Longterm clients, retainers, one-off projects: which is right for you?
Some freelance writers work with one or two long-term clients, while others do a series of one-offs. It's different for everyone. It can depend on the type of work you do, but it can also depend on your priorities and needs. Do you love taking risks? Do you prefer financial stability? Maybe you need a balance between novelty and structure.
Let's talk about the pros and cons of one-off projects, long-term clients, and contracts. There's no perfect mix, but there's probably a right(ish) mix for you.
Pros and cons of one-off projects
If working with new clients every month appeals to you, you should consider taking on one-off projects. A one-off could be a case study, a blog post, or any other content with a limited project scope.
“I like to test somebody out before making any commitment.”
Pros:
Novelty. One-off projects provide a variety of work. If you enjoy the flexibility and new challenges, you'll thrive off of this type of client relationship.
Meeting new people. It's fresh and exciting to work with new people. If you play your cards right, you could have an extensive list of happy clients. And potential referrals.
No long-term commitments. For the most part, you can avoid working with clients you don't like. If you come across a difficult person, you only have one project to complete, and then it's goodbye. It's a good lesson in dealing with different types of people—without the irritation of long-term interaction.
Cons:
Unpredictable revenue. Financial stability will always be a concern for freelancers, but a stream of one-off projects is less predictable than other client relationships.
Always onboarding clients and adapting to new rules and style guides. Every client has different approaches, products, services, and styles. Maybe the challenge of adapting to new regulations appeals to you. If not, you may not survive off of only one-off projects.
Pros and cons of building long-term client relationships
This type of client relationship has more structure and rhythm than one-offs. Working on long-term projects is for you if you value building lasting business relationships and financial stability.
Pros:
Long-lasting business relationships. You have the time to build meaningful connections with your clients. These relationships can also lead to outstanding referrals.
Financial stability. As we mentioned in the last section, financial stability will always concern freelancers. That said, long-term client relationships offer a bit more predictability.
Less onboarding and adapting to different styles. With fewer clients comes fewer onboarding processes. You can also get to know a client's style.
Cons:
Boredom. Maybe you got stuck in a repetitive long-term project. Since you most likely committed to seeing it through to the end, you can't abandon ship.
Fewer connections. Maybe you value quantity over quality. That's not necessarily a bad thing. You might excel at creating good business relationships quickly.
You might get too comfortable and fall into patterns. Writers should strive to improve and experiment, especially in copywriting roles. If you stick with one client doing the same project for too long, you might fall into patterns and stop growing as a writer.
Pros and cons of contracts
Freelancing can be lonely. It's nice to feel like you're part of a team. Freelance writing contracts can provide that, but beware of boundaries.
Pros:
Be part of a team. Contracts often involve 15-30 hours of work with a creative team each week. Count on regular meetings and interactions with the same people.
Strikes a balance between stability and autonomy. You have some income predictability while also having the freedom to take on other clients.
Lots of learning opportunities. Contract roles often involve different types of work. You might learn a few things about writing newsletters or social media copy if you're a blogger.
Cons:
Treated as an employee without the benefits of an employee. Benefits like health insurance and a 401k aren't in the cards for contractors.
Too much work. It's not easy to maintain boundaries in contract roles. Your supervisor might saddle you with more work than you initially agreed to.
Structuring client relationships for success
All freelance writers need a system for structuring client relationships. It's essential to set yourself up for success. Let's explore a couple of tips to create a solid foundation for your financial and mental well-being.
“It's almost like investing. You want to diversify your projects. You don't want to put all your eggs in one basket”
Consider setting up a booking fee or a rush fee. Even if you're busy, you could set up a client relationship. Have them pay a deposit to secure a slot in your schedule. If a project comes up with a fast turnaround time, consider charging a rush fee of 20–25% of the total project cost.
Give yourself peace of mind by saving money. Freelancing doesn't always guarantee income. It's important to plan for months when you have less work than you need.
Find a balance. You don't have to choose a single type of client relationship. Most writers need a mix for success. So go out and experiment!
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