Happy Halloween, everyone!

This week, I’ve been writing about the process of getting started with a new client and how to educate clients on the process. Check out the first and second posts in this series. Today, the final post:

Step 4: The Timeline and Expectations Discussion
Again, many clients have not worked with a freelancer before, so they will not know how to manage their relationship with you. That is why it’s important to communicate about this in the beginning. I start out asking my clients when they would like the project completed. Some may say “by next Wednesday,” while others are more general. I have had clients whose concern is only that a project is completed by the end of the year.

One thing all clients have in common is they don’t have much time to manage you. So, I take the deadline they give me and chart out a timeline, planning specific dates to send a draft in, receive the reviewed draft from the client, and so on. Telling the client that you will manage the timeline and then actually doing it is generally a huge relief to them.

Step 5: Actual Project Time and Project Completion
Does the client want to hear from you every day? Do they want you to disappear until the project is completed? Are they okay with you calling any time you have a question? The Well-Fed Writer has blogged about the importance of “being forgettable.” Check it out and decide if being forgettable is your style, or if you want to be in regular communication with your client during a project. Then, let the client know what your style is, but ensure her that you’ll be available whenever she has a question.

Also, let the client know what to do once you submit the project for review. Do you charge for rewrites? Do you include one complimentary rewrite in your rate structure? Every writer should decide and let the client know before the project gets underway. Also, when will you invoice the client? Some invoice on a regular schedule (e.g., every two weeks) while others wait until the project is completed. Once you have sent the invoice, be sure to thank the client for her business and mention that if she is happy with your work, you would appreciate any referrals she could send your way.

Working with a freelancer can be a murky and sometimes worrisome process for a potential client. To ease these concerns, and to get repeat business, it is important to first be clear about your own writing process, how much you charge and how much you communicate with a client during the course of a project. Then, clearly and briefly outline this process for the client and stick to it. In the end, the client will be more comfortable working with contractors, and this will make business better for all of us.

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