FAQs
Getting in touch
How can I contact you?
You can email me at hdwords@gmail.com, or phone me on 07941 632285. You may also bump into me at a local business networking event. I am an active member of Your Partnerships, and also attend some of the local business breakfasts. Email me to check whether I will be there if you specifically want to see me.
Payment and pricing
How will you take my order?
When you contact me to discuss work I can do for you, I’ll make extensive notes, making sure I’m clear on
- what you require, (including how many words, who your target audience is, what the intention of the writing is)
- what deadline you’re working to,
- what other professionals you’re working with (designer, web, photographer, etc) and
- any agreement we make on the work I’ll do for you.
I’ll confirm this with you in writing, to ensure there are no misunderstandings over deadline or other details. For larger or ongoing projects, we will both sign a simple contract, to ensure that we are both protected. Once you’ve agreed this, I’ll begin work on your documents.
Will you invoice me?
Yes. I’ll send an invoice after the work has been completed, or at intervals if it’s going to be a long project. For pieces of work over £500 I will take an initial payment, usually a third or a quarter of the project cost. There will be one or more interim payments, and a final payment when we’re both happy with the work.
For packages involving monthly contracts, I will require a standing order to be set up. I will also need either a month’s notice, or a month’s payment in lieu, when cancelling the contract.
For newsletter contracts, I will need an edition’s-worth of notice, eg for a six-weekly newsletter, six weeks’ notice or payment in lieu, and a standing order for the regular payment.
I do all my invoicing electronically. Please let me know if you require an invoice to be sent to you in paper form.
How do you accept payment?
I accept payment by cash, cheque (made payable to HD Words) or bank transfer (details on application, and on the bottom of every invoice).
Are you VAT registered?
No.
Will your prices always be set?
I adjust my prices periodically, according to the prevailing conditions. I last adjusted my pricing in January 2025. Any quote you receive from HD Words is good for six months from the date of issue, after which it may be adjusted.
Who do you work with?
Can you recommend a local design studio? Can you work with my web designer?
I have an extensive list of associated professionals with whom I’m happy to work, including still and video photographers, designers for web, print and other digital media, and social media, branding and marketing experts. I can probably also recommend other professionals you might need – just ask! I do a lot of networking…
Do you subcontract?
At the moment, no. And I have no plans to do so in the future. However, if I change that, then it will be clearly flagged, (for example – Guest Blog by xyz). I will not outsource client work without the explicit agreement of the client.
What is your stance on AI and Chat GPT?
I do not use AI, or large language model systems, for copywriting, editing or paraphrasing. I have never used them, as of November 2025, but I can see that there is a place for summarising extensive data, creating a bullet point topic list, tracking changes between two sets of information, and other similar tasks.
I believe that copy created by AI is inferior to copy created by a professional copywriter, and that it will not connect with a human audience to the same degree. If you need good quality content, that resonates or tells a meaningful story to your audience, then a human needs to write it. If bulk, speed, or cost are the driving factors, then go ahead and use AI to create your content. Please see my blogs on the use of AI, for more information.
Dealing with problems
Who do I talk to if I have a complaint?
If any customer has an issue with work carried out by HD Words, please speak to me directly. I will try to solve the problem immediately, and work out the best resolution for you and your business. I welcome customer feedback, in the form of reviews, which you can leave via Facebook, LinkedIn or the Omnimarket website.
Who owns the copyright on what you have written?
I do, until full payment is received. After that it’s yours.
What if there’s an error discovered in my work once it’s gone to print?
The final responsibility for any work remains with the original owner, and I will not accept liability for mistakes that are discovered in written work that has been passed for printing by the original owner. I have insurance against errors I make, but the final sign-off for printed work remains the responsibility of the owner.
What does it look like?
How big is 1,000 words?
You can fit about 500 typed words on a side of A4, if it’s single spaced, 11 point, has no images, and no big gaps between paragraphs. Your word processing software can tell you how many words you have in your document.
Ethics
What is your environmental / sustainability policy?
HD Words, as a micro-business without a physical product, is fortunate to be able to operate with a minimal environmental footprint. My overheads are very low, and committed to environmental sustainability, such as electricity supplied via Good Energy. I have a commitment to avoiding unnecessary travel. I will car-share, or conduct meetings online where possible. I prefer to use local suppliers, whether that’s local to me, or local to my clients, and will attempt to avoid international products if possible. IT and other equipment is replaced only when necessary, and refurbished equipment is purchased where possible. Printing is limited, and paper reused and recycled wherever possible.