Every freelance writing client is different. Some of them will be on top of things at all times, and others will be a bit lazier with their work. No matter what, you should be ready to deal with any situation that you face. It is important that you give clients time to respond to your inquiry. This holds true when waiting for a reply after sending a completed project, after asking a question, etc. Remember, not every client is sitting at their computer all day long.
There are times when you may need to give a client a bit of a nudge in order to receive a reply. For instance, if you usually hear back after a day or so and a client has been gone for a week, it is time to find out why. There is nothing wrong with sending another email to get to the bottom of the problem. In many cases your client may have missed your note for one reason or the next, or has been out of the office. Never jump to conclusions and assume that your client is avoiding you; this is probably not the case.
If you really need to speak with a freelance writing client and they are not responding to your email, there is nothing wrong with picking up the phone. I strongly believe in phone communication, even though many freelance writers disagree with me. In my opinion, calling somebody is quicker and more efficient than an email. That being said, I only use this option when I have to.
All in all, be courteous and give clients enough time to respond to your emails. Some will be quick, some will be slow, and some will be in between. Dealing with every type of client is part of being a freelance writer.Â
In most cases, the more you work as a freelance writer the more money you are going to make. This does not mean that you should take on every job that comes your way, but for the most part it holds true. But of course, more work is not always a good thing. After all, more work means more hours as well. Are you willing to put in more time at your computer to make additional money? As a freelance writer it is very important to find a happy medium. If you don’t you will learn soon enough that you are burning yourself out, and that earning a few extra dollars is not in your best interest.
How much more work can you handle at this time? You need to know the answer to this question to ensure that you do not overextend yourself. For instance, if you know that you have approximately one extra hour per day to work, you should not take on a new job that is going to push you over this threshold. It is your decision on how much you can work each day, but again, make sure you are smart about this.
Learning how to work smart and land higher paying gigs can help immensely. This allows you to work at your current pace while making more money. For instance, if you replace a job that pays $500/month with a similar one that pays $1,500/month you can earn more money by doing the same amount of work. This is just one way to work smart.
I don’t want to tell you that working more hours is a bad thing; because this is not always the case. As the title of this post shows, more work means working longer hours. But it usually means more money in the long run as well. Just don’t forget that learning how to work smart allows you to keep your current schedule while still increasing your income.Â
Judging by the emails that I receive on a regular basis, many of you guys and gals are dealing with doubters. As a freelance writer this is something that will never go away. I have been working in this capacity for many years, and from day one there have been doubters trying to get in the way. If this is happening to you the best advice I can give is simple: ignore all the negative comments being thrown your way. When it comes down to it, there is no reason to associate with people who are trying to bring you down.
Why do people doubt you and your career? Here are a couple common situations:
1. They don’t think freelance writers can make any money. Many people still believe that self-employed means unemployed. As any good freelancer knows, nothing is further from the truth. Most people who say that you cannot make money as a freelance writer are simply jealous that you are earning a living doing what you love. Ignore them and move on. You know that you are making a good living, and that is all that matters!
2. There is no work available, and too much competition to break in. Again, this is a common sentiment among those who know nothing about the freelance writing industry. This past week a couple members of my freelance writing course expressed that friends were telling them to give up their career because they have no chance of “making it.†Does that sound like a friend to you? I told these aspiring writers to hang in there, ignore the doubters, and continue to build their career. There is no right or wrong way of dealing with people who are doubting your decision to work as a freelance writer. Again, the best thing you can do is ignore them.
No matter where you stand as a freelance writer you are always going to be faced with doubters. Some of them will be fellow writers, some friends and family, and some outside sources that do not know you. Ignore doubters and their negative energy. You don’t want them to bring you down!Â
