Freelance Content Copywriting

What is the client expecting

[contentmaster]

Hello

I was recently having a discussion with a friend who is of the opinion that copywriting for a website (on a freelance basis) for overseas clients means "lots of confusion" and lack of satisfactory results......Is this true? What is the right approach to make sure the client knows exactly what a content writer agrees to deliver?

Let me clarify:

1) When a client says "I have a total of 10 pages on my website with sections like : About Us,Mission, Contact Us, Key Strengths...etc etc and I need you to tell me your rates for copywriting"
what is it exactly that the client actually expects?

2) is'nt it the right approach for him to send the basic content for all the pages and then the content writer begins to structure it properly according to what would appeal to the target audience....or do clients expect you to come up with the total content themselves......It seems to be quite a difficult proposition..to reach an understanding as to what the client is expecting from the writer.....

Any thoughts on the matter...have any of you been in a situation like this....and what is the right approach

[rogerd]

Contentmaster, I think the approach will vary by client and what they have available. I've worked with clients who had great literature, brochures, etc., that provided an easy starting point for web copy. I've also met with clients who had, quite literally, nothing at all in writing about their company or its products. The latter is more common in small firms that have historically conducted most sales on a highly personal basis.

When I do a proposal, I'll factor in the work I expect to have to do to create suitable copy. This means fewer hours if existing copy can be ported over and massaged into appropriate web copy, and more hours if the information must be gleaned by interviewing or simply created from scratch.

Effective web copy often differs from brochure copy, and SEO considerations may dictate additional changes. Hence, even if the client seems to have it ready to go allow some time in your proposal to get the copy in final form.

[dragonlady7]

Something I've found very informative is to simply look at my competition. Find the websites of freelance copywriters and examine their Rates pages or wherever they discuss what they need from clients and what they'll give clients.
Most of them have complex pricing structures that vary by the amount of time they'll have to spend on research, how much editing there is as opposed to how much fresh content generation, and especially how hard the writer will have to work to find out what to write about.

Most agree that having all that spelled out in the contract is very helpful. It should certainly be addressed in the proposal. You don't have to meet in person, but you'd better get it all spelled out explicitly.