Since starting my freelance writing business, I have learned a lot about business and writing, things that I would not have learned otherwise. A wise friend of mine once said, "You pay for experience, but if you are smart, you only pay for it once." For the price of a few minutes of reading, you can learn some of the business tips that I have discovered the hard way.
Tip #1: Determine exactly what your client wants.
Before you perform any work for your client, consult with them to understand all they have in mind. Other than the obvious questions, such as the topic, length, and format of the writing they would like you to produce, determine the more subtle factors: what tone do they expect from the document (funny, professional, casual)? Who is the audience for the writing? What do they want people to feel, think, or do differently after they have read your work?
Tip #2: Get it in writing.
A good agreement or contract states what the finished product will be, and also determines important milestones and payment terms. This is important to protect both the writer and the client, and is a good reminder during the job if you disagree on expectations. Though I am not a lawyer, I don't believe that all agreements need a signature - an emailed or written acceptance can be sufficient, depending on the magnitude of the job and the amount of pay at stake.
Tip #3: Have clearly-defined tasks and delivery dates.
One of my first jobs seemed to never end. The client called for round after round of reviews and edits, performed in person at the client site. When I completed what I thought was the final round of fixes for the website, I sent an invoice for the final work and stated in a cover letter that I was turning over maintenance to the client. A month later, I received an email from the client asking for more updates, and wondering why she hadn't heard from me in so long!
Tell your clients what you will do on each date, and make sure that he or she understands what final tasks indicate the job is completed. It's not a bad idea to call the client on completion and make sure they are satisfied with your work and that all deliverables have been met. You can then slip in the job-closing sentence, "Now that this job is completed, I hope you will consider me for future jobs."
Tip #4: Identify all assumptions in advance.
I worked with a fantastic client who defined his assumptions about the job in a well-written contract. However, as the job progressed, I didn't receive source material from him in time to meet my deadlines. Since our contract had an assumptions clause, that would have been the perfect place to indicate that my work depended on him providing content by a particular date.
Other assumptions might state the format of the finished manuscript, the method of staying in touch during the project, or the expected turnaround time when you have given the client a manuscript for review.
Tip #5: Always meet your deadlines.
This one may be obvious, but it is key. Always, without exception, do what you say you are going to do, when you say you are going to do it. So many authors consider deadlines to be guidelines, and if your client has a deadline of their own that is dependent on your work, they are brewing ulcers while waiting for your work of art. Deliver early, your editor or client will never forget you. Deliver on time and they will want to work with you again. Deliver late, and next time they will likely find another writer.
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