Since starting my freelance writing business 2 years ago I’ve tailored the way I do things – from how much to charge to what I consider an ideal project. Above all, I’ve had to get very clear on what kinds of clients I’d work with – this alone has made me come a very long way from the days of endless job boards and writing about the mating habits of spiders.
So how do you get a feel for a potential client and their project? By asking them a few questions that could not only save you time, but money as well. There’s no need to deal with clients or projects that will be a total headache and these questions will help you narrow it down. They are the questions that I use myself when meeting potential writing clients and have really found them to be very useful as I keep up the side hustle. Of course, I may use them for writing clients but you can customize them to fit your side hustle’s needs.
1. What’s your budget?
Before you take anything new on, you’d better know what you are dealing with financially. I’m pretty upfront and confident about my rates and I want to make sure my clients can afford me. Otherwise it may be a waste of time for both of us.
Of course, if I absolutely love the client and their idea I’ll be as flexible as I can when cutting them a package deal. However, I can’t guess flexibility without first knowing what I’m working with.
2. When are you ready to start? By when do you need this finished?
Asking this question right off the bat will help you determine how serious your client is. If they tell you immediately then you know you can spend more time talking to them. If they tell you it’s not until next year or they’re not sure then you can cut it short. No point in wasting your time with someone who isn’t ready to work with you.
3. Can you describe your project?
Knowing how big a project is can help you determine a time table and how much to charge. It can also help you determine whether or not the project even interests you. For instance, I once had a potential client try to explain some overly complicated writing project they wanted me to do at the drop of the hat. First off, I had no idea what they were talking about or even where to begin researching. And second, even if I had taken on the project my rates would have gone up because of a rush order.
The end result is they weren’t happy with the increase in rates (hey, I’m not a slave) and the time and effort it would have taken was not worth it. So I decided I wouldn’t take on the project.
4. Can you tell me about your audience?
This is the key that will unlock the door to a myriad of possibilities. Have your client tell you everything they can about their audience. This is imperative when figuring out what kind of look and feel they’re going for with their brand. In my case it helps me tailor writing content to the need of an audience. To a web designer it may help them come up with a concept of colors and images.
Of course, the more you can get the better – age group, where they hang out, where they buy coffee, financial situation, etc. etc. etc. By the way, this is also a good way to find out whether or not your potential client is serious enough to have done any research on their part.
5. What problem does your audience face and how do your products/services help them?
This is more of a detailed follow up to the previous question however just as important. By knowing what their audience is dealing with and how your client is able to help them you’ll be able to articulate it throughout the project. After all, if their audience can’t figure out the point then your client may not encounter much success.
6. What makes you different from your competitors?
If your client has given any serious thought to their business or project then they’ll have a clear idea of what makes them stand out from the rest. After all, nothing is new under the sun so they’ll need to be very sure of what sets them apart from their competitors. This, in turn, will further help you create something unique that is specifically tailored to their brand.
7. Describe your brand’s values in 5 words.
This is my favorite question! It really gets your potential clients wheels turning which can help you some up with a clear vision of what they want. It’s also pretty interesting to hear what they come up with and why.
8. How soon can you come up with X% down payment?
I don’t start anything until I have a down payment and I make that very clear to my potential clients. Quite frankly we all have bills to pay and if you’re client isn’t cool with that then it’s usually a sure fire sign that they either don’t have the money or were planning on stiffing you anyway.
9. Follow up with your payment policies.
In my case, 40% of the total fee is due upfront before I even start working. The rest is due upon completion and the fee includes two rounds of rewrites.
It’s very important that you are clear on what your policies are. The more professional you are the better you look and it helps both you and your client stay on the same page.
10. By when would you like my proposal/bid?
Agree on a deadline for sending over your proposal/bid. This will help the both of you set your schedules and get the process moving right along.
Now I’m handing the mic over to all you side hustlers. What are some things you need to know before you start working? Share in the comments below! 
