Have you been 100 percent honest with all of your freelance writing clients in the past? If so, this is a great way of doing business. On the other hand, if you have been stretching the truth for any reason you must change your ways. If you don’t, this will backfire on you soon enough.
Remember this: if a client finds that you are not being honest there is a very good chance that they are going to stop working with you. All good business relationships are built on trust. If you don’t have this you don’t have much.
Why have you been lying? Some freelance writers think that it makes more sense to tell clients what they want to hear, as opposed to the truth. Even though this may work out for you in the short term, most of the time the real truth is exposed sooner rather than later. At this point, you will have some explaining to do.
Also, keep in mind that your clients rely on you for high quality information and advice. You are the professional, and for this reason they are putting a lot of stock in what you have to say. If you are constantly telling lies, you are not doing your client any favor. In fact, you may be steering them down the wrong path which can in turn cost them a lot of time and money.
Even though it is not always easy, it is important to tell the truth anytime you are dealing with a client. In the long run, honesty is always the best policy.
So many people want to become a freelance writer, but for whatever reason many of them never take the leap. Instead, they talk about how great this would be and continually think about all the benefits. While some people just aren’t cut out to be a freelance writer, others should really think about getting past their fears and moving forward.
Here are three common reasons why some people never seem to take the next step:
1. They really aren’t interested. Simply put, some people toy with the idea of becoming a freelance writer but are not really interested in this career path. While there is nothing wrong with this, you may want to think about why you are not quite ready to move forward – there may be a good explanation for the way you feel.
2. They don’t know what step to take next. This is perhaps the most common reason for not becoming a freelance writer. The person in question is 100 percent ready to move forward, but a lack of knowledge is holding them back. If you don’t know what to do next, your best bet is slowing down and figuring out a timeline that suits you. In some cases, you may be able to do this on your own. On the other hand, don’t be opposed to asking other freelancers for help, reading up online (like you are doing now), or purchasing a book.
3. Fear. Let’s face it: it can be scary to become a freelance writer. This is particularly true if you are going to make this your full-time career. You have to decide if your fear is enough to hold you back for good, or if you are capable of overcoming this.
You may or may not be able to identify with one of the reasons above. If something is holding you back, now is the time to pinpoint the problem and decide how to best move forward.
For whatever reason, the last few clients that I landed have all suffered from the same issue: they don’t know exactly what they want. They know they need my services, but are unsure of how to get started, what direction to take, and how much they are willing to pay. Although this can be frustrating as a freelance writer, it is something that I have come to expect over the years.
Simply put, some clients just don’t know what they want. And guess what? Some of them never figure it out until you give them advice. Don’t be shy about stepping to the plate and offering up your knowledge. Not only will this help move the project forward, but it will show the client that you are more than willing to assist them in many ways.
It is easy to get upset with a client that is beating around the bush, trying to determine which direction to take. But if you show this, you are going to lose the deal before it ever starts. The best thing you can do is let the client know that you are on their side, and willing to help as much as you can. With experience as a writer, you should be able to lend advice that your new client will find helpful.
It would be nice if every client knew what they wanted. This way, all you would have to do is take direction and get started. Unfortunately, this is not how things always work out. If you run into a client that is lost, make sure you do your best to clear a path for them. When you do this, you will be seen as a major asset which will in turn allow you to establish a better relationship.
