Approach
Here’s how I approach things …
Fundamentally, I won’t violate the trust of people. I will happily accentuate the positive, but won’t tell tall tales. When it’s appropriate, I’ll write in a way that engages and entertains, rather than bores people. It just works better most times.
I’ll be responsive and fast. I’ll give you honest assessments of what time is required, and won’t inflate hours. I’ll be straight with you about whether there even IS a story to tell.
MY CORE VALUES
- Honesty and integrity is paramount – I won’t mislead the marketplace
- Your trade secrets and business plans are safe in my hands. You need an NDA, I do NDA. But you can assume that’s in place anyway
- If there is a direct conflict of interest, I’ll tell you, but you should know I am working with your competitors, and you have to trust that what you tell me doesn’t go elsewhere
- If you are not ready to market something, I’ll tell you
- You make the calls, but I’ll tell you if they are bad calls … and I might even step away from the relationship if what you are up to is too goofy to be around
- When you take me on as your writing and marketing consultant, you’re getting a true business partner, and probably a new friend … I buy pints when we’re in the same town … well, at least alternating pints
- Consulting and strategy is inherent in everything I do … you get a writer, and someone with enough experience to be on your management team, or actually running the show (not that I want to)
- The best material educates your target readers and customers
- I am independent, with no ties to suppliers or services I’ll insist you use … my advice has no linkage to fees and commissions
HOW WE CHARGE
I work under three fee scenarios:
- By the job – I’ll work with you to estimate the time needed, and provide a quote based on an hourly rate, multiplied by hours needed … I have a four-hour minimum for engagements, and if your stuff only took three, I tell you and you have an hour in the bank for next time
- By the project – I’ll provide an overall audit of the time required, establish the scope of work and deliverables, and bill based on a full project. I don’t estimate 30 and bill 40. If it looks a lot heavier than anticipated, we talk about it first. I don’t like surprises and I am guessing you don’t either
- Retainer – Some of my clients are engaging me for a prescribed number of hours per month to provide ongoing services, and function as the outsourced communications team. That works for me.