Why is my project taking so long?

One of the most frequently asked questions we get from new clients is: Why are you estimating/billing so many hours? The client will then go on to say that it's a "quick project" that should only take a few hours. This is a perfectly reasonable question for a new client to ask, and each client deserves a clear answer.

Since my focus is copywriting, I'll give you a writer's perspective on the process I go through when writing copy for a client. Writing copy, even for a simple website, is not as easy as sitting down and starting to write (although I wish it was that easy).

When I take on a project to write web content (for example), I'm usually not familiar with the business/industry I'm writing for. A large chunk of my time is taken up by doing research. I study similar websites, industry websites and any other information I can find. This helps me get a clear picture of what you do so I can write content that is accurate and authentic.

Then I take into consideration the goals you have for your website, your unique identity, the tone you are looking for and so forth. Finally, I start writing. Usually just getting the rough draft written takes a lot of trial and error. I experiment with different wordings and styles, trying to find one that will fit your website.

When I think I have a substantial rough draft I send it to you for your review. Once I get your feedback, I'll revise (and revise some more) so you can receive your final copy within the timeframe we agreed upon.

For clients that require web development/design, the process is a little different. After you tell us what you want, we try to give you feedback and offer suggestions based on your project goals. These suggestions might include tweaking your web design to make site navigation a little easier. Integrating third-party applications to give your visitors a more seamless experience. Or, on the more technical side, your website might require the code to be cleaned up for a better functioning site (faster) and for improved SEO results.

The main thing to remember for website development and design is that both can be very tedious. We want to do the best job possible for your project, so we'll take the time to get it right and exceed your expectations.

For all projects we take on, whether it's copywriting, web development or graphic design, we never use templates. All our work is customized to meet your needs. Thus, it's going to take more than just a "few hours" to do a quality job.