Like most freelance writers, you probably enjoy the writing process more than any other part of your career. Unfortunately, there are other things to consider. If you focus too much on writing and not enough on the rest of your business, you may begin to experience issues.
In this post, I want to talk about servicing clients. It is one thing to land a new gig and complete the job. It is another thing entirely to make the client feel like they are wanted. In short, you want every client to feel like they are your number one priority.
There is a fine line between giving the proper level of service and going overboard. To make this even more difficult, some clients need more attention and “hand holding†than others. This is a judgment call that you have to make as you start a project. Answer this question: how much attention do you think the client will command?
With every client, I attempt to stay in touch as often as necessary. Even if a project is not due for a couple weeks, I like to check in every few days to offer progress updates and ask if there is anything else I can do. It only takes a couple minutes to type a quick email or make a phone call.
Also, make sure you are prompt in replying to any emails or phone calls that you receive. If your client gets in touch it means that they have something to say. This could be anything from a basic checkup to asking if you can help with another project. It is essential that you make yourself available at all times.
If you spend more time servicing clients you will quickly realize that your job is less stressful, and that every project gets completed in a timely, efficient manner.
Don’t leave your clients hanging. Let them know that you are available at all times.
More so today than ever before, businesses and webmasters in need of a writer are negotiating. They don’t want to pay the writer’s “standard†rate. Instead, they want to haggle, back and forth, to get the best possible deal.
Some freelance writers are not open to negotiations. They set their rates, trust that they are on par with the industry, and stick to their guns. Others are open to negotiating.
While there is no right or wrong way of deciding if you should negotiate, if you opt for this there are a few tips that can help you land the best possible terms:
1. Do not throw out the first number. Just like buying a car, don’t get ahead of yourself and start tossing rates around. Instead, ask the potential client what they are willing to pay and go from there.
If you throw out the first number you may be leaving a lot of money on the table.
2. Be flexible and expect the same from the buyer. There is nothing wrong with being flexible as you negotiate. In fact, if you are not open to being flexible you are not cut out for negotiating. But remember, this is a two way street. Make sure you are not the only person willing to adjust.
3. Do not feel pressured to reach a deal. It would be nice to reach a deal with every person that you are in contact with. Unfortunately, this is not the reality of life as a freelance writer. Do your best to negotiate a good deal, but if things don’t work out feel free to walk away.
4. Do not burn any bridges. Time and time again I negotiate with clients and walk away without a deal. More than half of the time the client comes back a few days later to start the project. This is why you should never burn any bridges. If you anger somebody during the negotiation phase they are not likely to work with you in the future.
The next time you find yourself negotiating with a potential freelance writing client, use these tips to your advantage.
There is nothing better than a client that finds you, loves what you offer, and hires you on the spot. Unfortunately, the process does not always unwind this way. Instead, you are going to encounter “on the fence†buyers time and time again. These are people who are potentially interested in doing business with you, but unsure of whether or not they should move forward.
Here are three tips I use to tip these buyers in my favor:
1. Pinpoint any issues. Let’s face it: there is a reason why the person does not want to pull the trigger and hire you. Are they worried about your experience? Do they have pricing concerns? Once you learn more about their reservations you can make an attempt to ease the tension and finalize the deal.
2. Offer to have a phone conversation. Time and time again this works for me. If you have yet to speak on the phone, a quick conversation can go a long way in forming a relationship and helping both parties better understand each other.
3. Don’t put too much pressure on the buyer by continually asking for an answer. There is nothing worse than a job dangling over your head, never knowing if you are actually going to get started. But if you become overbearing and ask for an answer, day after day, the deal will die sooner rather than later.
When a buyer is on the fence and you are looking for help to close the deal, follow these three tips.
