The basics
Don't try to write everything and for everybody. Instead decide:
- What sort of clients you want to write for (Individuals? Corporations? Agents? Specialists?)
- The types of jobs you want to do (Web pages? Articles? Blogs? White papers?)
- Your fees and payment terms
And when a job comes along, establish:
- Who the decision-maker is at the client's end
- The exact brief
- The delivery dates
Before you commit
Other things to think about before you say Yes:
- Have you researched this company and their industry?
- Can you definitely meet the deadline?
- Can you really do this job? (After all, it's a 1500-word article about accountancy procurement in Bulgaria!)
Always show initiative
Gve your client MORE. You could:
- Offer to write the FAQs for their website, or
- Offer to add graphics or royalty-free images, or
- Provide both Word and PDF files (PDFs convey a more professional look).
Also, don't ask for more work, create it: "I could also write and manage a blog for your company at an affordable rate!".
Clients are busy. They'll appreciate you taking the pressure off.
Try to make it work, unless...
Endeavour to work with your clients. Get them to like you. Adopt a positive approach with a view to building a mutually beneficial working relationship. That said, if your gut feeling is telling you No, or if you feel that the client or the job itself is going to cause you unbearable stress, then leave it. You'll live to write another day.
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