What questions should freelance writers ask clients

I don't know about you guys, but I'm a thousand times better with words when I have time to think about what I'm going to say.

I thrive at writing because I have complete control over the message, and I can tweak the words until they are right. 

I also LOVE public speaking. Zero qualms. Sign me up.

Public speaking isn't scary to me because there is no element of surprise. I can prepare my message in advance and practice what I'm gonna say until the cows come home.

Even though I'm super into public speaking, I also suffer from phone call anxiety. Pretty sure that's a clinical term. Look it up. 

My phone call anxiety has always been a part of my personality. When I was a kid, my mom put me in charge of making appointments, calling businesses if I had questions, and talking to grown-ups via the phone about anything related to my life.

I hated it. It was excruciating.

Before every call, I would pace around the room and practice my questions.

While I'm now a responsible, grown-ass adult, I STILL get a twinge of anxiety when it's time for that first *potential* client call. 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say I think other freelance writers may suffer from the same anxiety.

Because let's be real.

It's scary when you when your livelihood depends not just on how well you write but also on how well you communicate your value to a stranger the first time you interact. And, you have to do it all over the phone. Shudder.

But, here's the thing. If you want to run a successful business, you have to shove the anxiety down (I think that's what a therapist would tell you to do) and nail your client calls—every time.

Here's my secret to success: I heavily prepare for every client call and have a list of topics and questions to cover.

If you have been losing clients to phone anxiety, this list of topics to cover and questions to ask will help.

What questions should freelance writers ask clients?

• Introduce yourself and give an overview of your experience and expertise.

• Can you please tell me more about you and your business?

• What are your content marketing goals?

• Please tell me about your content marketing team.

• Tell me more about your content writing needs/this project.

• Who is your target audience?

• What kind of volume do you need and what turn-around time are you hoping for?

• What is your budget? Here are my rates.

• Do you have an editor? What is your editorial process?

• Do you use a content management system?

• Do you have a style guide? If not, can you please send me 3-4 pieces that represent what you’re looking for?

• Explain to the client what your processes are, including sending the proposal, outlining, content optimization, revisions, approval, and payment requirements.

That’s it! If you have questions about this list, email me—don’t call. Wink, wink.

Learn what other freelance writers are charging here.

Cold pitching advice for freelance writers

Does cold pitching make you groan? Ugh! Join the club.

It's not exactly fun to reach out to an editor you don't know, especially if you're unsure what to say.

But, here's the thing.

If you want to write for a particular publication and you don't know the editor, cold pitching is how you get your foot in the door.

How do you write a good cold pitch?

I asked fellow successful freelance writers what they do, and the answers had one thing in common.

DO YOUR RESEARCH!

The amount of research that goes into a cold pitch may be one reason it makes you groan. It's not an easy task.

Every editor is different. All publication guidelines vary. What you need to include changes from one publication to another.

While you need to do your research and find out how to craft a pitch, there is some good news.

There are some standard guidelines for writing a good cold pitch.

Here are some valuable insights from the editor, Jessica Johnson, on what she likes to see in a cold pitch.

How do you write a good cold pitch?

Good advice, right?

While I don't encourage the copy/paste use of a cold pitch template, a template can help as a jumping-off point. It can help you formulate your ideas and ensure you don't miss any critical points in your pitch.

Here is the cold pitching template I use

---

Dear [EDITOR'S NAME],

[START WITH A HOOK, SHORT INTRODUCTION OF YOUR IDEA, AND HOW YOUR IDEA BRINGS UNIQUE VALUE TO THE CONVERSATION].

I'd like to write a [XXXX]-word article titled, "[NAME OF POST]", focusing on [SHORT SUMMARY OF POST].

[QUICK EXPLANATION OF WHY YOU'RE THE PERSON TO WRITE THIS POST AND YOUR WRITING BACKGROUND].

Here s a link to some of my writing samples for your reference:

• [LINK TO WRITING SAMPLE]

• [LINK TO WRITING SAMPLE]

• [LINK TO WRITING SAMPLE]

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

---

Again, make sure you learn as much as you can about your editor and the publication before submitting a pitch, and CUSTOMIZE, CUSTOMIZE, CUSTOMIZE.

Good luck with your next pitch.

What is the best way to find freelance clients (Step 1)

One of the most common questions I get in my Facebook group for freelance writers is, "how do I get new clients?"

There are several ways to land new clients, but one of the best ways is to build meaningful relationships with other freelance writers and then refer work to each other.

Don't believe it? Stats show that 66% of freelance writers find their clients through other freelance writers. It's true for a majority of freelance writers and it's certainly true for me.

But, how do you actually meet other writers?

Today, it's more difficult to go grab a cup of coffee with a freelance friend, but it's not impossible to connect via social media.

In an effort to help you grow your freelance relationships, here are some of my favorite places to connect with other freelancers online.

Facebook

Copywriters + Content Writers

The Copywriter Club
Freelancing Females

Case Studies & Customer Stories

Twitter

@PRisUs runs a freelance chat every week under the hashtag #FreelanceChat

What are some of your favorite ways to connect with other freelance writers? 

I'd also love to connect with you via social media. I'm most active on Twitter and LinkedIn.

How to charge higher freelance writing rates

I recently posted on my social media networks that if you have been professionally writing for at least 5 years, and you're not charging $1+/word, you're not charging enough.

I got bunches of DMs in response asking if that is for real a realistic rate, and how to go about raising rates.

Yes, it's absolutely a realistic rate. I don't even look at a project if it's not within that range, and I'd venture to guess other friends that write in the SaaS space probably don't either.

But, here's the thing.

Charging high rates isn't a given in freelance writing, and it's not even about how well you write.

Being confident in charging high rates is 100% about being a good business owner.
Before you start charging more, here's what you need to do:

1. Build a website immediately 

A website gives you credibility and shows you care about your business and clients. If you don't have a website, you need one now. 

I recommend building a WordPress site, hosted through Bluehost. WordPress is intuitive enough for you to build a great site by yourself. You can learn how to start a website here.

2. Gather quality samples

If you want to charge higher rates, show clients you know how to write. If you haven't been published yet, it's okay. Write some specs to share with clients. 

Yes, it will take some time to build your business, but starting with specs is perfectly acceptable.

3. Iron out your processes

I cannot stress enough how important it is to build business processes.

Do you know what to say on your first client call and kick-off call?

Do you have an onboarding process?

Do you know how to write a proposal?

Do you have a content brief?

Do you have a process for editing?

Do you know how to use project management tools?

Do you have a legal contract? 

If the answer is "no" to any or all of these questions, please check out this guide + kit for freelance writers. It comes with EVERYTHING you need to run a successful freelance business + templates you can use to hit the ground running. The info in the guide holds the keys to boosting your rates.

GET THE FREELANCE WRITERS GUIDE + KIT HERE

4. Build a network

Your freelance writer network will be one of your biggest tools in getting clients and even raising your rates. 

Connect with other freelancers that write in your niche, build relationships, and set up a way to get and give referrals.

5. Learn content marketing

Writing for the internet isn't just about being a stellar writer. It's about knowing how to write for a specific audience and understanding the rules of content marketing. 

Why? This is how you get results for your clients. 

All freelance writers should know the basics of SEO and how to optimize content for optimal search results. 

I'll send out more tips next week. This should be enough to get you started. Taking these steps will 100% make a difference in how much you make this year. You got this!