3 Biggest Mistakes

We all learn from our mistakes. here are the normal three when first started out as a freelancer.

Mistake #1 : Agreeing to drop price with the promise of further work down the track

There very rarely is further work down the line and, even if there were, how would you get the client to agree to paying your usual, non-discounted rate ? Also, each time you’re busy working on discounted projects, you can’t take on other work at your full price.

Mistake #2 : Saying ‘yes’ to every project

Soon you discovered there were some projects that
a) You really didn’t enjoy doing
b) Weren’t forte.

So now, say ‘no’ whenever such a project comes up and explain to the potential client the kind of work do undertake. However, don’t leave them in the lurch; make a point of finding them a writer for whom that particular project would be right up their street.

Mistake #3 : Not clarifying exactly which activities were covered in quote

You quoted a new client to write an annual report and itemised what this price included. Your quote looked something like this:

• briefing meeting
• assimilating all information
• writing first draft
• progress meetings
• editing to final, approved copy

The problem with this was that the client in question LOVED meetings and must have gone to about eight altogether. But our quote only said ‘progress meetings’. Now you need to state exactly how many meetings are included – and the location. Because client place not always near to your place.

(note : always charge for travel time)

The other thing now state is how many sets of amends your quote includes, with a proviso that says, any subsequent sets of amends will be charged at an hourly rate.

What mistakes have you made along the way that you have learned ?