As a freelance writer, you’ll want to make sure you have as much information as possible from a client before you start working on an order for them. You can’t read their mind, so understanding what they want is an important step. The writing process will be much easier for you if they provide you with resources and information. The best way to get answers is to ask questions. By giving them a detailed questionnaire to fill out, you’ll have some material to get you started, and knowledge to create a great piece for them.
An effective questionnaire should have about 10 open ended questions that the client must answer in order to work with you. Making it a requirement that they fill out the questionnaire before you get started will prevent misunderstandings and confusion in the future.
Ask the questions in a way that gives the client an opportunity to explain themselves or their company to you in complete answers. To do this, avoid making most of the questions ones that can be answered with “yes” or “no.” Questions you’ll want to ask should be about the client or their organization and what they want your work to include and accomplish. It’s also a good idea to find out what they’ll be using your work for, whether it’s a blog or for a website. This will give you an idea of the writing style they're looking for and the tone you should use.
A question you may want to ask the client is if they have a website of their own or examples of other websites they like. This will give you resources outside the questionnaire to conduct your own research. Seeing these examples will also give you an idea of what the client likes or doesn’t like in a written piece, which can serve as a guide to you, the writer.
If you’re writing a public relations type article for a client, you may want to ask about their background, their work, and accomplishments. It’s also essential to get the most details that you can to write a press release for a client. This work will need to include specific details that you cannot improvise. You’ll possibly need information about an event, such as times, locations of a function, an organization’s contact info, and their mission.
For a blog, a freelance writer will want to ask what the blog is about and what topics the client wants discussed.
Here are some examples of questions you can consider including in a questionnaire:
- What services do you need?
- What is your timeline for this project?
- What would you like to accomplish with this project?
- Do you have an existing website?
- Do you want me to include any keywords in the piece?
- What sets you apart from the competition?
- Who is your target audience?
- Do you have an example of similar content?
- Do you have any topics or titles in mind?
- Are there any other details I should know about?
Remember, you can customize your questions based on the client and the work you are doing for them. Asking specific questions will make the writing process easier on you.
