Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't hiring a freelancer going to cost a lot of money?
How do you price a freelance job?
We will only pay you commission - you will work harder and we only pay for results. OK?
Do you guarantee to raise funds?
Do we have to pay you up front?
What about contracts, intellectual property, conflicts of interest and all that stuff?
My boss/director/trustees are unconvinced/expecting miracles/fill in the blank. Now what?
What if I don’t like what you produce?
What’s all this freelance copywriting malarkey? Are you a trained journalist?
Why do we need you, surely we can do it ourselves?
How quickly can you turn work around?
My question must be infrequently asked, its not here. Now what?
What other useful links and websites would you recommend?
What’s it like being freelance? Do you really file your dog under your desk?
Isn’t hiring a freelancer going to cost a lot of money?
I charge a competitive day rate in line with my experience, and the industry going rate. At the risk of sounding coy, I’m not quoting it here as most people then multiply this by 5 and then 52. By that reckoning I’m living the life of Riley! It doesn’t work like that. For a start there are only 20 billable days in a month. My own admin and marketing take up a proportion. I have quiet days, sick days, and holidays just like you – only I don’t get paid for them. Then you need to consider my NI, office overheads, tax bill, accountant’s fees, and my pension.
How do you price a freelance job?
You tell me all about your organisation, your project, what you need etc. Depending on the job, I might need to come and meet you too. I will then quote you the number of days / hours I think the job will take – this quote includes all research time, writing, editing, etc. For more complicated projects, or open ended jobs, I will quote you for the initial start up work, and also estimate the number of days - remaining, or per month - required. Once I’ve done the initial work, you and I will then discuss things again, and reach an agreement.
We will only pay you commission - you will work harder and we only pay for results. OK?
I will never work on commission - for a variety of reasons. For a start it’s not ethical. The Institute of Fundraising’s Code of Practice , to which I adhere, strongly discourages it. It causes problems; it means fundraisers are tempted to cut corners to get the cash; it creates arguments about ownership of contacts and who ‘earned’ the money. For example, you introduce me to your golfing buddy Jim, who works for a big bank. At my request, he puts in a good word with the head honcho at the bank, who I then woo to network on the charity’s behalf. Honcho gets out his little black book and lots of people give you money, via him. Who raised that money? I did. And you did. And Jim did. And the head honcho did. That’s why I won’t do it. But most of all I won’t do it because I have spent 12 years learning my craft, and I think its only fair that I’m paid for my time and experience. If you want to hire someone on commission, go right ahead, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Do you guarantee to raise funds?
Blimey, all the tough questions! The short answer is no. I guarantee to produce work of the highest quality. I guarantee to do my very best. I cannot, and neither will any fundraiser worth their salt, guarantee to raise funds. Competition for funds is extremely fierce. Sometimes outstandingly good bids for funding get turned down. It's just the way it goes. Sometimes it's the organisation, not the fundraising that's the problem, and donors are not convinced. Sometimes there are internal issues with strategy, projects, budgets, and mission. You can't raise money in a vacuum. The good news is I have a history of consistently raising money, often over target, so I must be doing something right. By the way if I think you are unlikely to be successful in your current situation I will tell you rather than bill you for work that I believe is unlikely to succeed.
Do we have to pay you up front?
You have to meet me under the clock at Waterloo Station, wearing a pink carnation, and clutching a copy of the Financial Times. A briefcase, full of non-sequential notes … Sorry! I'm getting carried away. No you don't. I invoice monthly and my payment terms are seven days. This applies for one off jobs, open ended contracts, and short term projects. That means if I'm working with you for a couple of months I'd still invoice each month, rather than at the end of the job. Gotta keep the pooch in dog biscuits.
What about contracts, intellectual property, conflicts of interest and all that stuff?
Fret not. By law we have to have an agreement between us, at the very least a letter / email of engagement. I have a rather nifty little contract that I will send you once you've agreed to hire me.
My boss/director/trustees are unconvinced/expecting miracles/fill in the blank. Now what?
This question seems to apply most to charities, God bless 'em. I am happy to do my best to help you within reason. I understand, particularly for small organisations, that taking on a consultant / freelancer can be a bit of an unknown quantity, particularly if resources are tight. I will send you my CV, and I have references that you can check. I'm happy to send a brief letter or email outlining my suggestions. I can signpost you to other umbrella bodies that can help. What I'm not prepared to do is get involved in your politics. To be honest, if it's really that bad before we've even started I'd suggest that there are probably wider issues that need looking at. It's much better to agree the brief first, and then start looking for the right person to help you. That person might just be me.
What if I don't like what you produce?
Fundraising and copywriting are all about the audience. It might be that you don't like something because it isn't written for or aimed at someone like you. This doesn't mean it isn't any good. Often organisations are drastically underselling themselves; being too modest about what they do and achieve. On your behalf, it's my job not to be. However, you get to approve everything. You will see a first draft, and can make any comments and changes that you like. You sign off the final version. If it doesn't meet the brief, you don't pay.
What's all this freelance copywriting malarkey? Are you a trained journalist?
Nope, I'm not, but on the quality of my work I have been mistaken for one several times! In fact it was this insistence from past clients and my creativity coach (an author herself, who works with journalists, writers, and all kinds of creatives) that convinced me to include copywriting amongst my skills for hire. I'm not claiming I'm at the forefront of consumer copywriting but I'm no slouch in the words department. I have a degree in English Literature, and years of producing brochures, leaflets, press releases, annual reports, website copy, pitches, applications, project plans, adverts etc under my belt. Hence freelance copywriter. See my portfolio for examples.
SEO (search engine optimised) copywriting is the discipline of producing online copy that is not only customer focused but will also increase your rankings. Remember when you typed 'freelance copywriter' or 'freelance charity fundraiser' into Google? I popped up at the top of the list. I'll let you in on a little secret - that wasn't an accident. An SEO copywriter has to weave a little magic - producing copy for both humans and spiders. Simply stuffing your web copy with lots of irritating keywords will have your potential customer reaching for the back button faster than you can say metatitle. Equally, your web copy could be pure poetry but what's the use if the search engine algorithms miss it entirely? SEO copywriting ensures that the customer lands on your site, not your competitor's, and done well it means that they like what they read enough to stay there. If that explanation made your head hurt, and you don't know your keywords from your H1 tags, help is at hand. Contact me.
Why do we need you, surely we can do it ourselves?
Every time I took my car for a service I'd brace myself for the moment when the mechanic would start sucking his teeth and shaking his head. Man, I hate getting ripped off. I still don't service my own car. I also don't fix my own central heating or drill my own teeth. I'll be honest; I've met some crap mechanics. I've also met some brilliant ones - currently a man called Percy who used to play rugby with my Dad, and now has his own garage. Lovely bloke. If you read the about me section you'll see that I don't actually think there's any big mystery to this copywriting, fundraising, and project management stuff. You can learn most of it; I've just had more practice. My job is not to baffle you, or string you along. I'm all for coaching you and putting me out of a job if that is what is best for you. A girl can't say fairer than that, can she?
Of course I have, and I will happily supply them. You can also look at the testimonials and portfolio pages on this site.
How quickly can you turn work around?
It depends on the work, and on my schedule. A short copywriting job can usually be turned around in a week. Other jobs will need to be discussed individually.
My question must be infrequently asked, its not here. Now what?
I'm happy to answer any questions you might have (except where I live, whether I've got a burglar alarm, and the location of the cupboard containing the family silver). Just pop your question in an email and fire it off to info@writegoodstuff.co.uk Also, have a look at the other information on this site - use the buttons on the left - as you might find what you are looking for there.
What other useful links and websites would you recommend?
The Institute of Fundraising - http://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/
For books, courses, and other tips see the Directory of Social Change http://www.dsc.org.uk/Home
f-Resource is the great new global fundraising resources site - http://www.fresource.info/
Business in the Community - www.bitc.org.uk
Your local voluntary sector umbrella body (CVS) - http://www.navca.org.uk/help/directory.htm
You can find more tips and resources in my blog.
What's it like being freelance? Do you really file your dog under your desk?
Yes I do. Well I did - she's eight months old now and weighs six stone so it's becoming a bit of a tight squeeze. She prefers her own giant cushion on the office floor where she gnaws bones. When she gets bored she raids the bin and shreds up the recycling. Just one of the joys of working as a freelance copywriter, fundraiser and project manager - where else could you turn up to work in your pyjamas and scoff a big bag of chocolate raisins without sharing them? I can also buy the paper, go to a café for an hour, and call it a staff meeting. Although, I have noticed that I've started talking to myself occasionally. For more musings on the life of a freelancer, have a look at my blog.