How to Deal with a Short Turnaround Time
Most clients realize that the writing process can take a long time. This is particularly true if the project is complex and full of details. On the other hand, there will always be clients that expect you to work at the speed of sound. Dealing with a short turnaround time is never the easiest thing to do. That being said, it is far from impossible.
Here are three tips that can make your life easier if a client requests a rush job:
1. Negotiate as much time as possible. Even if you “steal†yourself another day it is better than nothing. You know better than the client how long it will take to complete the project. If you can negotiate extra time you should most definitely do so.
2. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. As I have said in the past, customer service is a big part of becoming a successful freelance writer. Although you want to be accommodating, you are only one person. You never want to take on a project that you have no chance of completing on time. Rather than do this, tell the client upfront that their timeline is unreasonable. You may be surprised to find that they are willing to change things around for you.
3. Get all the details before you agree to anything. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is getting caught up in the timeline, thus forgetting about all the other details of the project. Although deadlines are important, if you don’t complete the task to the exact specs the end result is a lot of wasted time for both parties.
It is never easy to take on a rush job, but this is something you will eventually have to become familiar with. To best deal with this situation, use the three tips above.
