There is nothing worse than digging into a project and getting on the right track, just to have your client change direction. In this case, you are probably going to be asked to stop what you are doing and change along with them. While not as common as some believe, this is something that I run into from time to time.
Here are three things to keep in mind if a client changes direction on you:
1. Explain what you have completed up to that point, and then let the client take a look. This way, they can at least see the progress you have made and realize that a change in project scope is not going to be as simple as it sounds
2. Talk about what this means in terms of payment and deadline. You may be 90 percent finished with a project, just to have the client say that they want to “take a different approach.†While there is nothing wrong with this, they must realize that this will almost always lead to additional payment and an extended deadline.
3. Give your opinion, if asked. You don’t want to jump in and tell the client that they should stay the course. But if you are asked, be sure to tell them what you think based on the portion of the job that you have completed. Many times, freelance writers are relied on for more than content creation. Don’t be shy about giving your opinion if the chance is there.
As long as you are being compensated for your time, there is nothing wrong with changing direction along with the client and doing whatever is asked of you. Just make sure you continue to stay on the same page. As more and more changes are made, it can be difficult to keep a level head.
The title of this post says it all. As a freelance writer, there may be times when you have to communicate with clients in a different time zone. While this may not sound like a big deal, there are some things you have to be aware of.
To start, what is the difference in time? I have some clients that are only an hour behind my time. That being said, there are others, on the other side of the world, who are sleeping when I am working – and vice versa. As you can imagine, this makes communication and staying on the same page a bit more difficult.
Before you ever start working with a client in a different time zone make sure you discuss this potential problem. It is important that both parties are aware of what this will mean for the relationship. By knowing what you are getting into, things will work out much better in the long run. The last thing you want is to be at odds with a client because you cannot find a time to speak, or are having difficulties getting on the same schedule.
For clients that are three to five hours ahead or behind, communication is not much more difficult than usual. You can use email or phone – just make sure you keep the other person’s time zone in mind. A situation in which a client is five or more hours ahead or behind, more planning and discussion is necessary.
You can find a way to communicate with a client, no matter what time zone they are in. You just need to make sure that everybody involved is aware of this difference, and is willing to make the relationship work.
Last month, I did not have any open spots in my freelance writing course. While this was great fun for me and all my students, it meant no opportunity for those hoping to get involved. Fortunately for those who have been waiting, I currently have two open spots for the upcoming month. I am happy to say that both members who left the course are now working as part-time freelancers, with the hope of going full-time in the near future.
If you are interested in nabbing one of these open spots, contact me as soon as possible. I am confident that both of them will be filled by the end of the weekend at the latest.
It is never fun to see a student leave my course, but it does mean they are on the path to future success. Hopefully I have the chance to work with a couple more of you starting next week!
