Yeah, I agree with that feedback. Looking at that chart I wouldn`t know how much it was going to cost me to hire you. I wouldn`t know if my project was an overall rate or by page (how big a page?) or hourly and how many hours that would take, etc. Simpler is definitely better, so I could take a guess at how long and decide if it`s worth that amount of money to me.
The only peril I can see there is managing client expectations. We run into this a lot with recording clients. They are reticent to pay for extra time for preproduction, and don`t understand that the time they`re tracking in the studio is often a fraction of what they`ll need to pay overall (they`re welcome to come sit in on the mixing but usually hate it; it`s unimaginably tedious work). So a big part of our job is educating our clients up front as to what they can expect from the process. They are typically inexperienced clients, which I imagine your clientele will be as well. You`ll need to be able to educate them on what to expect working with you.
Buffy ,'The Killer In Me'
Buffista Business Talk: I wanted simple, I wanted in-and-out, I wanted easy money.
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One problem with such a list is that it's a rare client who knows the difference between proofing and editing, particularly when the correct description is usually rewriting.
Ok, that makes total sense, and yep, I've been Reading Books on Business. Clearly, I need to edit: clarify and explain. KISS, right?
All right, that is the task for tomorrow.
Thanks, all!
Reading Books on Business
Oh lord. Save me from the adjacent websites!
It's like a frickin' disease! I can't seem to just know that I know what I need to know and not every theory is going to fit me.
For me, it's 2 parts fear and 3 parts procrastination, over 1 part curiosity.
Erk.
Oh my god, I am obsessed, bonny. It's like a sickness; my first instinct when I don't know something is to research the hell out of it.
I think I have 25 books checked out on Wordpress, business taxes, marketing, freelancing...it's crazy.
I've skimmed several, tossed a couple, and am working my way slowly through a few.
And of course, the internet. I've finally come to the point where I'm not READING everything, and I'm starting drafting stuff.
Erin, insent
Yeah, the process of reading everything in order to have the perfect website can take four or five years.
Hey, guys. A couple of questions...
Ok, I re-worked the services and rates section. Take a gander, if you would, and let me know if what I have now id better, too much, just right. [link]
(Note: website is still in beta; if you have any feedback about other parts of the website, I welcome them, too.)
Is it still too complicated? I tried to make it simple, information and friendly.
Question the 2nd -- How do people deal with payment issues? My Paypal account is through my personal email and goes into our general checking account; do I need to set up a merchant account, with a button and everything, or do I just give out PayPal info to clients when we have a contract? I think I need to start a separate business account, and sync that account to my wordslinger email addy.
Also, I know some people don't use PayPal. I don't want to get into the complicated world of credit cards, and I certainly don't want to be dealing with e-transfers; I don't want to give my account number out.
I'm thinking PayPal, check or money order. And I am going to require 1/2 of the payment down before I start a project.
Does this jibe with standard practices? Advice, warnings, good ideas?
Thanks!
I'm mainly paid in checks, and I have a business account with my dba name. (That reminds me. I need to change banks for that account, because it used to be free and now there's a $10 monthly fee.)
Half up front and half on completion is pretty standard, although a lot of people take a third down, a third at some stated midpoint and a third at the end for bigger projects.
And I can be flexible with that, since I am (thanks to y'all) keeping things vague enough.
I gotta call our bank tomorrow and see what kind of deals they offer. I should get a debit card to use for business-related expenses, too, for easier tracking.
Ginger, have you ever had problems with checks? One of the things I'm worried about is invoicing -- I've got a system set up (although I'm open to suggestions) but mainly I'm worried about non-payment and having to chase people down to get them to pony up.
Does this happen a lot?