How I Work...
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Obligation Quote
Getting Off On
The Right Foot
I think you'll
agree it's always a good idea. I
believe in keeping the lines of
communication open before, during, and
after I complete a project for you.
Part of that equation is letting you
know, up front, how I do business.
Please review the following information
so we can avoid any confusion or misunderstandings.
As always, my goal is your
complete satisfaction. If you have
any questions, feel free to
contact me.
Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed!
Here's Why...
Firm Quotes...by The Project, Never by the Hour.
After we discuss
your copywriting project, I will provide
you with a firm price quote. This
includes any necessary revisions and rewrites,
providing they are not submitted after
the final draft of the copy has been accepted.
My quote includes:
-
All rewrites
(subject to the above conditions)
-
All telephone,
email, or instant messaging consultation
needed
-
Any required
research
-
Redesigns, within
reason
-
Accurate delivery
period for your project
-
A DVD or CD
containing your project files can be
supplied for a nominal charge
-
Any applicable
taxes
I have a project in
mind. I want to get in touch with you
right now!
I Charge By The
Project--Not By The Hour.
My competitors will
frequently offer absurdly low hourly rates
for copy with an "estimate" of, for example,
four or eight hours included. But when
the bill finally arrives, the client is hit
with charges for two or three times that
number of hours.
As previously stated I
charge only by the project, never by the
hour. Why? Because I believe you should
know upfront what you're getting and for how much.
There are never any hidden charges when you
work with me!
Please note:
Unless other arrangements have been made,
full payment on projects under $600 or for
overseas clients is due
in advance. Domestic (U.S.) projects over $600 are
subject to the following terms:
Fifty-percent (50%) on
deposit when the project begins with the
remaining balance due at the project's
midpoint. This is determined on a
case-by-case basis, but a good example would
be a two-sided tri-fold brochure with six
panels. When three panels have been
completed, the remaining balance would be
due and then the project would be finished.
This system became
necessary after several clients accepted my
finished copy and then
simply refused by
pay, ceasing all communications and forcing
me to pursue legal remedies to recover my
fees.
While I believe 90% of people are honest,
the loss of thousands of dollars each year has
left me with little choice in the matter.
It doesn't help that many of my clients are
not in Los Angeles, where I reside, making
it that much more difficult to take them to
court.
I'm always very easy to work
with, but in this type of situation I have
no choice but to do what is necessary to
survive. Writing is, after all, how I
pay my bills and support my family.
For your convenience,
I accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express,
and Discover. I
also accept Cashier's Checks, Personal
Checks, and Corporate Checks via Messenger
Service or Next Day/Second Day delivery via
UPS, FedEx, USPS, or other comparable
services. I
cannot accept standard mail delivery
because my scheduling is carefully arranged
in advance in order to accommodate the
many client projects I am offered.
Thank you for your understanding.
I have a project in
mind. I want to get in touch with you
right now!
Let's Get Acquainted!
Before we begin on a
project I need to understand a few things
about your company and the product or
service you're trying to market.
So what do I want to
know?
Here are a few key
things:
-
Some information about
your company.
-
Facts about the
targeted customer base for your product
or service.
-
What the unique
selling point is of your product or
service.
-
The overall
objective of your marketing effort.
-
What the "message"
is, i.e. what you want your customers to know
about your company, your product, or
your service.
I have a project in
mind. I want to get in touch with you
right now!
Bringing the
Concept to Life.
After I talk with you
and have a clear understanding of your project
I'll present you with a few ideas. If
you already have a concept I'll work with
you to figure out why it isn't working and
offer solutions to correct the problem or
come at it from a fresh angle.
I also include:
-
Rough designs in
mocked-up form when appropriate or
as needed.
-
All necessary
conference calls to ensure that we are
all on the same page with the concept.
This saves everyone a lot of work down the road!
I have a project in
mind. I want to get in touch with you
right now!
Writing the Copy
I create
concepts and craft innovative marketing
solutions that attract, compel, and sell!
When I write copy:
-
I go through all
but the "final" first drafts and failed
starts (in short, all the really hard
work) by myself. You only see the
"completed" first draft of the copy unless I
have pertinent questions that affect the
direction of the project or if we have
previously agreed to work in incremental
sections.
-
I may or may not
provide you with several versions of the
same concept, depending on the objectives
and the complexity of the project.
I have a project in
mind. I want to get in touch with you
right now!
Revising the Work
I'd be a very happy if every project I
tackled went perfectly the first time
around. However, it doesn't always
happen that way. Therefore I'll work
with you to iron out any problems or snags
that may arise during the writing of your
copy.
Just for
the record, I never, ever:
-
Bill you for any
additional work beyond the scope of my
initial contract unless the changes are
requested after the final copy has been
accepted.
-
Bail out on a
project and leave you hanging with
deadlines nipping at your heels.
In fact, my specialty is being brought
in to finish what other copywriters
can't!
-
Ask for a
percentage of the sales my copy generates for
your product or service. Yes, some
copywriter do this! I consider
this copywriting business model unethical
at best.
I have a project in
mind. I want to get in touch with you
right now!
The Kinds of Work I Generally Do Not
Do, But Will Do on Occasion, Schedule
Permitting:
Technical manuals or
other tech-specific instructional material,
Annual reports, Poetry.
Proofreading of copy,
fiction, and non-fiction projects, including
books and novels.
Since I am a
professional, published fiction and
non-fiction author as well as a copywriter,
I can work on your fiction.
Please visit
www.RichardDeanStarr.com
or for more information on my fiction
writing services.
Original graphic
design work. If you require web
graphics, I work with a number of artists
and other sources who can provide complete
graphic sets at prices much lower than you
might expect. As a former agent for
illustrators and artists, and a collector of
original illustration art, my eye for
balance and color is excellent. I know
you'll be satisfied with my suggestions!
I have a project in
mind. I want to get in touch with you
right now!
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