Buyers Beware: Writers’ Red Flags pt. 2
If you are looking for a writer to write a story for you, you will want to make sure they are dependable, communicative, and qualified to work on your project, so you are happy with the results. But what do you look for when navigating different kinds of services from different people? Today I want to provide more tips on what buyers should be looking out for when searching for freelance writers. This advice works well both ways for sellers and writers but before I say more, let's read on!
No Responses or Slow Messaging
If you are running a business, you might be busy. It's hard to respond to messages and emails all at once but if you are the buyer trying to reach out to a new writer for the first time and you don't hear back from them right away... you're going to look somewhere else. Generally, for any service that you're purchasing you want to buy from someone who is communicating with you frequently and is easy to get into contact with despite their busy schedule.
Realistically, (due to the sheer volume some creators receive) it may take two to three days to answer messages or on the rare occasion a week. Anything more than that wouldn’t be good, nor would it make me feel good if I am trying to get into contact with someone.
If messages are slow and the buyer is having a hard time talking to the writer, here are some problems that can arise from that:
The client can feel unimportant and unheard.
The risk of client escalation if they think their project is not being completed. This can lead to potential arguments, cancellation of projects, or a new order never being submitted to this writer again.
If you receive no responses from the writer, there is a risk your project is not being worked on or is not on time.
No Scheduling
If you remember being a student in school or are currently in school, you know that you need to write down your assignments and plan out when things are due in order to get them done. The same goes for being a writer. I still feel like I have homework sometimes because I have a massive calendar on my wall that has a list of projects broken up to be worked on day by day.
Look for and inquire about deadlines or date of delivery for the final project. If there is no agreed upon deadline before a project is started, then there is no specific day for you inquire about your project when it does not arrive finished. Clients need to know when to expect it and no one wants to get the message, “I’m getting to your project soon...” after the deadline has already passed.
No Terms of Service
A terms of service (TOS) document is used to inform clients of the writer’s process, project information, and can even go as far as being legal protection or evidence for both parties once the document has been agreed upon in a written and recorded format. (i.e., confirmed by e-mail, form completed by client, or a signed document between the two parties.)
Look for and read a writer’s TOS document because it should spell out refund or cancellation policies and how those situations are handled between the two parties. If there is no TOS, what happens if you pay for a project that you never receive? The TOS can help protect the buyer and help clients understand what they are getting into when they are hiring a particular writer.
If you cannot find information about a writer’s TOS, I recommend reaching out to them to inquire about this or to request a written agreement for your project.
Personal Info
I have a variety of clients with a variety of concerns when it comes to online privacy. Completing projects that are private or public; handling client information, addresses, names, emails, and payment information; and more so, is a very delicate topic. Of course, there should always be a clear payment process for clients to use.
If you are looking for a service and that writer has no formal system of payments or starts demanding your bank info... run!
Conclusion
Whether you are the writer or you are someone looking to hire a writer, this article will help you navigate what you should be looking out for. I hope everyone finds this helpful and I’ll keep an eye on the comments if anyone has any questions about either side of the experiences I discussed above.