Do you Guide your Freelance Writing Clients?
As of late, more and more clients have been asking me for help. In other words, they know that they need some content but are not exactly sure of how to move forward. Does this sound familiar? If not, you will more than likely encounter this situation sooner or later. The fact of the matter is that not every client knows what they want. And since you are the professional, they may lean on you for guidance. Are you ready to lend this sort of help?
Some clients need a bit of help, others much more. For instance, it is not uncommon for a client to ask you for a list of topics that suit their website and then to write the articles based around them. This is easy enough, right? In other cases, a client may want more than just a list of topics. They may want a total “plan†that covers everything from topics to types of articles and much more.
Should you charge for this guidance? This all depends on what you are being asked to do. I never charge clients that need help compiling topic lists or other related details. That being said, if things become more complex and in-depth, I may explain the situation to the client and ask for additional payment; these times are few and far between. If you are faced with this situation, and it will take up a lot of your time, do not be afraid to negotiate with your client. Most of them will understand that you are putting in extra time, and will be more than happy to pay you for it.
If you are asked to be more than a freelance writer, you should consider what you can bring to the party. By acting as a consultant you will be able to offer more benefits to your clients while also having the ability to earn more money.
