Tag / client

by caitlyncallahan14

finding and welcoming new clients

Over the past couple of months, my clients have kept me on my toes with quite a bit of end-of-summer work coming my way. I’ve spent dozens of hours between June and now cranking out content on a variety of topics including personal finance, healthcare, Medicare, job search and career information, travel and more.

While I’ve been busier than ever, it’s been the most exciting and fun time of my freelancing career so far. Plus, not only have I been writing, but I’ve been forced to perfect an even better organization and time management system for myself.

That said, the time has come once again to expand my business. I’m ready to bring more work to Callahan Communication.

If you or someone you know owns a business or works for a company who is in need of content production, freelancers, or contractors for marketing purposes, my Contact Me form is a great place to start! Or, they can send me a private message on Facebook or Instagram @callahancommunication.

I’ve also been working diligently on putting together a services & pricing guide and client welcome packet for prospective and new clients to help ensure we have the best working relationship possible and they get all deliverables they’re expecting.

Read on to learn what you’ll get if you contact me and if you hire me!

what I include in my services & pricing guide

When you contact me to learn more about how we can best work together and what I can bring to your business, I will email or review in person a services & pricing guide. This guide is meant to be a high-level overview of my business and what I offer so that you can make the most informed and best decision for your brand.

my story

I love what I do, and I’ve been doing it for a long time. Here, learn more about me as I introduce myself and my business, including what I value, why I do what I do, and what I hope to do for you. It’s essential that prospective clients know they are working with a person, so I’ll also give you a peek at who I am and what I’m all about.

service packages overview

If you have a general idea of the types of services you’ll need, great! I’ll send you package overviews specific to your needs. If you aren’t sure yet, that’s ok too! You’ll receive summaries of my most encompassing service packages and we can narrow down your options from there.

deliverables

I want to make sure it’s clear what you’ll receive, gain and achieve after working together, so here I’ll outline specific deliverables to each service package. However, I recognize flexibility is key, so once hired, we can work together to clearly outline deliverables tailored to your needs.

portfolio

I want you to feel confident that I’ll bring exceptional work to the table, so here you’ll find information about past clients, as well as links to previous work so you can see for yourself.

client testimonials

And, you don’t have to take just my word for it. Read some testimonials from previous happy and satisfied clients.

processes

When you hire a freelancer or agency, you need to know what to expect. Here, find a general outline of my processes so you know what to expect and when, and to better understand if we’re a good fit to work together.

FAQs

This list of frequently asked questions from clients, and my answers, can help ensure a positive, successful working relationship.

call to action

Ready to learn more? This section outlines all of the ways you can contact me to take the next steps, including scheduling a free consultation, contract and SOW process, and more.

what I include in a client welcome packet

Once you’ve let me know you’re interested in working together, I want to make sure you feel confident and comfortable with your choice. You’ll receive either in the mail, through email, or in person, a client welcome packet guiding your through the most important pieces of working together.

welcome message

You made the right choice by hiring me for your content or digital marketing needs. I’ve spent almost my entire life immersed in the world of content and communication, and want to help business owners be successful through the power of the written word.

services overview

This page summarizes the services/package you’ve hired me for, so it’s clear what is (and isn’t) included. Our formal contract and statement of work will be built off of this information so we are always on the same page and expectations are clear.

communication

I take pride in being available for my clients. I’ll hare with you the best ways to contact me, and how and when I’ll plan to communicate with you.

processes

Here, I’ll be very clear about my process so you’ll know what to expect, including what I need from you, what I’ll deliver, deadlines, and more. This includes the contract, SOW, deliverables, editing processes and more.

I’ll also take time to briefly explain my process for investigating and understanding your brand and business, how I create content that works for you, and what the editing and finalization process entails so you can rest assured you’re receiving exceptional work every time.

guidelines

I want to make sure we both are maximizing our time working together, so I’ll share some guidelines and best practices that may be helpful.

tools & resources

If applicable, I’ll share tools you need to be familiar with, plus links to information, ebooks or other educational or informational tools that may be helpful during our time working together.

FAQs

This list of frequently asked questions from clients, and my answers, can help ensure a positive, successful working relationship.

next steps

I’ll clearly state for you what next steps are, either from you or myself, as well as timelines. I want to make sure you feel confident in moving forward together.

If you’re a freelancer and looking to grow your business, feel free to use my services & pricing guide and client welcome packet outlined here for inspiration for your own brand!

by caitlyncallahan14

personalizing your brand

Earlier this week I posted about a chapter I read in Your Music and People: Creative and Considerate Fame by Derek Sivers. Just a few chapters later, I was inspired again and wanted to share it with you.

Because I am guilty of trying to sound big. And I’d venture a guess that, if you’re a freelancer or have your own small side-hustle, you are too.

I’ve struggled with should I say “we” or “I”? Should I speak as myself, or as a brand? Should I make myself sound bigger? Does that make my business better?

Because honestly, I am an agency of one. I am the only one who works for Callahan Communication. And I’ve wondered if that makes me look less legitimate, less trustworthy, and/or less appealing to clients.

So sometimes, when I’m writing a social media post or article for my site, I make myself sound like a larger business. (Which yes, I realize is the opposite stance I take with my blog posts.) But as I read this chapter (pictured above), I realized that while some clients may be turned off by my business of one, it’s also a huge advantage I have over others.

I’m a real person, not a huge company or brand. I’m sincere and honest. You know what you are getting if you partner with me. You can feel confident that when we sign a contract, I won’t farm the work out to a high school or college student looking to make a couple extra bucks. You can see my personality, and know exactly what I’m bringing to the table in our partnership. You can base your decision to work together off of reality, not a show put on by a marketing or PR team.

When I think about it, it is in fact much cooler to be small and independent instead of big and corporate, and I am proud to be able to say “I” in my communications and content. I’ve built this business with a lot of time, sweat and tears, and I am proud of and confident in what I provide my clients. I can showcase my passion, talent, experience and personality, and that’s one of the things that makes me a great partner.

I’ve done enough research and reading about how important it is to humanize your brand in order to connect with your audience. Consumers want to feel special, and like they are speaking to and engaging with a person, not a big company. I write about this and share it with clients. But I’m guilty of doing the opposite because I’m afraid of being small.

When in reality, I am the only human behind my brand, and everything you read from my company was written by me, for you. I want to engage with you. Educate you. Work with you. One on one. I want to help your business, make your marketing strategy better, and increase your leads and sales. And I’m excited to be able to offer that.

Moral of the story: Don’t be afraid to be small. Show your personality. Use your voice. Be a person, not a big company, no matter how large or small your company actually is. Appreciate and use your competitive advantage.

by caitlyncallahan14

tips for interviewing your clients

If one of your goals for 2021 is to build your book of business, hopefully you’ve already started taking steps toward accomplishing that goal. Soon, you’ll have clients accepting your bids and proposals to begin working together.

When a client reaches out to you to start a working relationship, it’s important to remember the relationship should be mutually beneficial – you get a client and a paycheck, and they get the services they need and are hiring you for.

That being said, when talking with a client and determining whether or not that relationship is the right fit, you are just as much interviewing them as they are you.

When I first started Upwork, I quickly learned I was not in charge of my own freelancer destiny… the client was. I had to apply to the job, compete with sometimes dozens of other freelancers, be interviewed by the client and even occasionally do a “test” project. Sometimes I got the contract, sometimes I didn’t. And while I’m not under the delusion that clients will come flocking to me and let me do my best work as I wanted, I had a lot less control than I had originally dreamed of.

And, letting my clients run completely run the show has led me into situations where I had to end the contract because the relationship wasn’t right (see my post on when it’s not a good fit).

What I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) is that in order to have a lasting relationship, I must be an active participant in the beginning. I can’t just sit back and just be grateful to have the contract (though I am incredibly grateful). I have to respect and stand up for myself and my business.

Much like a traditional job interview, it’s important to do the appropriate research and ask the right questions before deciding whether to move forward working together or not.

First, research the company/person.

  • Check out their website and social media presence. Try to understand their current brand presence and engagement with audiences.
  • Read any reviews on social or Google.
  • Check Glassdoor to read what previous employees have to say about them.
  • If you’re on a platform like Upwork, read the reviews from past freelancers they worked with.

Ask questions. Some questions I ask include (but are not limited to):

  • What is your website/the website my work will be showcased on? Do you have any brand guidelines or information about your company/product/service/brand you can share? (I like to ask for as much information up front so I can really dive into and understand the client.)
  • What are your expectations as far as work load, deadlines, and rate?
  • What are the expectations for this job? (For example, will I be provided with a topic/outline and have to simply write the post, or would you like me to pitch ideas to write? Will I have to find images, post to the website, etc.?)
  • How long would you anticipate the contract or our relationship lasting?
  • Would you be ok with me listing you as a client in my portfolio, and/or linking to any of my work you publish?

Try to understand the client and company as well as the job you’ll be contracting for. The more you can get a feel for the client and expectations up front, the more likely you are to have a positive working relationship moving forward.

If you don’t have a formal “interview” process, send questions in an email or ask to chat with them before finalizing the contract. This is so important.

Next, be clear (respectfully) what your expectations are as the freelancer.

  • If you aren’t comfortable with something they are asking you to do, or you prefer to work a different way, share that information. (Again, respectfully.)
  • If their proposed rate is too low, negotiate.
  • Outline communication expectations (via phone, email, Slack/Trello/another platform, etc., how often, will you be required to have “meetings,” etc.)
  • Share your preferred way to invoice and discuss expectations for payment.
  • Do you offer revisions? How many rounds are built into the rate? What if more revisions are necessary?

Finally, be personable.

Whether you’re working with this client on one assignment, or the contract is long-term for the next several months or even years, it’s important to establish a great rapport with the client. This helps ensure a positive working environment and relationship for both of you throughout the contract, and increases the likelihood they will 1) come back to you in the future if they need work, or 2) recommend you to others.

Connect with them on some personal level. You don’t have to share each other’s life stories or be too detailed or intimate, but don’t forget you are both people, and connecting on a deeper level will help make the contract go smoother.

Do you have any tips for interviewing your clients? What helps you establish a great working relationship right off the bat?