Effective Tips and Guidelines for Freelance Writing Success

The freelancing world is a competitive environment where entrepreneurs must stay vigilant. As a freelancer, you’re required to handle many aspects beyond your primary trade, and one critical area is legal documentation and paperwork. The challenge with freelancing is that you often lack someone to consult with (for free) or write a freelance contract for you.

Let’s face it, some businesses and clients have a history of changing payment terms, requesting excessive revisions, or backing out of agreements. Educating yourself is crucial because it’s your responsibility to protect yourself from such situations.

In this article, we’ll cover essential tips for creating strong freelance contracts, such as including an exclusion clause. These guidelines will help you avoid or resolve disputes over project timelines, payments, scope, and more. It’s important to gather all necessary information beforehand, so writing each document becomes a straightforward task.

The Importance of Writing Contracts

Young freelancers or aspiring designers may wonder, “Why bother with contracts?” Experience teaches that not all clients are trustworthy, and the business world can be harsh. Contracts are essential to ensure that both parties fulfill their agreed-upon obligations.

Contracts also provide an equal footing in any dispute. Taking the time to review the contract before signing allows both parties to correct errors and negotiate terms. Keeping business formal will ensure you receive payment at the end of each work cycle.

Defining Project Standards

Defining project standards is one of the most basic and essential elements of any contract. Start by identifying each entity involved and their roles in the project. This includes who will be doing the work and who will receive the completed project.

Provide a clear overview of the work required. This could involve tasks like creating Photoshop graphics, editing videos, managing social media, or programming applications. The key is to keep everything detailed and organized within the clauses. For example, if you’re hired to edit a specific number of photos, mention how many and describe the types of edits you’ll perform.

Make sure your client understands your role and the project’s scope. If you’re hired to design an icon set, that should be the limit of the work unless otherwise agreed. Even if you can assist with marketing or web development, these services should not be included for free if you’re not being paid for them.

Establishing Timelines and Meetings

For corporate clients, a timeline can help ensure the project runs smoothly. Clients often appreciate seeing a visual schedule, and providing a list of possible completion dates can help set expectations.

Consider including scheduled times for meetings or check-ins in the contract. This prevents clients from expecting constant updates at any time. You might schedule a phone call two to three times a week or offer a weekly in-person meeting to review progress.

It’s crucial to keep your timelines realistic and avoid over-scheduling. If you don’t allow enough time, you could end up stressed and procrastinating, which delays the project. Build in time buffers each day to take breaks and refresh your mind.

Final Product Delivery

One of the most important clauses in any freelance contract is the final product delivery. What will you hand over to the client, and what will you receive in return? This should not only be written into the contract but also verbally agreed upon by both parties.

Providing detailed instructions can save you from a problematic project. Specify exactly how many files you will deliver and in what formats. For example, consider the following list:

• 1 PSD website template mockup
• 1 AI logo design
• .zip archive containing website files and images

This is an example of what you might deliver to a client requesting a simple website design. The package includes a Photoshop file for the website template mockup, an Illustrator vector file for the logo, and a zipped archive with all necessary files for publishing.

You could also detail the types of files included, such as HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and images. If the project is ongoing and may involve multiple files, list as much relevant information as possible.

Finalizing Payment Terms

Show your client that you mean business by clearly defining payment terms in your contract. Consider how much time the project will require and what compensation will make that time worthwhile.

Freelance payments can vary widely, with some professionals charging by the hour – typically between $25 and $85 per hour – while others prefer a flat fee. Clearly stating your rates in the contract will prevent misunderstandings later.

The flat-fee option can provide clients with more security, knowing they’ll pay a fixed amount regardless of the time spent. However, be cautious, as some clients may try to push for additional revisions or extra work without additional payment.

Handling Revisions

Clients often expect freelancers to intuitively understand their vision and translate it perfectly into reality. However, for web designers and other digital professionals, this can be challenging, leading to revisions that can disrupt your workflow.

Some clients may continuously request minor changes, such as adding a column or adjusting a logo color. Including a clause in your contract that outlines revision limits is essential to protect yourself from excessive demands.

Clearly state the fees for each revision or update. You can charge by the hour or per task, depending on what works best for you. This aspect of freelancing is flexible and will vary based on the nature of the work.

These are just a few core elements to include in your freelance contracts. The life of a freelancer is fast-paced and requires perseverance. If you’re looking for more tips, check out these productivity tips for web designers, which align well with freelance guidelines and motivation.