As a freelance writer you need good, reliable equipment. This is very true with the computer that you choose to use. From the first day of my freelance writing career I have made sure that a reliable computer was always available. Simply put, if I don’t have access to a reliable computer there is no way for me to get my work done.
If you are lucky, when starting your freelance writing career you will not need to go out and buy a computer. Hopefully you already have one that you can rely on for the time being. As long as you are comfortable with the unit there is no point in blowing money on a new one; at least not yet.
What does reliable mean? I don’t know much about the inner-workings of computers. That being said, I do know some of the details which help to ensure that my computer is always running smoothly. To me, reliability in a computer means that it allows me to do what I want, when I want. The only programs that I use, for the most part, are Internet Explorer and the Microsoft Office package. This is more than enough to keep my on track and allow me to do my job with a high level of success. Since this is nothing too advanced, I usually don’t have an issue with reliability in this area.
If you find that you computer is less than reliable you may need to upgrade. Maybe you cannot get online, programs are always shutting down, or your computer is freezing throughout the day. All of these problems can be annoying, and usually call for your computer being repaired or a new unit altogether.
To become a successful freelance writer you need a reliable computer. Are you reading this blog post on a computer that you consider reliable? If so, you are one step ahead of the game.
Do you ever take the time to ask your freelance writing clients if you can help with anything else? If not, you may be missing out on some great opportunities. Believe it or not, you may not be the only freelance writer that your client works with. If you ask for more work you may just get it. Sometimes it is that simple!
You don’t have to be pushy when asking clients how else you can help. All you have to do is convey how much you enjoy working with them while also adding that you are available to take on more work at anytime. Even if your client does not have anything to throw your way right now, you never know when this may change in the future. If they know you are available you will probably be the first person on their list if something comes up.
I recently wrote a sales letter for a client and followed the above advice to land a web writing gig as well. Remember one thing: it never hurts to ask. I simply called my client on the phone, asked them how the sales letter was converting, and then led into discussions about other projects. Soon enough I was getting started with content for their website. When this project is complete I plan to ask if there is anything else I can do.
You should always be asking yourself how else you can help your freelance writing clients. Again, you are not always going to land more work just by asking. But if you don’t show your interest you are probably going to miss out on many great opportunities. Make sure all your clients know that you have plenty of time for any project they can assign to you. Â
Some freelance writers find it difficult to effectively communicate with clients. Are you one of them? If so, the reason for this may be that you don’t know how to communicate with them. There are many methods of doing so and some that I use include: email, phone, instant messenger, snail mail, and Skype. As you can see, there are many ways to communicate with clients. It is hard to believe that some have troubles communicating effectively, but it is true.
There is a big difference between how you can communicate with clients and what you feel comfortable doing. Many freelance writers have told me time after time that they only want to communicate with clients via email. While this may be alright most of the time don’t forget that you are not really in charge. You have to do what is best for your client as well. If they want to communicate via phone on a regular basis you have to be open to doing so; you don’t have any other choice if you want to keep them happy.
Don’t be scared of any method of communication. Everybody has a preference, and that is fine. But remember that you want to make things easy on your clients as well. You may be nervous about phone communication right now, but after a few calls you will enjoy this. It is important to open your eyes to what is out there and realize that effective communication is very important to your overall level of success.
Personally, this is how I feel: I will communicate with clients in whichever manner they want. Some want to talk on the phone, others prefer email, and some even send letters from time to time. If you are open to everything you have nothing to worry about.Â
