As a freelance writer, you are responsible for everything, including customer service. This means that if a client has a problem with your work, you are the one that is going to have to handle the situation. Even if you are a great freelance writer who tries to do everything right, you are going to have disagreements with clients from time to time.
Here are five of the most common freelance writer – client disagreements. While you will want to attempt to avoid these issues, sometimes it is not possible.
1. Not every client will like the work that you complete. While I have a pretty high success rate in this area, there have been times when a client tells me my work is unacceptable. This is something that freelance writers have to deal with all the time. If this happens to you, have thick skin and be the bigger person. You never want to argue with a client. Instead, attempt to find a resolution.
2. To go along with number one, either you or your client will act in an offensive manner. One thing that I have found out is that you need to be careful when composing emails. The way that something looks to you on the screen may not be the way that a client takes it. You must choose your words carefully as to avoid this issue.
3. You miss a deadline because of what you think is a good excuse. Unfortunately, your client may not be forgiving even if you have a good excuse for why you had to push back a deadline. This is why I always try to stay ahead of my work by a couple of days.
4. A miscommunication or misinterpretation can lead to major problems. For instance, a client may not understand what you are telling them about a certain aspect of a project; instead, they assume. In the end, this misinterpretation is put on you. To avoid this, make sure that every detail of each project is clear and in its proper place.
5. Some people simply don’t get along with each other! This is not new to the world. There are going to be times when your personality does not match the person you are working with. While this can make for a miserable relationship, do your best to complete the job on time and without disrespecting anyone.
Freelance writers can try hard to avoid these issues, but it is not always possible. If you are faced with a problem, the best thing you can do is to work with the client until you find a mutually acceptable solution.
The question of what freelance writing clients want is a difficult one to answer. After all, no two clients are the same. With that being said, there are quite a few generalizations that you can make.
Here is a short list of what most freelance writing clients are looking for.
1. They want a writer who will listen to what they say, and then offer input based on what they hear. If you are not listening to your clients, and instead preaching to them, you are missing the boat. Remember, your client is the one paying for the work. They know what they want, and you should do your best to deliver.
2. Every client has a deadline in mind. For this reason, you need to make sure that you are always on the same page. If your client tells you that they need a project by Wednesday at 5pm, you need to take this to heart. Once you miss a deadline, it is safe to say that your client will no longer be able to trust you in the future. And in many cases, you will not get a second chance to prove yourself.
3. Although some people know what they want, others are looking to you for help. Time after time I receive inquiries from webmasters and companies who have a basic outline, but want me to decide on article topics, length, etc. Remember, you are the professional, and many people will base their decisions on what you tell them.
4. Are you easily accessible? This is something that you need to keep in mind. Make sure that your freelance writing clients have access to you via email, as well as phone. This way they can quickly get in touch with you if they have any questions, comments, or changes.
5. Quality work! When you get hired to write anything, no matter how big the project, your client is expecting high quality. Make sure that every project you complete is done to the best of your ability.
These are five things that the majority of freelance writing clients are looking for. If you keep them in mind while seeking new clients and servicing existing ones, you will better your chance of achieving success.Â
Everybody needs some time away from their job, and this definitely holds true when it comes to freelance writers. Even if you feel comfortable working longer than normal hours, you still need to be very careful about what you are doing.
When I started out as a freelance writer I thought that working 12 to 14 hour days was the only way to succeed. While there is nothing wrong with hard work and persistence, this was bordering on crazy. Not only was I working these hours on weekdays, but I was doing the same thing on the weekend as well. Simply put, this was not good for my health, quality of life, or the work that I was producing.
When possible, I try to stick with 8 to 10 hour work days. Additionally, some of this time is not spend on writing, but instead on blogging and putting together new business ideas, etc. Time away from writing, even if you are still at your computer, can be a huge help. After all, you don’t want your ideas and mind to become stale and lead to sub-par work for your clients.
Overall, you should not be afraid to take time off from your freelance writing career. Just because you are working normal hours does not mean that you will miss the boat. Do yourself a favor and settle into a groove that you are comfortable with. From there, you will find it easy to work enough hours to get your work done, but not too much that you are being affected in a negative way.
