A: I am a freelance writer, editor, researcher, designer, and consultant in the marketing communications field. I’ve completed projects from ads to brochures, business plans to annual reports, website planning and writing to case studies. My client list will give you an idea of the types of companies and non-profit organizations I’ve worked for.
A: If I had to quantify my answer, I’d say 60% writer and editor, 20% consultant, and 20% designer. My formal education was in English and writing (and I taught English for a few years at the beginning of my career), and much of the work I do now starts (and often ends) with research, writing, and editing.
However, most of my writing work obviously requires a fair amount of consulting to ensure that each project is planned with the appropriate marketing objectives in mind. And except for online writing projects, most of the projects I complete require some sort of design or formatting, whether in a program like Adobe InDesign or Microsoft Word.
I have extensive experience with graphic design and web authoring software, including InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat Pro, and Dreamweaver. You can pretty much supply me with images in just about any graphics format and I’ll be able to open them, enhance them, and convert them to a format appropriate for any project. So, yes, I know more than the difference between an em-dash and an en-dash; I also know the difference between a 300 dpi TIFF image and a 72 ppi JPEG, between letter spacing and kerning, between html tables and CSS.
Most of my work as a freelancer falls into the category of “one-stop-shopping”: editing and designing a business plan, for example, using Word and Photoshop; researching, writing, and designing a case study; or writing SEO copy for a website. However, I also have a great deal of experience working as a creative director and writer in a team situation, so feel free to ask me about how we might work together. I’m flexible. Take a look at my portfolio to view the different types of work I’ve done. At the top of each portfolio selection you’ll find a description of my role in that particular project.
A: The time frame for any project will depend on your needs and expectations as well as my current workload and schedule. I will never accept a project if I don’t think I have enough time to do it justice. That said, I love my work, so I certainly don’t mind late night and weekend work if that’s what your project requires.
A: Mostly by telephone and e-mail—lots of e-mail, with lots of attachments. I no longer use a fax machine because desktop scanners have pretty much rendered them obsolete.
A: I will hold every conversation we have, every piece of information you send me, everything I produce for you, in the strictest confidence. (But I might ask you for permission to display your project, or a portion of it, in my portfolio.)
A: Most likely we’ll schedule an initial phone conversation to discuss your project, your deadlines, your requirements, and your expectations. We’ll try to determine if we’re a good match for each other. If we think we are, I might ask you to send me more information to review—website URLs, annual reports, capability brochures, marketing studies, photos, PPT presentations—which will allow me to consider a possible course of action for your consideration. I do not charge a fee for this preliminary consultation and review; it’s much better for both of us to first determine if we will work well together.
A: For most projects, I’ll draft a Letter of Agreement that briefly describes the scope of work, tentative schedule, fees, and payment terms.
A: I work by the hour or on a project-based flat rate. It depends on the client and the project. My rates are fair and are commensurate with my abilities and experience. If you represent a non-profit organization, let me know and we can discuss discounted rates.
A: I usually request an advance payment for each project, with the balance due upon completion (with a 10-day grace period). Longer projects might warrant several payments, due upon completion of certain milestones. I accept company checks, payable to Gary Bollinger.
A: If it’s a project of any complexity, I’ll review all of your existing information in greater depth and do any research I think necessary. Then we’ll plunge immediately into a strategy-and-tactics statement (problem/opportunity, target audience, objectives) so that we’re on the same page, literally.
A: I might not be. Your project's subject area could be so far out of my realm of experience and knowledge that it would require too much research on my part to be cost-justified. Or your project could be so straightforward that you would be better suited by hiring someone with less experience (and who charges lower fees). In either case, I’ll tell you honestly what I think. My goal is to work on projects that are a good match for my abilities and experience.
