very democratic. You’re hired based on your performance, not your history (sure, if you’re writing in a technical field and you have that background, either through education or work experience, that WILL count for something).

As for your deployment scenario, how often would that come up? If it's a few-times-a-year possibility, that in essence, would only impact a small number of clients (maybe just one) at any given instance, don't even bring it up as a possibility. Cross that bridge when you get to it and yes, having another writer in the wings (and I'd have a few) to jump in and finish the job is a very feasible strategy. I assert that the key in the client's eyes is not that it might or might not come up. It's, "How do you handle it if it does?" And if you're professional and diligent, that's the key thing. They just want their project done.
 

Writer seeks info on landing gigs writing informational booklets

Q: I’m trying to find some information about those free informational booklets you frequently see handed out at doctors’ offices, business fairs, nature centers, and other places. They’re often “public service” booklets that don’t “sell” any particular business directly, but provide relevant and useful information, e.g., “What Really Causes Clinical Depression?” or “20 Fire Safety Tips for Suburbanites.”
 
About the only thing I know for sure is that most of these are created and distributed by “publications” departments within organizations, or by specialty publishing agencies. I have no idea whether they often use freelance writers, how much they pay, whether topics are assigned, or how to contact the proper persons. And I’ve never seen any “how-to-write-for-money” article or book that even mentions this particular area. Can you help?

A: I don’t personally have much info on those, but it’d be easy to find out about them. Just collect as many as you can and contact the publishers listed on them. And if they don’t have one, contact the entity you received it from – they’d certainly know. Don’t be afraid to do some digging, and once you get someone on the phone, don’t be afraid to look ignorant, and ask away! The info is there for the taking. I’m guessing in a few hours or less of hunting and calling, you’d know infinitely more than you do now. Good luck!
 

Writer (in foreign country) quotes fee, gets no reply, wonders what’s up…
(ALSO: Tip on making larger project more palatable for nervous client)
  
Q: After studying your book, I applied the skills outlined, and got an interested nibble. This client wants me to write and edit marketing brochures for his company. It’s a tourist site he owns and I told him that the language in the current marketing brochures, website, and marketing video do not effectively sell his product and service to the intended audience.

For all the work he’s asked me to do, I’ve given him a quote of $2,000 for a ten- day assignment. We come from two very different countries and what clients in the US would be willing to pay would be exorbitant here. That is why I wanted to start low, and perhaps increase it down the road when I get more clients.

In any case, after quoting my price two weeks ago, I haven’t heard back. Do you think my bid was too high? I am thinking of calling him up or sending an email to push for a meeting to iron out things. Is that advisable?

Q: Impossible to say what’s going on, but $2000 may be a lot more money than he wants to pay. Obviously, if you can’t reach him and he won’t call you back, there isn’t a whole lot you can do. One thing is for certain, and this IS universal: if/when he is interested in moving forward, he will get back to you.

One thing I would suggest you do is this: It’s quite possible he may be hesitating because he’s reluctant to commit to spending that much money when he’s unsure of what the end result will be. I might suggest to him that you start with one or two pieces. Agree on a fair rate for those, do the work, and let him decide if he likes the work and wants to continue with the rest. Obviously, make sure he understands that he WILL pay you for those initial projects, but it’s a far smaller commitment, and it lets him try you out.

(PB Note: This strategy obviously would work on a book ghostwriting project as well, where the true parameters of a project are uncertain. While in the project above, you might suggest this idea as a way to make the client feel more comfortable about moving forward, in the case of a ghostwriting gig, the writer might want to suggest it as a way of protecting his or her interests. It’s sometimes difficult to know how labor-intensive a book project is going to be (or how high-maintenance a client will be!). Best to do a chapter or two, see how it goes, and then adjust terms accordingly based on what you discover.)      
 

College senior is intrigued but a bit intimidated by corporate big boys

Q: I’m a college senior who picked up TWFW at the bookstore one day and found it absolutely intriguing. Writing for me, is like wrapping myself up in my favorite soft-worn blanket, inside; it’s a place of comfort, warmth, reflection and adventure--a feeling of belonging that really can’t be described. Making this blanket a financial security blanket would be a dream. Your book has made me seriously rethink my future career path.

Though I noticed your little enticing blurb to recent college grads about making a living from something you love, I also realized that most of your advice directs those who are currently employed or who are looking for some change in the direction of their more experienced life. For me, as a soon-to-be college grad with little to no serious corporate experience, I am a little leery about jumping right in and rubbing shoulders with the big-boys. Can you give me more details on building a portfolio? How exactly did you start doing pro bono work? Phone calling? I volunteer regularly, but never thought to solicit my volunteer sites for copywriting opportunities.  What is the exact procedure when doing so? At what point would I be ready to start “hunting” for opportunities?  Will employers take me less seriously because I am so young and inexperienced?

A: There is no “right” way to get pro-bono jobs. Just ask. And re-read the section on the topic in the book (pp. 46-50). Don’t think there’s some mystical process to all this because there simply isn’t.

Obviously, make sure you’re a decent writer and get input on that point from people who are not emotionally attached to you or to protecting your feelings. Hunt up a few creative professionals in your community who’d be the kinds who’d hire commercial writers and who’d know what’s needed, and get their input on your skills.

And sure, someone with no experience (and pro bono work can address that) will not be as attractive to a prospective writing-buyer as someone with the background and experience, but again, use pro bono work to beef up a portfolio. What better time to do it than now, when you’re a student? Also, I have found that universities often hire freelancers to create materials in marketing and publications departments in different areas of a campus. Make some calls or drop by some departments and find out. What do you have to lose? Might just find some juicy opportunities.

Offer to write a piece or two for free (or even as a “parallel” project - your take on a work that’s already been assigned to a paying writer - that way, there’s no risk to them). And do it with the understanding that if they like your work that they may hire you for pay down the line.

Don’t expect to get the same rate as an experienced freelancer. But if you can negotiate, say $20-30 an hour, I’m guessing you’d be pretty happy. Beats slinging hash. And graduating with a respectable “starter portfolio” and a few bucks in the bank would be a pretty cool thing. 

Again, I don’t know that it works this way everywhere, but if there’s one thing I want people to take away from my books, it’s that there are no rules on how to go about it. Try anything. Ask anywhere. Be curious. The worst someone can say is no, and it’ll give you some great real-world experience. This book should be one big thought-starter, NOT the last word in “how’s it done.”
 

Writer wonders if a royalty arrangement for a writing project makes sense

Q: In my quest to attain new and interesting projects I’ve been solicited by this company looking for authors to write 45-55 minute instructional audio books on CD/Tape, but
they’re only going to pay royalties of 15% each unit sold. I’m leery about this and I’m wondering what your take might be. From what I’ve read, this kind of project should net from $3,000 to $8,000+. Does this seem a feasible revenue-generating project?

Q: If all they’re offering is potential royalty for your writing time, I’d run. Fast. This is a business we’re in, not a speculative venture. Especially when you have to rely on their marketing to make it happen. Forget it.
 

Does editing pay less than copywriting?

Q: I’ve got a client who’s hired me to do several straight copywriting projects, along with editing of some lengthy manuals. They want to tighten up the copy in advance of reprinting them. There’s also some brochure copy they’ve already written that needs cleaning up. Do I charge less for editing than for copywriting?

A: In the larger writing world, editing does command lower rates than copywriting, usually $25-45 an hour, depending on one’s experience (vs. $50-125 an hour for copywriting). That said, if I’m being hired to do various copywriting projects and editing is part of the mix, I don’t charge less than my normal rate. And, more importantly, I’ve never been asked to. Chances are as well, that while they say it’s just editing, you’ll be doing a bit of restructuring also, and then you’re back in copywriting territory. In my experience, once I’ve established my value with a client, they’re happy to pay my rate across the board, and never, NOT once, has the issue come up of charging less for different writing-related activities. 
 

Anti-establishment type not sure he can hack the “corporate big-wig” meeting thing
 
I was excited reading ABOUT your book, and even more as I actually read it over, but the whole idea of meeting and pitching face-to-face with corporate bigwigs is something I don’t see myself doing. Any way to make the biz work without this pressure-packed step? Or should I just keep on dreaming? I’ve just got this “thing” about being thought of as a peon by the authorities.

A: Well, you could try and build it using email marketing, which is becoming more and more legit as a way to reach prospects (esp. if you’ve got a web site you can link them to with your samples, etc.) but I still believe that the face-to-face thing is key. People are simply more likely to hire those they’ve met.

More importantly, I say you want to shift your thinking about this. I’m not sure what you envision when you say “corporate bigwigs” but I’m guessing that it’s different from the reality. These are just regular folks, not super-stuffy as a rule, and especially if you end up getting a lot of your work from MM clients, like design firms, marketing companies, etc (like I do), the crowd is even more laid-back, funky, creative, etc. And they don’t expect their writers to be suited up. You’re a writer, not a corporate wonk and they know that. It’s pretty casual. They DO expect a good job and on deadline and within budget and all that good stuff but don’t sweat the image thing.

And funny you should talk about the “peon” thing. Paradoxically speaking, it’s in the corporate writing arena where, I say, writers actually get a lot more respect. Certainly implicitly through much higher wages, but from a professional standpoint as well. Not in all cases and not by everyone (there are still plenty of clients who view writers as “the help,” but when I’m making $125 an hour, they can think anything they want...).

Contrast that with most other writing gigs (like magazine writing, for instance), where writers are generally treated like you-know-what, not only in how little they’re paid, but in having to chase down their money, etc. More food for thought.
 

Companies that only take resumes/job inquiries through email or their web site
Q: I’ve come across several companies that ONLY take resumes, employment inquiries, etc. by email or by the job page on their web site. In a situation like this, you’re never sure what’s really happening with your stuff, whether you’ll hear back, if anyone’s even there, and if it’s worth it all. What’s your take?

A: I can’t recall the last company I dealt with that operated like that. If you run into that, try to figure out how to get around it. Go to the web site and/or call the company and look for/ask for the marketing or marketing communications department and then call them directly. I’m guessing they wouldn’t freak out to hear from a writer :).      

I’m also guessing that if a company is really in the market for writing services, they’d make it easier to get to those folks who need those services. So, if you’re getting shlepped off to HR or have to go through a formal process, chances are, those aren’t your best prospects. As I mention in my book, sending your stuff through HR or some other “employment” department is the single best way to have it held up for the longest period of time. Bottom line, I wouldn’t send ANY marketing materials out unless I’ve confirmed with someone in that company that they’re in the market for writing services, and they’ve said they’d like to see something. That said, you’re better off just setting up a web site, and steering prospects to that, and dispensing with the whole assembling of marketing packages thing.
 

Do you bill travel time that’s part of an assigned project?

Q: I was hired by a small agency to write a CD-ROM script and now the owner wants to take me on a fact-finding meeting where I’ll have to drive a total of 3 hours (RT).  I offered in our initial meeting to sit down with him and this client, but didn’t negotiate the driving. Is this a billable expense or something to swallow since it’s a first time client?
 
A: If the travel is part of the first meeting of the project, yes, then travel time is typically billable. Ideally, you bring this up to the client in advance and maybe cut him/her a break, say one-and-a-half to two hours instead of three, especially if you’re traveling much farther than someone who lived closer to them would have to. They shouldn’t have a problem with it, if they’ve hired freelancers before. It’s time and time is all you’ve got. That said, if the deal is already set, it may be harder to add billable time that wasn’t initially discussed. I’d still go for it, and if they pitch a fit, then maybe you back off and learn your lesson for the next time. 
 

Is $25 for a press release too cheap?

Q: A local PR agency wants to talk to me about doing press releases on a freelance basis. They would assign clients to me, and I’d get paid once a month based on the number of releases I did the previous month. They pay $25 per release. That seems awfully cheap. At the same time, I’d probably do well, maybe generating a couple hundred a month that I wouldn’t get otherwise. What say you?

Q: I’d turn it around on you and ask, “Do you think that’s too low?” And the only way to answer the question is to figure out how long it would take you to do one. If you do one in, oh, 15 minutes or so, that could work. But, coming back down to earth, I’m guessing that between digesting the info necessary to write it and then writing it, you’re looking at LEAST two hours. So, you tell me. I say that’s criminally cheap. Not to tell you what to do but they clearly don’t value writing skills. And it’s dangerous to set such a precedent. One man’s opinion. All my commercial writing colleagues would laugh over the phone and hang up. And still be laughing the next day… :)
 

Meeting with a client who thinks you have more relevant experience than you do
 
Q: I am having a little panic attack! The local chamber of commerce puts on an “After 5” gathering of businesspeople for networking. It’s like in-person cold calling! I just attended my first one and claimed I was a writing jack-of-all-trades, but I haven’t yet decided where I’d like to specialize. I have a meeting on Monday with a media production company who want to see my samples, and this is where my panic starts to creep in!

I have six months of a locally published column, a massive project plan on opening hotels and some pro-bono work I did at my daughter’s school’s newsletter. I am in the process of writing another newsletter for a charity organization to build up my portfolio, but other than that, that’s it! No video or scriptwriting experience.

Do I just take a few deep breaths and try not to look or say anything totally ignorant, with a quick Hail Mary for good measure? As this will be my first official meeting with an actual client who might actually pay me, I must get my breathing back to normal without hyperventilating prior to Monday.

A: Careful what you ask for, right? For starters, what’s the worst thing that could happen? You don’t get the job because, in their opinion, you’re not experienced enough. End of the world? Hardly. Just be okay with that and then you won’t come across as desperate. Also, you need to be making a massive number of contacts so that any one particular one won’t hold some power over you (as this one is obviously doing...).

All you can do is the best you can do right now. You can’t fabricate a portfolio between now and Monday. It’ll either be good enough for them or it won’t. If they’re specifically looking for video scriptwriting work and you have none of that to show, then there’s a good chance they won’t feel you’re qualified enough to help them out. And that’s life. Find people who ARE comfortable with where you are right now, get work from enough of those and you’ll have a good enough book to get hired by most anyone. 

Be honest with them. Tell them you’re starting out in this field. But be confident and enthusiastic. Tell them you know you can do the work. And then, it’s out of your hands.

You might also want to double check with them as to the kinds of work they’re considering you for. If it is indeed scriptwriting and they’re thinking you DO have all this experience and then you show up Monday with none, it could make for, at worst, an embarrassing waste of time and at the least, a garden-variety waste of time. If indeed they ARE considering you only for script writing, you might want to clue them in in advance to save major irritation on their part.

If nothing else, and regardless of the outcome, I hope this experience at least opens your eyes to the fact that, lo and behold, people really do hire freelancers out there and where’s there one, there’s a whole lot of others.
 

Should I discount my regular rate for a “middleman” client?

Q: One of my clients is a print broker with his own writers, designers, and
pre-press people, who is happy to give me work when his in-house staff is too busy. My dad (in the retail business) suggested I might offer a different rate for someone like that because a middleman like this will be able to give me access to far more clients than I would be able to meet on my own. He compared it to his shop getting a discounted price from a manufacturer because he’s a reseller and they know he’ll be a lot more product than a regular customer.

I understand what he’s saying, but I’m not sure the analogy holds in our business. I mean, wouldn’t I rather have a few jobs at $75/hour than a lot of jobs at $25/hour or less? My goal is not to “fill up my time.” My goal is to get enough good jobs so that my time doesn’t have to be that full! What’s your take? Isn’t it better to deal with “middlemen” because you can charge your regular hourly rate, and they pass those costs along to the customer?

A: You’re right, the analogy isn’t quite the same, but there’s a grain of validity in his assertion. For starters, who says a middleman client can give you access to far more clients than you’d be able to meet on my own? Not true. You can pursue end-user clients all day long. More importantly, in our business, middlemen clients don’t need writers in most of the business they generate for themselves. 

Now, while I don’t charge less to middlemen, but many freelancers do charge a bit less because that middleman is marking them up to the end client and the MM doesn’t want to price themselves out of the market. But one-third? ($25 vs. $75) Not a chance in the world. Maybe $65 vs. $75 or at most $60, but I wouldn’t offer unless they ask (and by ask, I don’t mean, “Do you have a different rate for MM?” to which you should say no. But more like, “Would you discount your rate a bit for us if we can turn you on to steady work?” Then you can talk about it.

Minus a contract, no one can truly promise you steady work, but if someone is, and you don’t have to do anything to get it, then maybe that IS worth a financial concession. It’s a very similar dynamic to the one that occurs when a commercial freelancer takes on writing subcontractors. They pay the sub less, then charge the client their normal rate, and pocket the difference. That sub is thrilled to get the work without having to hunt for it, and as such, is delighted to charge far less than their boss is making. Just know that, like most things in our business, there are no hard and fast rules about it. Go with your gut. If you feel you’re going to lose the deal if you don’t, then do what you have to do. 

How can I find out what the market is like right now?

Q: I went on Elance.com and there were great jobs paying two cents a word—well, okay, four for some of them. The writers bidding for them offered LESS! And they had amazing credentials and years of experience.

How can I find out what the market is like right now? Maybe it's changed since you wrote your books. Maybe writers are accepting a pittance because of the "economy slump," and they're starving. I want to not agree, not agree, not agree, but I need some guidance.

A: First, check out Back For Seconds. In Chapter 4, where I address a bunch of questions raised since writing the first book, I tackle the issue of the online job sites. Look it up. NOW.

Bottom line, those sites, overwhelmingly, are a complete waste of time. Too many writers bidding on too few jobs which drives rates down to nothing. The market is just fine. There are plenty of people willing to pay GOOD market rates (not that the jobs are falling from the sky or anything; you still have to go out and find them). Also, skim the archived issues of the ezine at wellfedwriter.com (Free Ezine Signup link); I did an "Appetizer" on this very subject. So, rest assured, the market is still fine. Nothing wrong with the economy (Read "It's Not the Economy, Stupid" in Back for Seconds in case you have any doubts).

 

How can I approach a company with a marketing tip to increase sales and get paid for doing it?

Q: There is a company in the fitness equipment business that advertises on TV, and I’ve noticed a selling point they’re not using that I think could increase sales in a major way. Do you have any ideas as to how I can inform them and be paid for doing so?

A: There's no surefire way to approach them and ensure that you'll get credit (and payment). Obviously, you can tell them you have an idea that can improve the "value proposition" of their product (but not tell them what it is) and ask to get together to discuss it. Whether they'll be interested is another issue. I suppose it depends a lot on how well the thing is selling already.

If they are interested, then figure out what you'd like to have them pay you for the idea. When you get in to see them, tell them what that figure is, and that you'd like to get that if they feel the idea is good. But, short of coming up with a legal document that protects your interests and prevents them from taking it and not paying you (which in and of itself could cost you far more than what you might be asking for the idea), you'll have to trust that they'll do the right thing. They can always say, we don't like the idea, and not pay you, and then go ahead and use it anyway, and unless you're covered legally, you're out of luck.

There are no rules around how to go about this. I'd say your best bet might be to use the opportunity as a door-opener to get in to meet them and hope that more can come from it. Obviously, though, if you're just starting out and don't have a portfolio to show, it might be tough to convince them to hire you on any kind of an ongoing basis.

 

Is it feasible to be a well-fed writer as a specialist for nonprofits?

Q: Presently I am employed by a nonprofit. I write appeal letters, grant proposals, brochures, etc. I love the work, believe in the mission of the nonprofit, but the pay is terrible. I'm good at what I do and wonder if I could make money doing the same for other nonprofits. Is this feasible? Do you know other writers who have started their own well-fed businesses as "specialist" writers for nonprofits? I really like helping good causes prosper, but I'd like a bit of prosperity myself.

A: Yes, of course, you can make a living as a writer for NFPs. You might find that you start there, and branch out to FPs as well (or the other way around). This year, I just did a BUNCH of work for a local chapter of a global NFP with thousands of chapters worldwide. I probably averaged $125-150 an hour for the work I did. And interestingly enough, when I was bidding on the work, we (myself and a graphic designer, an alliance I'd highly recommend you forge before going after this or any other avenue of work) were up against an agency that had as its focus, NFPs. And I promise, they were charging very healthy rates.

Obviously you have to pick larger charities that have the money. The local chapter of a worldwide one is, needless to say, a far better bet, than say, a local theater company or dance troupe.

Check out this link, which I found just by Googling NFP Marketing Consultants. http://www.fundraisingweb.org/listings/capconsultants.htm. Food for thought.

Should the freelancer be paid before or after the client pays the middleman?

Q: I submitted my invoice to my middleman, waited 30 days, then re-sent it with a polite question about when I might expect payment. The reply I received said, "When our customers pay, we pay our vendors. It is nearing net 30 for the customer, so we are getting close to paying you." This is different from what I was figuring, but I'm still learning the biz. I'd appreciate your input as a more seasoned freelance professional.

A: Unfortunately, it sometimes goes that way. It's a BIG complaint amongst copywriters, who generally feel that we should be paid when we're finished, NOT when the designer gets paid, but many play that game, and they often ARE wrestling with cash flow issues as we are. Just the nature of the beast. So, yes, it's not at all uncommon. And if you can get paid in 30-45 days, that's not bad either.

How can I present myself as a ready, willing, and able writer despite little or no knowledge of the subject matter?

Q: I would like to write articles for a comic book site focused on a particular super hero with no pay being offered (it would be great practice). The requirements are as follows:
You have to have a solid background in the comics of this particular super hero, meaning a minimum of five solid years of collecting and owning at least 500 such comics out of the 2,500 or so that have been printed.

I don't have any of these comics at all, yet I am willing to read anything I can to catch up to speed. How would you handle this situation and present yourself as a ready, willing, and able contributor despite ignorance of the subject?

A: Frankly, I'd bark up another tree. The idea of having to jump through a bunch of hoops JUST to get to a point where you can write for nothing is a very foreign concept to me. What's your goal? If it's to launch a commercial freelancing business and do it as reasonably expeditiously as possible, this doesn't sound like a good strategy.

More to the point, you can't fabricate experience you don't have. They know what they want, and they know that in order to get the final product they're looking for, the writer needs to be well-versed in the subject, and well-versed over a long period of time, where you absorb the nuances of the subject, something you're simply unlikely to be able to pull off in a crash effort. That said, if you REALLY want to do it, then approach them with your limitations, accompanied by your enthusiasm, and check it out. Though, if you've read NONE, and you approach them and have to admit that, I'm guessing they'll send you packing.  

If you're NOT trying to build a commercial freelancing business, then you don't need my advice! Seriously, find an arena where you DO have some experience, or which doesn't require a lot. You'll be much happier than trying to beat your head against the wall in an attempt to make inroads into an arena for which you're unqualified.

 

Is it okay to use religious references (for example, in a signoff) in a business setting?

Q: PB Note: I received an e-mail that closed with the signoff “Sincerely in Christ”. This can be a sensitive topic, and one I was hesitant to address, but I think it’s important. My reply about the signoff follows:
 
A: It's great that you clearly have strong faith in your life. AND, that's a personal thing. I assert that you need to separate your personal life from your business life. Yes, I know, your faith carries over into all areas of your life, but obviously, not everyone will share your faith, and I'd hate to have someone who doesn't, get turned off when it's an issue that has absolutely nothing to do with your writing ability.

Some people might appreciate seeing it, but it's all the others who wouldn't and might not tell you why they've chosen to hire someone else who are the issue.

This advice, incidentally, also applies to putting any reference to your religious leanings on a web site or other marketing materials in an attempt to attract like-minded clients. Someone should hire you because—and only because—you’re a good writer and can get the job done, not because of your religious inclinations. And to tout that in a purely business setting is, arguably, manipulative and an attempt to leverage an irrelevant (in that setting) issue.

If you get in the door of a client and discover, through conversation, or through observation of religious articles in their office, for instance, that you're religious kindred spirits, then, by all means, it's only natural to bring that to light to further cement a relationship built, first and foremost, on a foundation of the only things that matter in that setting: your competence and reliability.

With six months’ worth of savings, should I quit my job and go for it?

Q: I'm just about ready to launch my new website. I have a clear idea of how I'm going to market myself and am excited about getting started. I now have a healthy, worst-case-scenario, 6-month-supply of expenses saved up. Now that freedom is in sight, I'm wondering what to do. Do I quit now and go for it? Or, quit now and get a part-time job to cover the bills so I can ease into it? Or, stay at my job another six months to give me a full year of generous living expenses?

A: You have to be the one to make that call, based on your situation. I'll always advocate the conservative path in all things, figuring things will take longer than you expect. If I HAD to choose, I'd say, go for the PT job to cover the bills, freeing up more time to devote to getting the business solvent. But, again, your call.

 

What should I do when managers for the same client give conflicting directions about a job?

Q: One of my clients is a new day spa, and they wanted some brochures on their different services. The project manager wanted to keep an educational tone with the selling part as secondary. I created drafts based on this and needed a little more info, so she referred me to the COO. The COO looked at my drafts and told me that he wanted the brochures to brand and sell, not educate.

So now those two are butting heads; in the meantime, I've got brochures that are about 70% done. There's going to have to be some heavy revising, but I'm not sure what I should do about billing. I do have a clause in my agreement about the number of revisions and scope, but this seems to be somewhere in the middle, and I'm not sure how to best determine what falls out of scope. I'm thinking of just saying, "The project manager agreed to X and Y, and anything that falls out of that is out of scope, not a revision, and will be billed accordingly.”

A: That's EXACTLY what you should do. If indeed the first manager you met with and with whom you discussed the project agreed to a certain course of action, you had to assume that she had the authority to make that decision, and no reason to believe that decision would be questioned by someone else. Hence, it becomes the equivalent of a direction change and hence, you're back on the clock for the amount of time it takes to course-correct. Needless to say, make sure your initial contact is in agreement with the change, and if there's any question about that, make sure she and the COO get it settled between them before you proceed.

 

Health writer struggling to land the deal and reel in steady clients

Q: I am actually a darn good health writer of both clinical and consumer information. Here's my problem: I can't seem to reel in the steady clients. Instead, I get a project for a couple of thousands dollars, and then I'm sitting there. I can never get the retainer client or the big project. Half the time I can’t even get the client to agree to a meeting, but even when I can, I can somehow never nail down the project. They either decide not to proceed, or it goes to someone else. Can you advise me as to what my next step should be? I'm doing something wrong, but I’m not sure what.

A: There's no magic formula for client loyalty other than making yourself so indispensable and bringing so much added value to what you do for them that they can't imagine going anywhere else. If you can figure out what their "pain points" are—the things that keep them up at night—that they spend a lot of time thinking about and working on, and if you can do something to take the pressure off them in those areas, you can work towards that added value thing.

And you might want to check out this site: www.emmasciencewriter.com. Emma Hitt is a very successful health/science writer who also mentors people wanting to either get started or go to another level (and her rates for very reasonable).

 

Can I be successful specializing in writing articles?

Q: Article writing is my strength and I enjoy it more than any other type of business writing. I'm beginning to make the move from full-time staff writer to freelance writer, and I'm hoping to eventually make an annual income of $120K. My question is: Can I be successful—and make the income I want—by specializing in articles for company publications (e.g., intranet newsletters, online publications, employee magazines)? Or is this focus too narrow to achieve my income goal?

A: I'd never tell anyone they couldn't do something, and sure it's possible. It can be more difficult because you do have a narrower focus, but you can also do better because you're specializing. I'd try to go after articles in trade publications, because when you get to know a particular industry well, you can command higher rates for specializing—and start getting into $1.50-2.00+ /word kind of rates. I'm no expert on the article end of things, so I'm afraid I can't offer much more than that, but I do know that the more general you are, and the more mainstream the publication, the less you'll probably make (except of course if you get to the major national weeklies/monthlies).

 

Can you suggest any inexpensive contact manager programs?

Q: Most of the big boys (ACT!, Goldmine, etc.) have more functionality than a one-person writing shop needs, and at roughly $200, it’s more than I’d like to pay. Do you know of any inexpensive contact manager programs?

A: Here is a very brief review of Kurlo, courtesy of a beginning prospector:

Kurlo was rated 5/5 cows on the Tucows website (http://www.tucows.com/preview/408564) and is a free download from either Tucows or from the Kurlo site (http://www.kurlo.com/)

I have used it as a blank slate to create sub-groups of contacts as I add them. I used The Well-Fed Writer as a guide for creating new entries. For instance, I have these groups set up:

Creative Recruitment Agencies
Graphic Designers
Marketing & Ad Agencies
Prospective Business Clients
Writers Associations

There are customizable fields I can create in each group, so I've created a field for the date I last contacted the prospect, as well as the date I'd next like to follow-up (these were suggestions from The Well-Fed Writer as well!). When I open Kurlo, it alerts me of any important dates, such as dates I have set to follow-up with prospects, or client birthdays, if I've entered them.

Kurlo has an e-mailing function that allows you to easily create a bulk e-mail that you can send to multiple recipients in a group or sub-group. Then you can either send the e-mail right from Kurlo or transfer it over (once addressed) to your default e-mail application.

I've been using the "notes/comments" section to jot down the nature of my conversations with prospects and any important details I want to remember. This is great because with one click I can see all the important details about any specific prospect. I'm finding Kurlo very easy to use, and I appreciate that my copywriting contacts are all in one place.


Should I charge a flat rate or an hourly fee?

Q: How do you feel about hourly vs. flat-fee work? I tend toward flat-fee myself; I feel like the aggravation factor of having to track my hours is annoying. And I think clients like a flat fee because it helps them budget. But what do you think? Which is better?

A: In the overwhelming majority of cases, you really don't have a choice except to go with a flat fee. Very few clients say, "Just keep track of your hours," unless you've had a long-term and predictable relationship with them. And as you point out, they want to be able to budget. With those flat fees, you're still basing your calculations, obviously, on your hourly rate, but that's hidden from the client. So, it's rarely a case of being able to decide, which is better; you'll usually be forced to go with the one.

 

How do I set a retainer fee for providing ongoing consultation?

Q: A local company has asked me to write copy and provide ongoing marketing advice and direction. After our meeting today, she asked if I would give her a flat rate to cover six months of  part-time hours that would include every aspect of my services (copywriting, creative, marketing advice, and ongoing consultation) instead of paying my a la carte fees for each service I provide. I can't find anything that addresses this kind of arrangement. How should I handle this?

A: This is more like a long-term retainer. And these can be tricky. The key is to hammer out strict parameters in advance. As in, figure out how many hours per week you are committing to for a certain fee. If your hourly is, say, $75, then you might choose to give them a break on it given the big chunk of hours they're offering. But say, it's 10 hours a week that they want to get you for, then that's 40 a month x whatever hourly rates you've chosen to go with. And you get paid that at the beginning of the month. And typically, you'll get it even if they DON'T use all the hours they contracted for, but you'll charge more if you go beyond that. If they balk, too bad. You can't have an open-ended situation where they pay for X and get X+Y+Z, ad nauseum. 

And to make everyone feel comfortable, you might suggest that you try it out for 1-2 months and see how it goes, with the option for either side to revisit the terms after the trial period.

 

Should I drop my fee to $20 an hour for an easy job?

Q: On request, I recently did a sample script-writing piece to go with a PowerPoint presentation for an insurance training company. Their editorial committee approved my work (I qualify), and they want me to be available for what might be a steady stream of additional paying projects. In their response, they stated matter-of-factly that they pay $20 per hour for this work. Because I am typically getting $80/hour or more with most of my clients, I am hesitant to devalue myself by accepting this client. On the other hand, because the work is really pretty easy, for $20/hour, maybe I could justify it as fill-in work when I don’t have other main-fare stuff happening.

As a minimum, I will re-approach the client with a counter offer to see where that might lead.  What are your thoughts?

A: I'd pass in a heartbeat (and would have asked before I submitted to a test), but that's just me. Even as fill-in work, it just sets a bad precedent in your mind.

And any client willing to pay only $20 an hour obviously doesn't value good copywriting; or maybe they do and they've simply been more than able to find writers willing to work for that.  Have you seen some of the work done by these $20 an hour writers? If you have and it's about what you could do, then heck, more power to them. If it's not nearly as good as you would do, then maybe you can point that out...

Of course, a better question might be to look at a particular project and ask them what it paid. Maybe you find that X project paid, say $360 for 18 hours work and you could do it in 8, in which case, it might be more worth your time. And sure, go ahead and counter, though if they're used to paying $20 an hour, I'm guessing they're not going to budge much unless you can demonstrate graphically, why they should.


How do I know what to charge for a newsletter?

Q: I have an offer to write a nationally read (12,000 or so readers) wellness newsletter. While I do have copywriting and newsletter experience, I do not have any recent experience. I will need to put together a proposal for this guy next week. He is looking at about 10 or so hours per newsletter twice a month. He asked my hourly rate and said he would like to pay a flat fee for each newsletter. Since I am just getting back into this, what is a reasonable amount to charge? This may evolve into something more full time, and this is a great opportunity. I am a good writer, but a bit rusty, so I don’t want to charge too much, but I don’t want to discount my abilities either.

A: Did you ask him what his budget is? As I talk about in my book, you should always try to get the client to speak first and tell you what they had in mind (i.e., very innocently, "Have you given any thought to what you'd like to keep this to, budget-wise?") so you have a sense of whether you guys are in the same ballpark, and maybe he'll be offering more than you thought. They may want you to talk first, for the same reason, so they don't offer more than you're willing to do it for. 

I'd say the big issue is if it indeed WILL be only 10 hours twice a month. I'm guessing he's looking for a number in the $500-750 range, probably closer to or lower than the lower end of that range, which sounds awfully low for a newsletter (Does he expect you to lay it out as well? If so, then it’s even LESS likely that 10 hours is going to get the job done). I say his 10 hours number really doesn't have a lot of bearing on the situation until YOU have a sense of what is involved. You need to ask the questions to find out exactly what is expected of you in those 10 hours to see if indeed it WILL take that much. How does he arrive at that? Have they done it before and know that to be the case?

Best way to approach it is to throw out a number with the understanding that you'll try it out for a month (2 issues, right?) and see how it goes. At the end of that time, you revisit it and see where you stand and renegotiate if necessary. That's only fair.

 

Do you have any specific questions that can help me get “time wasters” off the phone in 5-10 minutes?

Q: I was wondering if you have a good set of questions to ask on a phone appointment for potential clients. A friend referred a potential copywriting client to me and after wasting an hour and 20 minutes on the phone, I had no idea what she really wanted. Do you have any specific questions you ask that can cut the time wasters off in 5-10 minutes?

A: Whenever talking with new prospects who may or may not have a sense of how you work, money-wise and otherwise, you need to get that out of the way at the outset.

You need to let them know upfront, what your hourly rate is and if they're OK with that, then ask them what kind of project they're trying to get done. If you'd asked that right up front (maybe you did and the only thing missing was the money end of things...) along with a heads-up about the cost, you could say, "Well, a typical _______ can run anywhere from ____ to ____ depending on the complexity." 

Of course, that can sometimes backfire in that, if they latch onto the lower end of your range, and theirs ends up being more complicated, they may come back and say, "I thought you said you could do it for ___ (the low end of the range)." But at least you're going to figure out very quickly if you're even in the same ballpark. 

As for questions about their project itself, there is a "Discovery Questionnaire" on p. 38 of Back For Seconds (and also in the Tool Box; http://wellfedwriter.com/toolbox.shtml). 

But the money questions you HAVE to get out of the way upfront. I never have issues like that anywhere because all the clients I'm working with either come by referral or are in a corporate realm where they've bought copywriting before and know how much it costs.

 

Do you have any current stats that could help me negotiate for a higher fee?

Q: I have a new client who wants me to research and ghostwrite a 5-month series of columns, 900-1,000 words each, for a printed industry trade publication. The articles will also likely be picked up, at least in part, in an e-newsletter. My usual fee—which most of my clients don't blink an eye at—is beyond her budget. She's told me that her parent organization pays just over half of what I quoted her to the FLCWs they hire.

I'm looking for some stats to help me justify the higher fee, and then I'll negotiate a compromise so I can do the work. I do want to do it, for a variety of reasons, but not at the low rate they usually pay.

Do you have any current stats, or could you point me to some, that would help me? The most recent I have are from 2000—TWFW and "Freelance Writers' Guide" from NWU.

A: Most rate guides aren't worth a lot as they offer ranges for individual project types that often render them virtually meaningless. So, not sure where to steer you for that. But, truthfully, your search for "justification" is really besides the point and just muddies the issue. Bottom line, you get what you get because you're a good and talented writer. If you're offered a job paying a lot less, as I see it, it's pretty simple. It's either far less than what you usually get and so you pass. Period. OR, even though it's far less than what you're ordinarily get, you have reasons for wanting to do it that outweigh the lower fees (desire to break into a new market and build a portfolio, personal interest in the subject, etc.) 

So you either decide that those factors still make it worth doing, OR you decide that even with them factored in, you still pass. Why do you need to find justification for it? You know what you charge (AND get) for a similar piece. All that matters is what YOU are willing to take and WHY. For experienced writers, rate guides are pointless in the big scheme of things. Remember, for every project out there, there are writers earning fees all over the map, so who's to say what the "typical" is? It is what YOU say it is.

 

What should I do with an unclear bid request?

Q: I was hired to do a quick job for a small agency, and I got the below e-mail from them. (Don’t you love the typo in the greeting?)

 

Dear perspective copy writers:

_________ is seeking bids for copy writing assistance when building business identities. In all situations (except #4, tag lines) _______ will work with the client to draft an outline. We will count on the expertise of a copywriter to refine and strengthen the copy.

_______'s potential clients range from pro sports teams to small startups and everything in between.

If you are interested in offering your services please submit a separate bid for the following:

1. Vision statement - A business's guiding image of success. It is a statement that elicits a visual image of the company's destination.

2. Positioning statement - An internal document used as a guideline for judging the appropriateness of all marketing programs.

3. Mission statement - A business's guiding principles that state their goals, values and direction. It defines the overall plan.

4. Tag Lines - A single statement that creates a first impression. (We will require a list of up to 20 tag lines).

 

I asked for clarification on what they’d like to see in the bid (Estimate of charges? My process in coming up with the items requested?), and I got a vague e-mail back that said, “Always assume about 4 rounds of changes. Your job is to enhance supplied copy.” Nothing else.

I’m still not quite sure what to give them. I’m not against doing a little work to send them a bid, I guess, if it lands me the job, but I don’t really know what I’m supposed to send here! Am I an idiot, or should “bid requests” be somewhat clear?

A: This is one reason I don't like working with ad agencies. I think it's way too vague. My questions would be: How much source material or meetings or background reading will be needed to create one of these? There's no such thing as a "typical" ANYthing. In the case of the positioning statement, again their description implies that everyone knows exactly how long a "typical" positioning statement should be. 

It sounds like they're looking for cheap creative labor. Given that they just want you to review what is already written or offer "up to 20 tag lines," they're hoping that they might get lucky with someone. I'm guessing they'd hire several writers on each project and see what comes up (I could be wrong), but I know a large corporation that used to do that—they had enough money to hire a bunch of agencies who, in turn, would hire a bunch of writers (cheap, of course) and maybe some of the mud thrown up against the wall would stick.

I'd ask for clarification, and don't let them bully you. Tell them that different terms can mean different things and have different parameters to different clients. What are THEIR parameters? If they balk or act irritated, walk. It's not worth it.

AND, at the risk of contradicting myself, there's no rule saying you shouldn't work for them because of this. Might be an interesting learning experience and if you ultimately don't care too much about the outcome (a good place to be), you'll have less stress and anxiety throughout the process. As long as it doesn't take you away from better paying work.

 

Overseas writer: How can I break into the American market?
Also, how important are face-to-face meetings?

Q: I live in a foreign country and while there is certainly a market for commercial writing in English here, I think that I would still like to work with companies in America as well, either to supplement my work or as the bulk of my work. Your tips are good for US residents, but do you have suggestions for non-US writers? Since you constantly discuss the importance of face-to-face meetings in the book, do you have any suggestions for someone in a remote location? Is it feasible to build new clients without meeting them in person, and if so, what is the best way to do this?

A: While you can certainly shoot to work with companies in the US, if you feel there IS a good amount of work in your own country, why bother? I say that because it WILL be a lot harder to work remotely with companies. You'd have to be just as good as any US writer, and just as available, yet given the time difference, you'd be up in the middle of the night! Your best bet would be to try to apply the same principles in your own country. No, you may not make as much money that way, but it would be more feasible. Another idea is to approach US (or other English-speaking) companies in your country looking to market to people there and help them craft marketing materials in your native language. OR target companies in your country looking to market to English-speaking countries and wanting materials written in proper English.

While it's true that face-to-face meetings are becoming less important, it will always be harder to build up a clientele away from your geographic area, and certainly in a foreign country. There are no magic formulas for landing work overseas—a lot of contacts, a lot of follow-up and working hard to make the experience indistinguishable from working with someone locally, for the client. And that's the tough part. You have to ask why they would work with you if they indeed have more accessible resources. Either because you bring a special expertise to the table, you do amazing work that they can't get elsewhere, they just don't know of any other writers, or because you DO make it so that they can't tell the difference between working with you and working with someone locally. Given the difference in time zones, that can be tricky. Not impossible, but more difficult.

 

Can I use samples from my ad agency days in my FLCW portfolio?

Q: My only writing experience came from advertising/marketing agencies; therefore, my only portfolio samples are ones that I did while employed at those agencies. Does this pose a problem in terms of conflict? I'm not making any claims that the clients are clients of mine as a freelancer; I'm simply displaying work that I've written.

This question came up because I saw that someone with a client I did work for at my last agency visited my website today. It made me a little nervous thinking I might get in trouble for having that client’s samples on my site. Is this just me being paranoid, or is there something legal that they could do to me for posting those samples?

A: It shouldn’t be a problem, unless the material was internal and proprietary in some way. Your samples from the agency are YOUR work, so why in heaven’s name shouldn't you be able to show them? (the previous caveat notwithstanding). As for the client, again, if it was B2B or B2C (publicly disseminated), there shouldn't be a problem. And even if a company does have an objection, I’d wager good money that their first move would simply be to ask you to take them down as opposed to hitting you with some lawsuit.

 

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