Why should I hire a freelance content marketer versus an agency?
As an independent contractor, I take pride in working closely with my clients. I believe that working with a freelancer gives you a personal connection. I know that when freelancer and client work one-on-one together, the work gets done faster and more efficiently than with a firm or agency. There is less back and forth and more time focusing on getting work done to grow your business faster.
I’ve also found that working with agencies mean you pay a whole lot more. I quote each project individually and am always conscious of your budget.
Assuming I’ve decided to go the freelance route, why should I hire you vs. another freelancer?
I have a bachelor’s degree in English and a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Colorado at Boulder. I have years worth of experience creating content in various industries. I have worked with all types of writing including essays, short stories, books, ebooks, blogs, web content, and digital marketing content. Plus, I have promoted those pieces across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
What services do you provide?
My services include blog management, copywriting, email newsletters, and website content. You can find more details on the services I provide here.
Who are most of your current clients?
My clients come from established business, startup companies, and authors looking to be the next New York Times Bestseller. I currently do a lot of business ghostwriting for clients who contribute to publications like Forbes, the Harvard Business Review, and Inc. Magazine.
The clients that hire me for web content are generally new businesses. I take the time to research what their competitors are doing and figure out how to differentiate them. I enjoyI finding entertaining and relevant content that is sure to convert.
Will you give me a quote before the work begins?
Of course. I recognize that budgets are tight and no one blindly hires someone to write their business content.
I understand that there are plenty of freelancers that will charge you pennies for their services. My philosophy on that is you get what you pay for. I charge what I charge because I know what it takes to generate leads for you.
Once we have our initial consultation we can then talk about how much I charge. Each project is different and I make sure that the price we agree on suits your project the best. My clients all tell me that they feel like they get excellent value for their money.
What are your terms?
I invoice clients on a bi-monthly basis. The monthly cycle begins on the first of the month. We will invoice you for this on the first of the following month, which will be due by the seventh. If you decide to leave us the during the monthly cycle it will continue to run and the invoice will still be sent at the end of the month. We will then end the contract and you will not join the next monthly cycle.
What types of payment do you accept?
I accept company checks or electronic payments through PayPal or Venmo. If you don’t have a PayPal or Venmo account, you can still pay through them using a Visa or MasterCard credit card. I can send information on how to set that up.
I understand that you need to keep your books straight and I am more than happy to join your company as a 1099 employee if you prefer to go that route.
What makes your writing unique?
Other than my education and experience, I care about my clients and their successes. That’s why I work closely with my clients and am dedicated to each project I work on.
I am a detailed oriented and organized person that can take the project and run with it. I ask lots of questions and make sure I understand the full scope of what you are looking for when hiring a writer. I have worked with many different industries and can offer suggestions on items to make sure your project is heading in the right direction. I want to understand who you are and what your business is all about.
I’m looking for someone who can manage my blog and email newsletters long-term. Do you take on accounts?
Yes, I do. Many of my clients have been with me for a long period of time now. Because they know what each long-term client is looking for, they just pass along their project with minimal direction. They like that I am loyal, have a quick turnaround, and get the project done right the first time.
What happens if I don’t like the initial proposal?
Usually, the first proposal is pretty solid. However, if I missed the point, we can go back through things together until we are both on the same page. I want to be sure that you get the most bang for your buck and that I complete your projects to your standards.
Will I have to sign a contract?
Yes. After we discuss what you are looking for and agree to work together, I will send you a HelloSign contract that summarizes the scope of the project as well as the agreed upon price. It also includes information and instructions on how to submit payments. The agreement gives both parties peace of mind that they have the same expectations.
In what form will you submit your project?
I’ll provide the proposal and/or data to you in a shared Google Doc folder. I prefer Google Docs to MS Word as we both can track any edits made as well as respond to comments left in the doc. I feel that this cuts down on the number of emails sent back and forth to one another. Of course, if you rather an MS Doc or Excel file, please let me know and we can set up the contract that way instead.
What kind of content do you like writing for the best?
Managing a client’s blogs is fun and I like being in charge of what new and exciting content we can offer to your audience. It is personalized and geared towards having people explore your site. I like seeing what others are doing and take the bar up a notch and beat them out with SEO and colorful marketing tools that get them clicking and heading over to your website.
In short, I love seeing the ROI that comes with each project!
Do you understand search engine optimization (SEO)?
Yes! I use the Yoast SEO tool to ensure that each web page and blog post will rank your site higher in search engines. I know that researching keywords is time-consuming. If you rather, I can assist you with keyword research. Or you can provide the keywords and I will create content that caters to them. In addition to page content, I can also write your title tags and meta-description tags, since they’re important elements of search engine optimization.
Will you be able to write and market my business if you don’t have any direct experience in my field?
Yes. I enjoy working with those in all industries and have been doing so for years now. If I am not familiar with yours, I take my time to not only speak to you about it but do the research on my own time and learn about it.
Regardless of the business you are in, the same rules apply across the board. Well-edited articles and digital marketing campaigns can be adapted for all businesses.
I’m interested in your blog management service. Can I see some examples of your work?
Sure! You can visit my portfolio here.
I’m curious, how do you get most of your clients?
My clients come from a variety of sources. I have clients contact me via LinkedIn, Facebook, and freelance sites. I have also come up in organic searches on Google.
My existing clients have also referred me to others in their industry.
What does your workload look like?
As a freelance writer, my workload varies from week to week. I stay relatively busy and fill any downtime with new clients who find me on LinkedIn or on freelance websites.
In the case where I do get too many new business requests than I can handle, I accept the projects for which I’m a fit and have time.
If you agree to take on my project, how soon can we get started?
How soon we can get started depends. I usually have a queue of projects lined up but pride myself on providing a quick turnaround. If you are on a tight deadline, tell me upfront and I will make sure to make you a priority.
How long are turnaround times?
It all depends on the scope of the project. If you have a strict deadline, let me know and I will do my best to get it to you before then.
What if I live in another state (not Colorado like you) or country? Can we still work together?
Yes. Many of my clients are in the Colorado area, but I have worked with people in all states including my hometown in California. We work with Zoom, Skype, phone, or email. I also have clients that prefer chat apps like Slack. Right now, I am only working with US-based customers.
Will you sign a non-disclosure agreement?
Yes. I act as a ghostwriter/ghost marketer. I do not take credit for any projects unless otherwise offered to do so. All I ask is that I can use you as a referral for future projects.
You sound like a good fit for my project. What’s the next step?
Let’s chat! You can send me an email at quillandinkenterprise@gmail.com. Together, we can figure out how to tackle your social media and digital marketing needs.