Are you Afraid to Ask Clients for Help?
Within my freelance writing career, I work with clients ranging from individuals to book publishers to large corporations. One thing that I always hope for in a client is that they will be able to give me help if I ask for it. With that being said, some clients are better at this than others. You need to make sure that you are never afraid to ask clients for help if need be. If you are, you need to get over this right away.
Why are so many freelance writers afraid to ask for help? Simply put, they think that this shows a sign of weakness or a lack of knowledge. When it comes down to it, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, your client will more than likely be happy to answer any questions because it allows them to make sure that you are on the right track.
If you neglect to seek answers when need be, you may continue with a project just to find that you took the wrong path. In the end, your client is going to be mad that you missed their intended target, and you will have wasted a lot of time. In many cases, asking a few simple questions is all that you need to get a better idea of how to move forward.
Coming across clients that are not willing to answer questions or lend assistance is uncommon, but it does happen. Some of them will think that you are the professional, and that since you are being paid you should figure things out on your own. While this is true to a certain extent, it is no way for anybody to run a business. If you are working with a client who has this mindset, you should do whatever it takes to explain your situation to them and get a bit of assistance. If you make them feel wanted and as if they are a part of the process, you should be able to get them to jump in and help; even if just a little bit.
You cannot afford to be afraid to ask any client for help. If you are, there is something wrong. Either you need to change your approach to the freelance writing industry, or your client is being overly difficult. It is up to you to get past any barriers to ensure that you complete the project efficiently the first time around.
