Let's say you've advertised your services as a freelance worker, and as a result, you were able to nail down your first client. It's now time to get down to the nitty-gritty details of discussing what your client wants you to do for the project. You have to figure out how you can best enable yourself so can perform according to your client's standards.
The following are not rules, but just a few basic guidelines to get you started:
Make sure you get everything clear with your client.
You may have set the scope regarding the range of services you offer, but you still have to make adjustments here and there to suit your client's needs.
So, ask yourself: What does your client want you to do? If he's a small business owner selling novelty gift items and he wants to participate in a bazaar, would he prefer a concisely written copy for a flyer, or could you suggest providing more details and have the copy developed into a three-fold brochure?
If you write content for websites, are you at least familiar with the kind of industry with which your client is affiliated? Aspiring models and actors would want talent scouts and potential agents to get easy access to their sites in hoping to land an audition or modeling contract, so you would need to incorporate SEO (search engine optimization) in order to drive more traffic to their sites.
If you offer resume writing services and your client wants to shift careers, can you identify his key strengths or competencies based on the jobs he's previously held? And can you think of several ways in which he can effectively apply his existing skills in the new career he's chosen?
You may have set the scope regarding the range of services you offer, but you still have to make adjustments here and there to suit your client's needs.
So, ask yourself: What does your client want you to do? If he's a small business owner selling novelty gift items and he wants to participate in a bazaar, would he prefer a concisely written copy for a flyer, or could you suggest providing more details and have the copy developed into a three-fold brochure?
If you write content for websites, are you at least familiar with the kind of industry with which your client is affiliated? Aspiring models and actors would want talent scouts and potential agents to get easy access to their sites in hoping to land an audition or modeling contract, so you would need to incorporate SEO (search engine optimization) in order to drive more traffic to their sites.
If you offer resume writing services and your client wants to shift careers, can you identify his key strengths or competencies based on the jobs he's previously held? And can you think of several ways in which he can effectively apply his existing skills in the new career he's chosen?
Decide how much you're going to charge for a flat rate and down payment.
After discussing the details of the project with your client, you would have to explain that one of the standard procedures in the field of freelancing is charging your client a flat rate and a down payment before you start working.
Negotiating for the above-mentioned freelancer's fees can be quite tricky, and you have to be honest about not settling for what business people call "a losing proposition." I'll focus on this topic in my next few articles.
