Six important freelancing rules to live by

A formal contract: Create your own proposal-cum-contract document and share with the client. If not a hard copy, a confirmation email is enough to proceed. Even if you are working on a project for a friend, keep the communication on email.

Advance Fee: I started with a 20% advance fee and currently I ask for 50% up front pay to start the work after signing the agreement. Whether it’s a small assignment or a big project, always try to persuade the clients to pay an advance fee to manage your project cost.

Clear Brief: Don’t think you have understood it all in one email. Ask questions, connect on video/phone calls, take product training (in case work is complex) to have a clear understanding of the project. Don’t start until you are fully satisfied with all the answers.

Realistic Deadline: Don’t get too excited and promise things that you can’t keep up with. If the client is pushing too much and you don’t have the bandwidth, don’t take the project. Quality can’t be compromised and you don’t want your payments to suffer later.

Timely Payment: Mention terms & conditions for payments clearly in your proposal/contract and get it acknowledged by the client. Keep a track of your work and raise the invoice on time. Keep a provision for late fee if client doesn’t pay on time.

Feedback: Don’t forget to ask for the feedback from your clients. It will help you to map your project success. You can also ask for recommendations for your LinkedIn page or profile or personal website. 

Apply these freelancing rules to get the maximum out of your freelance projects and streamline your content and copy writing process.