Do you ever take the time to meet with your clients in person? In the past, it seemed as if I never had the opportunity to do this. As of late, things have changed quite a bit. It seems that every other week I am meeting with clients face to face. While this can be a bit strange at first, over time you will probably find it to be a lot of fun.
If you are worried about meeting in person with local clients, these tips will go a long way in helping you out:
1. Be prepared. When speaking on the phone or communicating via email it is easy to prepare as you go along – the same cannot be said for an in person meeting. You are going to be put on the spot, time after time, and you need to know exactly what to expect.
2. Don’t be afraid to turn the tables. Most freelancers feel that a client meeting is time for them to answer one question after the next. While this is sure to be the case, it is important to open your mouth at the appropriate times. There is nothing wrong with asking questions of your own, and leading the conversation when the opportunity arises.
3. Get an agenda in advance. This goes along with point number one. Unfortunately, many people overlook this detail. Before you meet with a client, ask them what they want to discuss, if they need anything in particular, and so on. It is much easier to prepare for a meeting with confidence if you know what is going to take place. You won’t always know exactly what is going to happen, but you should attempt to find out as much as possible.
At some point you may find yourself meeting with local clients on a regular basis. When/if this time comes, follow the three tips above.
If I become a freelance writer what hours will I work? It is amazing how many times I receive this question every week. Although it is a legitimate concern, there is no right or wrong answer. After all, I don’t even work the same hours every day.
One of the biggest benefits of being a freelance writer is that you are able to set your own schedule, within reason. In other words, if you want to work one set of hours today and another tomorrow you are able to do so without any problems at all.
Of course, I have an opinion on this subject. Over the years I have found it best to work the hours that suit my clients. For instance, a couple times per week I have conference calls scheduled during the afternoon. As you can imagine, I have to be working during this time. Sure, I could request to change the call but in most cases things work out just fine.
Some freelance writers are intrigued by the thought of being able to work late night hours. In turn, they either sleep during the day and/or head out to have a little bit of fun. This is definitely a possibility, as long as you are not hindering your ability to efficiently communicate with clients.
As of late, my work schedule has been pretty steady. I get started around 6 am and begin to slow down around 5 pm. During this time I take a couple of breaks, and am usually on the phone with clients or prospective clients for an hour or so. Even though I officially quit at 5 pm, I always find myself sneaking back for more work during the evening hours.
If you work as a freelance writer take advantage of the flexibility that comes along with setting your schedule.
As a freelance writer you have many important decisions to make. Quite a few of them are based around getting paid. Are you the type of freelancer who always asks for payment upfront? Or do you trust clients enough to pay you upon completion?
Most freelance writers agree that getting paid some money upfront is very important. In some cases this may be 50 percent, but in others you may be able to receive the entire payment before getting started.
With new clients, I always ask for at least half of the payment before getting started. This helps to protect me against non-payment, which has happened from time to time. At least if I get half of the money to start I am not totally out should the client decide to disappear.
What about with existing clients? This makes things a bit stickier. If you totally trust the client because they have paid in the past, you may feel comfortable waiting until completion to send an invoice. But even then, make sure you are careful about what you are doing.
In March, I completed a job for a client who has been sending me work for a year or so. While he always paid on time in the past, for one reason or the next, the money has yet to arrive for this project. If I would have requested payment upfront this would have never been a problem. Unfortunately, I trusted the client because they were fast and efficient in the past.
Whether or not you get paid upfront is your decision. At the very least, you should do this with new clients. Once you find payment terms that work, stick with them.
