Are you the type of person who enjoys working weekends? If so, even you may get annoyed if a client tells you that you have to do this. Believe it or not, I have heard many stories about freelance writers being “forced†to work on both Saturdays and Sundays. To me, this sounds a bit ridiculous for several reasons.
To start, why do you have to work on the weekend? Does the client have a good reason for this? If there is no pressing need I cannot understand why this conversation would have to take place. Of course, if your job is to cover breaking news stories you may have to be “on call†on the weekend.
Why are you listening if you don’t want to? One of the top benefits of a freelance writing career is that you are your own boss. If you don’t want to work on weekends you should feel comfortable discussing this with your client. You may find that a simple discussion can solve your problem. In other words, it is not always as hard as you think to open your client’s eyes to your point of view.
If you enjoy working on the weekends, which I do from time to time, this may not sound like a huge deal. On the other hand, some freelance writers simply won’t do work on their days off – and I cannot blame them.
My best advice is this: if a client asks you to work on the weekends you should strongly consider your answer before giving it. If you decide against this explain your reasoning to the client and see if you can work out a solution.Â
Are you interested in becoming a freelance writer because of the low startup costs? This is a definite benefit of a career in freelance writing. You don’t want to join the industry for this fact alone, but it is definitely something to keep in mind.
Even though startup costs are low it is important to provide yourself with the right freelance writing equipment. For some, this is already a done deal – they have what they need. For others, this means heading to the store to pick up a few items.
When it comes to freelance writing equipment there are two things you definitely need on your desk: a computer and printer. There is no way around this. Can you imagine working as a freelance writer without a computer? This would be next to impossible. Not to mention the fact that you would be putting yourself at a major disadvantage.
Most aspiring freelance writers already own both a computer and printer. They may have never used it for this purpose, but that does not matter. As long as both are reliable you can move forward with what you have. There is no good reason to rush out and buy thousands of dollars worth of equipment when starting a freelance writing career. This would be a big mistake. You are better off keeping the money for now, and waiting for your career to take off.
Do I need a dedicated phone line? This falls into the freelance writing equipment category. I have a separate line for business, but you should not feel like you have to do the same. In fact, I tell most freelance writers to forget about this when they are starting out. As you begin to earn more money you can think about getting a dedicated line.
If you want to succeed in the freelance writing world you need to provide yourself with the right equipment.Â
The most successful freelance writers earn the trust of every client. Is this something that you strive to do? If not, you should change your way. It is very important that every client trusts you. Sure, it can take some time to build this but over the long haul it should be a goal of yours.
Here are three ways to earn the trust of your clients:
1. Don’t disappear on them. Time after time I speak with clients that tell me horror stories about past contractors disappearing without a trace. If you take on a job make sure you are ready to complete it. To go along with this, don’t run and hide during the process. If a client calls or emails you, make sure you get back in touch with them as soon as possible.
2. Don’t skirt around questions. This goes along with number one above. To earn trust you need to be open and honest yourself. If a client asks a question of you answer it to the best of your ability. They may not like the answer, but at least you will show that you are being 100 percent honest. In return, you will probably get the same thing.
3. Meet every deadline. This goes without saying, but I am still surprised at how many freelance writers think it is a joke. If you agree to a deadline you need to do your best to meet it – no matter what it takes. Sure, there are times when you may need to request an extension but you do not want to make this a habit.
Have you found it easy to gain the trust of clients in the past? If so, stick with what you have been doing. On the other hand, if you have been struggling to succeed in this area you should fall back on the three tips above.Â
