I Broke My Own Content Writing Rules And It Cost Me A Week

Over the last couple of weeks, I forgot to follow my own fundamental rules for running a content-writing business, and it cost me time and money. So, I thought I’d share my experience as something of a warning.

No Client Is Better Than The Wrong Client

At the beginning of the month, I took on a new client, under the notion of “one article per week”, but when they sent me five (because they “needed them urgently”), I prioritised them and turned them all around quickly - without establishing I could work with them effectively first. Let me explain.

You see, long ago I realised the secret of making good money in the content writing game was choosing clients very carefully. Sure, you’ve got to deliver quality content, but profitability is very much dependent on taking on only the right clients. In fact, I wrote a blog post about it last year. Put simply, when you’re charging on a per-word basis, you need efficient jobs only. Getting bogged down by poorly written briefs, confused goals, and entering into games of editing tennis with multiple stakeholders, will quickly turn a profitable job into an unprofitable quagmire.

And, that’s exactly what was just about to happen in this case.

In a nutshell, I’d had an uneasy feeling about this new client since the get-go. Email communication was messy (quite clearly, they hadn’t fully read and/or comprehended my initial messages), slow, and scattered among different people. Then, the “one article a week” we’d agreed on suddenly became five. Now, the latter is great when it's a client you’ve already established a good relationship with, but in this case, I should have said “Hold your horses.”

But, it was a high-profile company I was quite familiar with, and, in theory, at least, I was stoked they were going to be a client. So, like a plonker, I left my usual cynicism at the door and let enthusiasm take over. After delivering the first article, I got another brief, and then after that the others in quick succession. There was no feedback provided at any point, so I naturally assumed the articles had been approved.

No news is good news, right? Not always.

Time To Cut Losses And Jump Ship

After the fifth article (yes, fifth - with a full day spent on each), I received a notification of edit suggestions. A lot of edit suggestions. From someone I’d not even been introduced to or aware was involved with the project.

They had completely butchered the piece. I don’t mean a few suggestions - I mean, they had written a new piece (and, we’re talking roughly 2,500 words here). Plus, from some of the comments, it seemed this new “editor” had been reading a different brief. In fact, I got the distinct feeling they hadn’t even properly read the brief or my piece. Still, they were an internal staff member who thought they knew best. Maybe they do. But, it instantly became clear this client wasn’t going to be viable. Sure, when salaried staff are writing things, a company can mess about all they want - it’s no problem for those writing. But, when dealing with external freelancers being paid by the word, this kind of approach is poisonous.

Adding insult to injury, this client had basically dictated special terms. Specifically, that I invoice on the first of the month only, with 30-day payment terms (given I took on this client at the start of a month, it meant potentially waiting two months to see any money). For reference, for my first piece for a client, I normally invoice immediately, and for subsequent work, I invoice in batches when the outstanding balance reaches a certain value. And, my payment terms are 14 days. To put things in perspective, most clients pay me within a few days, and when I receive invoices, 5-day terms are normal.

Needless to say, I have now declined to work with this company. Nothing good could come from it (at least nothing good from my perspective).

The Content Writing Business Rules To Remember

The result of all this is that I wasted a full week working for nothing. However, it was a reminder to observe my own rules.

1. Always follow your gut feeling. If the initial communications feel off or take ages, run a mile.
   

2. Ask for a sample brief first. If it’s messy, overly complicated, or contradictory (or they won’t provide one), politely decline the work.
   

3. Make sure you get clear feedback and definite approval on your first submission.
   

4. Do not start work on subsequent pieces until the first one has been invoiced and paid for.
   

5. Never agree to extend your payment terms for a new client (sure, if they are a regular you trust, but not for a new one) - no matter how well-known the company is!

Always remember, it’s extremely easy to find yourself working hard but earning next to nothing in the content writing game. But, it is possible to work smart and make good money.

On the plus side, in the same week, I also took on another client who has already proven to be the polar opposite - great communication, clear and realistic briefs, and they paid virtually instantly. And that proves my point.

So, be picky people, be picky.