Hiring a consultant is paying someone for their knowledge and talent; it's not something you can touch.  It is certainly something you can use.  Keep in mind that consultants are business owners and not providing a public service!  When you hire a consultant it's a B2B connection and by its nature, the relationship will be mutually beneficial.  Everyone brings something different to the table and a consultant is an investment in a resource you can tap into with knowledge, talent, and perspective that can help your business thrive. 

Here are the basics.... don't see anything here? You'll ask. We'll talk.

▪ Standard creative is $75./hour.

▪ A special Friends & Family hourly rate for creative of $50./hour is available for members of the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association.  (By the way, I am webmaster for this website (this website IS a community service) and it's a part of my living portfolio.)

▪ Blog Content: $25. per post (500 word maximum).

Search engine optimization. Blogging is not only a great way to sell your business on a more conversational level, but it reinforces your message and increases the odds of people finding you on the web. Rate presumes information provided by client. Additional fee for research at $75/hour. Basic revisions from one edit review included. Additional revisions $75./hour.

▪ Blogger Coaching: $105 for 3 hours (minimum; 43081, 43082 zip codes only ).

Blogs can be fabulous and free. But, you may need help knowing where to start. There are a lot of different blog resources, and I use blogger. If you are headed to blogger, I will sit with you and guide you through your hands-on blog set up and get you started on regular blogging. Fee includes blog-specific follow-up questions 21 calendar days after coaching session.

▪ Online Research and Report, including Keywords: $50. per hour (1 hour minimum).

Got something you really want to know, but no time to get online? Brickstreet Communications will fact-find online for you. Report includes a summary and list of sources.  Additionally, turn to Brickstreet Communications to compile and update keyword lists for your web sites and web pages.

▪ Copy and Content (Online or Print): $65. per page (700 word maximum).

A turn of the phrase to simply, succinctly and effectively deliver a consistent message. Letters, memos, emails, web pages, brochures, instructions, guidelines, fact sheets, press release boilerplates, sell sheets, flyers, postcards. Rate presumes information provided by client. Additional fee for research at $75/hour. Basic revisions from one edit review included. Additional revisions $75./hour.

▪ Edit and/or Revise Current Copy and Content (Online or Print): $50. per page or post.

It’s a fast-moving world, your message may need some updating, finessing, or reenergizing.

▪ Press Release Content: $150. per release.

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? These days, press releases can become blog posts, website news & archives, and client outreach. Your press release should be relevant and reflect human or community interest, including tips, new knowledge, community outreach, and advice. And, a press release about a sale is not news, sorry, you’ll want to turn to your advertising budget for that. Price includes 1 hour of consultation. Rate presumes information, including boilerplate, provided by client. Additional fee for research at $75./hour. Additional fee for boilerplate at $65/hour. Basic revisions from one edit review included. Additional revisions $75./hour.

▪ Review, Edit, Fact-Check (online only), Revise Press Release: $50. per release.

Got the who, what, why, where, when, and how down, but need perspective?

▪ Newsletter (Online or Print) Content Only: $65. per page (700 word maximum).

Newsletter content should be interesting, informative, personable, purposeful, searchable, and entertaining while maintaining the personality and culture of your company. Rate presumes information provided by client. Additional fee for research at $75./hour. Basic revisions from one edit review included. Additional revisions $75./hour.

▪ Newsletter (Online or Print) Content & Layout, existing format: $750.

Newsletter layout with articles content, graphics, pertinent information & features, and prepared photographs and images provided. Mailing not included. Maximum 12 pages. Additional pages: $65 per page. New pages $85. per page. Rate presumes information and graphics provided by client. Additional fee for research, digital photography processing & prep, and/or image search, procurement & prep at $75./hour. Basic revisions from two edit reviews included. Additional revisions $75./hour.

▪ Newsletter (Online or Print) Full-Service, made from scratch: $1500.

Newsletter from the ground up: create format, content, and layout that may include graphics, and pertinent information & features. Mailing not included. Rate presumes information and graphics provided by client. Additional fee for research, digital photography processing & prep, and/or image search, procurement & prep at $75./hour. Maximum 12 pages. Additional pages $135. per page. Basic revisions from two edit reviews included. Additional revisions $75./hour.

▪ eNews-In Brief (Online only), Format, Content, Layout: $250.

eNews or short-form newsletter, maximum 3 pages. Newsletter layout with articles content, graphics, pertinent information & features, formatting, as needed, and prepared photographs and images provided. Mailing not included. Additional pages: $65 per page. New pages $85. per page. Rate presumes information and graphics provided by client. Additional fee for research, digital photography processing & prep, and/or image search, procurement & prep at $75./hour. Basic revisions from two edit reviews included. Additional revisions $75./hour

▪ Catalog and Product Description: $55. per copy block.

How can the reader interact with this product? What are the details? Why does the seller love this product? Why will the reader love it? How will this product benefit the reader and their life? What is the 5-senses experience? What are the vitals? Interesting, informative, entertaining, and inspirational!

▪ Flyer Design (Print): $100 for 1-sided or front/$50 for back. (8.5” X 11”).

One of the oldest and still most successful ways to reach people. Rate presumes information and graphics provided by client. Additional fee for research, digital photography processing & prep, and/or image search, procurement & prep at $75/hour. Basic revisions from one edit review included. Additional revisions $75./hour.

▪ Postcards (Print): $250 for 1-sided or front/$125 for back (up to USPS maximum).

In this online world, still very effective. Postcards are also a great addition to customer shopping bags and sales counters. Make them memorable and they stay on bulletin boards, fridge doors, and file cabinets! And, they transfer to PDF files, graphics, blogs, and web sites! Rate presumes information and graphics provided by client. Additional fee for research, digital photography processing & prep, and/or image search, procurement & prep at $75./hour. Basic revisions from one edit review included. Additional revisions $75./hour.

▪ Assess and Advise: $300. for 5 hours (minimum).

A fresh set of eyes and ears and a view of the world with no preconceived notions along with knowledge, skill, and experience that can observe, analyze, proof, question, organize, end-use, review, and offer solid counsel & overview.

▪ Consultation/Meeting: $75./hour.

All projects reflect a maximum 45 minute initial consultation at no additional charge. Additional meetings requested by the client are billed at this rate.

▪ Note: If there is a long-term relationship or an on-call retainer arrangement with a client -- I am always open to a mutually beneficial deal.

▪ Payment terms: New Customers may be subject to a  50% Deposit. Balance Due Upon Receipt.

▪ Billing: For projects lasting 30 days or longer, Brickstreet invoices bi-weekly progress billings on Fridays. (If a holiday falls on a billing date, Brickstreet Communications will bill the previous calendar business day.) For projects lasting less than 30 days, invoicing is upon completion of the project.

▪ Slow Pay, No Pay, No Jerks: I am blessed: 98% of my clients have been/are just fabulous.  2% have been painful, ridiculous, but valuable lessons learned along the way.  I believe in business karma and that people should treat each other the way they would want to be treated. Brickstreet Communications adheres to a No Jerks Policy.  Playground behavior and welching is not tolerated. If you are reading this and can't abide by the same level of responsibility, respect, and maturity in a successful B2B relationship I will presume and provide, don't even waste my time or yours.  Life is too short. I reserve the right to refuse service or release a client for any variety of reasons.  Just be a grown-up and pay on-time.   -- Linda.

▪ Special Requests: Brickstreet Communications charges an additional 20% special handling fee for rush (48 hours or less) or special requests, like on-call work. 50% Deposit may be required for all special handling.

▪ Brickstreet Communications retains the copyright to all photography taken on behalf of a client: I bill for processing the photo images used; the client will retain royalty free use of those photographic images as long as they choose to use the image on behalf of their business.

▪ Brickstreet Communications respects all copyrights, licensing, and royalty issues connected to client-provided and all utilized graphic images, software, and content.

Rates and policies revised and effective November 1, 2008.