FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

What are your rates?

Overall, I don’t have set rates, as I prefer to charge a project fee. There is one standard rate, which is a minimum fee for small jobs, and which equates to two hours’ work.

Why don’t you have standard rates?

Because each job is different, and places different demands on my time. If you want me to write something for you and all of the raw material is in place, meaning I just have to do the actual writing, why should you pay the same as a client who wants me to do extensive research before I’ve written one word? If your copy is pretty clean, why should you pay as much for editing or proofreading as the client who hasn’t even taken the time to run a spell check?

That’s why I like to assess each job on its merits and cost things accordingly – for your sake and mine. I also know that it helps if you have a fixed cost you can bank on – that way there are no nasty surprises when you get my invoice and I’ve taken three times as long as you thought it would take.

What is your work process?

Once you’ve decided to work with me, I’ll need a brief. This sounds more formal than it is – but it’s just a very clear outline of the outcomes you need from me. I believe in starting at the end – so you need to tell me what end product you require.

Next, I’ll send you a quote, and for bigger projects, a proposal with deadlines so you know exactly how things will work, and when you can expect to receive them. If you’re happy, you sign and send the quote and/or proposal back to me, and then it’s time to pay your deposit.

This doesn’t apply to clients on retainer, of course – those I bill at an agreed time every month. Everyone else, however, has to pay a 50% deposit upfront, and I don’t start work until I have proof of payment. And if the deposit isn’t paid promptly, it will shift when we are able to deliver. The balance of payment is available on delivery, and I retain copyright of the work until such time as your payment lands.

Is there any work you can’t or won’t do?

Yes – I am not an advertising copywriter. I write and review content. I’m not here for the snappy slogan or poignant payoff line. And I don’t do it for the simple reason that it’s not where my skills lie.

I also don’t do any work that requires your intellectual input – I won’t write your thesis for you, or your brand strategy document, or your brand guidelines. If you need me to edit things and fine-tune them, then by all means hit me up for some final polishing, but there are some things you need to do yourself.

Red Door Ink AI usage policy

Our approach to AI technology

At Red Door Ink, we embrace modern technology while maintaining our commitment to authentic, human-crafted writing. This policy outlines how we integrate artificial intelligence (AI) tools into our work process, while ensuring the highest standards of originality and quality.

How we use AI

We thoughtfully incorporate AI tools to enhance our work process in the following ways:

Our commitment to original writing

While we do use AI tools, all final written content is:

Quality assurance

To maintain our high standards:

Client communication

We believe in transparency with our clients. Upon request, we’re happy to discuss:

Updates to this policy

As AI technology evolves, we will regularly review and update this policy to reflect current best practices and maintain our commitment to quality and transparency.

Contact information

If you have questions about our AI usage policy, please contact Mandy Collins on 082 551 3421 or mandy@mandycollins.co.za

Last updated: February 2025