I’m working with a consultant who needs to write several versions of a biography for things like her website, intros when she’s speaking, publication bios, etc. I’m interviewing her today, and she asked me to come up with a list of the questions I will be asking her.

As I was writing these, I realized I should be taking my own advice and interviewing myself for clients who come to me for freelance copywriting. Here’s my list of questions to help her determine what a potential client might most want to know about her:

  1. Tell me your own elevator pitch.
  2. What are the three projects that you’ve been a part of that most represent what you love to do, and why?
  3. What attributes/skills/experiences would you think are most important to your target markets?
  4. Who are your biggest clients? Tell me the names of the best-known clients, plus the clients that help you pay more of your bills.
  5. Regarding your education, what degrees/certifications/workshops/designations are most important to the people who hire you?
  6. When you’re telling potential clients about yourself, which facts elicit a response of, “Oh, that’s cool!”?
  7. Apart from doing what you’re doing for a living, what is important to you in your life?
  8. Give me an idea of the significant milestones in your life that have led you to your current profession.