How often do you communicate with Freelance Writing Clients?
Most freelance writers that I know communicate with clients primarily via email. For me, this holds true most of the time as well. Of course, there are times when I speak with clients over the phone or in person. But with email being so easy, quick, and effective, it seems to be the preferred method among most freelancers.
The key question is: how often do you communicate with your freelance writing clients? This is different for every writer and every client, but you definitely want to keep in mind that it is important to keep in touch. If you go too long without communicating, your client may feel as if you are out of touch too much. In the long run, this may put strain on your relationship.
One thing that I have found helpful is to communicate with clients even if my deadline is nowhere in sight. For instance, I have a large project due at the end of May for a regional sports publication. While I could wait until the last day to send the project, this would be a huge mistake. Not only would it put my back against the wall, but it would do the same to the editor. Instead, I check in once per week to update the editor on my progress and to ask if he needs anything. In most cases this is nothing more than a short email, and that is usually enough until the next time around.
Base your communication on the type of client you are dealing with, and what they have conveyed to you in the past. Many clients tell me up front that they want me to check in every so often. And believe it or not, some even tell me that they don’t need to talk until the project is complete. If you take cues from your client and your past experiences, you should not have any problems determining how often to communicate with them.
