Q. I just created a corporate slogan for a marketing agency, and they love it. The trick now is to determine how to bill for such an important thing. We had no firm arrangement up-front. This was part of several projects I was working on simultaneously. Re: the other projects, I’ll pretty much adhere to … Read more
Q. How much do you normally charge for proofreading someone else’s copy? I have a client that wants me to look at a 16 page brochure before it goes to press, along with 6 email newsletters. It’s actually part of a larger job, so I just need to figure out how to price it. What … Read more
Q. I’m interested in your thoughts about a billing policy. You do go into some detail in the book (Chapter 10), and in this situation the client represents repeat business. However, I have to wait sometimes as long as two months before I get their “okay” to send them the bill. Right now (Jan 16), … Read more
Q. First of all, I have found the advice in your books to be valuable and informative, but the thing I’m missing is the “how”. What I mean by that is that I don’t really know how to write all of these business documents like brochures and manuals. I feel that I am a talented writer … Read more
Q. Is it wise to accept a job offer from a client? And if you decide against it, how do you decline the job, but keep the client? Worse yet, what if you’ve taken the job, become miserable having given up the FLCW lifestyle and dynamic, and want your boss to be your client again? … Read more
Q. For a long time now, I have been “stalling and not calling” and I know it is from fear. Not fear from cold calling – Back for Seconds took care of that nicely, thank you. What I’m really afraid of is that I won’t know enough. I haven’t done any regular writing since college, … Read more
Q. I had a question about your experience with face to face meetings, or lack of them, with new clients. Has it been a hindrance when you are too far away to meet clients face to face, in terms of landing them, or, is it just more crucial to have a good portfolio, and good … Read more
Q. I just read the stories about commercial freelance writing. At the end you recommend putting a portfolio together. Do you have any recommendations on where I could find information on how to best organize a portfolio for web communication? A. There’s no ONE way or RIGHT way to do it, per se. Just think … Read more
Q. For 10 years, I’ve written, edited and laid out newspaper “advertorial” features. It’s part of the growing “niche publications” as we like to call them. As I’m reading this, I’m thinking, I can keep my full-time job, but parlay these skills into a lucrative side business. However, I’m finding it hard to network and … Read more
Q. Have you ever thought about posting a job board on your web site? If not, where can I go to find good industrial writers? I’m not looking for a superstar like you or Bob Bly; just someone who I can hire to help out on occasion without breaking the bank. Any ideas? A. I … Read more