What is it like working with me, and how do I charge for projects?

Every writer works differently, so I want you to understand a bit about how I work. I've been doing this for a long time, and I know what it takes for me to deliver my best work to my clients. But first, let me tell you a bit about why I do what I do. I am a geek at heart and engineering fascinates me. If you asked me who are my three people, living or dead, that I would invite to a dinner party, I'd pick a bunch of engineers. When people ask me what I do, I tell them I get paid to talk to the smartest people in the world and learn something new from them and then I get to share that information with the world!

Voice

I can write in just about any voice/tone. If your brand's voice is fun and quirky, or serious, or just friendly, I've got you covered. But style--that's a different story. My style of writing is simple (not simplistic) and straight forward. I can write about very technical topics for a technical audience, but my writing will still be simple and straight forward. Please, for the love of the gods, read my samples. I don't do high-falutin, big words just to impress, academic style writing. I also do not write in a style that is filled with superfluous adjectives that don't really say anything. If your company builds bridges, I want to talk about the engineering behind them. I do not want to reduce it to an object that "improves the well-being at the individual and community scale."

What is it like working with me, and how do I charge for projects?

Every writer works differently, so I want you to understand a bit about how I work. I've been doing this for a long time, and I know what it takes for me to deliver my best work to my clients.

Rates and Billing

I charge by the project, not hourly. This is referred to as value-based billing. You are paying for the value and ROI of the piece, not for the time I spend creating it.

It also means that you know exactly how much the project will cost. There will be no surprises when you get your invoice.

My rates also include:

Time for research
SEO keyword integration
Licensed images
Internal/external links
Access to my industry knowledge and contacts: I have been writing about manufacturing, engineering, robotics, and advanced materials for almost ten years. Let's just say I know a lot of people I can reach out to when I need particular expertise or a source.

How much does a typical project cost?

Most projects will be over $2000. Yes, even blog posts, but that is because I do not do one-off blog posts. That would be a waste of your money and everyone’s time. One blog post is not going to do anything for your bottom line. Instead, I offer blog packages.

You can find more information on my ballpark pricing HERE.

Yes, I charge quite a bit more than you would pay content farms. Clients who choose to work with me understand the value of high-quality content and are happy to pay accordingly for it. If cost is a higher priority than quality, I am not the right person for you.

My process

All clients (with some exceptions given to agencies) follow the following process once the contract is signed and a deposit is paid. (50% deposit for short assignments. For longer projects, a 30% deposit is required, and additional payments are spread out and become due as we reach certain milestones.)

Kick-off call (Zoom Meeting) to discuss the project. This usually lasts about an hour, depending on the project. On this call, we will create a creative brief together, discuss expectations, and I will answer any questions you may have.
I will create an outline based on the creative brief and post it to Google Drive. You will make any notes or comments on the outline before I start writing.
Based on the approved outline, I will write a first draft. This takes a week on average for projects under about 2000 words. Once finished, I will post on Google Drive for your review.
You will leave edits/comments in the draft, and I will make those edits within 3 business days.
Usually, this is all it takes, but occasionally an additional round of edits is required—typically just small tweaks here and there.
You sign off on final approval, and I'll send over the final document as well as an invoice for the remaining 50% balance (or whatever we’ve predetermined based on milestones) to be paid.

Communication

Other than the initial kick-off call, most communication can be done via email. It's not that I don't want to talk to you, it's just that arranging meeting times, and rescheduling takes up valuable time and attention away from my work on your piece. That's not good for either of us.

However, if you do need to speak, we can arrange a call Monday-Thursday between 1 pm and 4 pm.

Office Hours

Again, I've been doing this for a long time and know what it takes for me to be the most productive and deliver the best results. I do all my deep work in the mornings when my brain is at its best. I protect this time like a momma bear protects her cubs. I do not check email, and I do not schedule phone calls during this time. I do those things between 1 pm and 4pm.

Note: Exceptions made for clients in Australia and New Zealand because no one should have to take a call before 6 AM!

Payment

Your invoice will include a link to pay online via credit card or ACH transfer.

Payment by check is always an option, but understand, the project cannot start until the deposit is in hand.

Lead Time

I usually have openings for one or two projects each month, but that can change very quickly, so if you have a project that needs to be completed by a specific date, then please, reach out early.

I can accommodate rush jobs, but there will be a 25% rush fee added to the invoice.