This is a subject that comes up time and time again. Should I spend time speaking with freelance writing clients on the phone? While I have no problem with this, others would much rather use email the majority of the time. No matter where you stand on this subject, one thing is for sure: if you have a client phone call scheduled you need to be 100 percent prepared for anything that may come your way.
Here are three steps I always take to ensure that I am prepared:
1. What does the client want to talk about? The more you know before the call the easier it is to prepare yourself. If you can ask questions of the client via email, go for it. This will put you in position to better prepare yourself, and allow the call to go more smoothly.
2. Be ready to take notes. No matter if I am taking notes on my computer or on a piece of paper, I have something in front of me while the client is speaking. The longer a call goes on the more chance there is that you will forget some of the details. I make it a habit of writing down as much as I can, without losing focus of what the client is saying.
3. Have questions of your own. It is easy to get so caught up listening that you forget to ask your own questions. This has happened to me many times in the past. For this reason, I always write down any potential questions in advance. This way, I can take notes and mark them off as the conversation moves forward.
Even though this is a topic that I have discussed before, it is one that many of you continue to ask about. Hopefully this helps to clear the air, and give you a better idea of how to prepare for client phone calls.
It has been a while since I have had any openings in my freelance writing course. Fortunately for those who are interested, this recently changed. A couple members decided to leave after three and four months of working with me. With this, there are now two openings.
Why should I get involved with your freelance writing course? Every time I make a post like this, I receive several questions about the potential benefits of the course. If you are looking for guidance and need somebody to show you the ropes, joining the course is a great idea. My goal, with every member, is to guide them towards their freelance writing related goals – no matter what they may be.
If you want to snatch up one of the last two spots, send me an email without delay. As always, I expect both spots to be gone within a day or so at the most.
I hope to be working with a couple of you very soon!
Over the years I have worked with hundreds of freelance writing clients. Some were great to do business with; others not so much. No matter who you are, at some point you will strike up a relationship with a needy client. While this may not seem like a big deal early on, soon enough it can begin to bog you down.
Here are three tips for dealing with needy freelance writing clients:
1. Find out what they need, and try to get it to them as soon as possible. A needy client is one who will call or email, day after day, to talk about the same things. If you can give them what they want before they ask for it, you are putting yourself in a better position while also making the client happy. It may take some time to learn exactly what the client wants, but soon enough you should have a very good idea.
2. Explain your situation. If you are spending entirely too much time with a client you may need to explain your situation and why you are going to have to cut back. I don’t suggest doing this often, but there may come a time when you have no choice. You do not want to come across as rude. Instead, tell them that you have a full schedule and that you will only be able to speak with them at certain times. You may be surprised at how much this can better your relationship.
3. Charge them more. The more time you spend with a particular client the more money you should charge. This holds true no matter if you are spending time writing, or on the phone as a “consultant.â€
The next time you are dealing with a needy freelance writing client, consider using the three tips above.
