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Subject:Re: Contractors: Would you do this? From:"Jeanne A. E. DeVoto" <jaed -at- jaedworks -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Sat, 20 Nov 1999 02:58:21 -0800
At 6:51 AM -0800 11/19/99, Tammy Sudol wrote:
>I was asked to write a document entitled, "The Methodology
>for Creating On-line Help" for a perspective client. The
>client would be hiring me to modify their existing on-line
>help (3 week assignment). While I wrote the document (7
>pages), I felt kind of funny about having to provide this
>detailed information before I get the contract.
That's reasonable of you.
The question I'd ask myself when facing this kind of situation is: Would
providing this information normally call for payment? It seems to me that a
7-page description of methods for creating online help is valuable to the
company in itself and would normally be paid for (either contracted out as
an independent project or assigned to an employee). It's not the same sort
of information as a resume, bid, or list of references.
This being the case, you need to decide whether offering this client a
freebie is a good business decision for you. I'd probably clarify for the
client what I provide as part of the bid, and what I consider work product
that must be billed for, and (diplomatically) let them know that I do not
work for free. But you know your prospective client and the situation
better than I do.
--
jeanne a. e. devoto ~ jaed -at- jaedworks -dot- com http://www.jaedworks.com
Morning people may be respected, but night people are feared.
