Avoid Getting Duped by Freelance Writing Clients
There is nothing more disappointing than doing a lot of work for a freelance writing client, just to find that they do not want to pay. In fact, disappointing does not even cover a situation like this. This has happened to me in the past, and each time it felt just as bad as the time before. When it comes down to it, nobody likes to do a lot of work for promise of payment, just to get stiffed in the end.
This year I have vowed to make sure that I keep deadbeat clients at a distance. Through my experience there is not an overabundance of these types, but they are out there. In order to reach my goal, I plan on putting the following three tips into place.
1. If a client has given me a hard time in the past over payment, I am going to drop them from my books. It is not worth my time to complete a project, and then have to argue with the client for months on end for payment. Sure, I may get paid in the end, but the time put into collecting is time that could go towards other more important tasks.
2. Collect 50 percent up front for the majority of projects. While I do not plan on doing this across the board, especially not with current clients, it is a stipulation that I am going to attempt to enforce for all new clients; especially with large jobs. By getting 50 percent payment up front it does two things. One, it shows me that the client is serious. And two, it allows me to get paid at least half the money, even if the client decides to leave me hanging in the end.
3. Research each potential client before working with them. With the help of Google this is not a time consuming process. For instance, if a company contacts me I will first check out their website, and then look for third party information. If I find nothing, it is a good thing. But a negative review or feedback will definitely raise a red flag.
If freelance writing is of interest to you, avoiding bad clients is of utmost importance. Use the three tips above this year to make sure that you always get paid for the work that you do.
