What to do when a Client changes Direction
There is nothing worse than digging into a project and getting on the right track, just to have your client change direction. In this case, you are probably going to be asked to stop what you are doing and change along with them. While not as common as some believe, this is something that I run into from time to time.
Here are three things to keep in mind if a client changes direction on you:
1. Explain what you have completed up to that point, and then let the client take a look. This way, they can at least see the progress you have made and realize that a change in project scope is not going to be as simple as it sounds
2. Talk about what this means in terms of payment and deadline. You may be 90 percent finished with a project, just to have the client say that they want to “take a different approach.†While there is nothing wrong with this, they must realize that this will almost always lead to additional payment and an extended deadline.
3. Give your opinion, if asked. You don’t want to jump in and tell the client that they should stay the course. But if you are asked, be sure to tell them what you think based on the portion of the job that you have completed. Many times, freelance writers are relied on for more than content creation. Don’t be shy about giving your opinion if the chance is there.
As long as you are being compensated for your time, there is nothing wrong with changing direction along with the client and doing whatever is asked of you. Just make sure you continue to stay on the same page. As more and more changes are made, it can be difficult to keep a level head.
