Can Your Contracts Also Help “Sell”?

What rules govern what can and cannot be put into an agreement or contract? To be binding, a contract simply must have an offer, acceptance and consideration. There are no rules on what it cannot contain. So why not add language that reaffirms why clients are hiring you and how they will benefit?

If you are one of these people who treat written agreements as some sort of sacred script that, once written, can be touched only by high priests (i.e., lawyers), stop taking them so darn seriously. Sure, agreements are important and, once signed, they document binding commitments. But feel free to work with them and rewrite them so they serve you better.

It is always good to keep agreements short and easy to read and understand, but allow some room to include summary language as to what clients want to accomplish, how you will help and why they are selecting you. Also add how clients will benefit if the goals are accomplished. Be careful, though, that your additions do not create additional promises, obligations or guarantees on your part.

If you are unsure about changes, talk to your lawyer. If he/she doesn't support your effort to improve the salesmanship of your agreements, consider finding a new lawyer. Shorter, friendlier and more simply written contracts that also reinforce client benefits will result in more signatures, clients and sales.