Are you thinking about starting a freelance writing career? Anybody who has ever been in this position is well aware of how difficult the decision can be. On one side you probably want to dive in and get started. But on the other side, you may have a voice telling you that you should not rush because of all the potential mistakes that could harm you. Where do you fit in?
Whether or not you suck it up and dive into a freelance writing career is up to you. Some people do this with success, others fail, and many never take the leap because of their fear. It is not up to me or anybody else to make this decision for you.
When I started my freelance writing career I was very confident that success would follow soon enough. That being said, there were people around me who were not so sure. Remember, this is not your typical career. When you tell somebody that you are going to work for yourself you are sure to run into some resistance. Did I let this slow me down? No. I knew this was my decision, and looking back it is easy to see that I made the right one. Even if I would have failed as a freelance writer I would have been happy that I gave it a try.
You have to be smart about when and how you start your freelance writing career. Whether or not you dive in without thinking twice is your decision, but it has to be based on common sense. If you are trying to support a family you need to make sure that your freelance writing income will be able to pay the bills, etc. As you can imagine, aspiring freelance writers with no obligations are in a much better position.
Hopefully this blog post shows you that you are in charge of your freelance writing career. Are you ready to dive in? Or are you going to think about this a bit longer? The decision is yours. Take your time to ensure that you make the right one.Â
As of late, I have been taking more and more calls from clients. This is something I enjoy for many reasons. First off, it allows both parties to communicate more efficiently. Secondly, it is always more exciting to speak with somebody on the phone. As you know, life as a freelance writer can get boring due to a lack of face to face interaction. Phone calls with clients help to keep me better connected to the outside world.
Here are three ways to get prepared for your next client phone call:
1. Have easy access to the internet if at all possible. I have found that during most calls I need to quickly browse the internet for one reason or the next. The client may ask for me to visit their site, or maybe I need to quickly pull up an email. Make sure you have easy access to the internet if you are going to be on the phone with a client.
2. Know what you want to ask. Do you need to ask any questions during your phone conversation? It is very important to write down what you want to ask before you ever pick up the phone. As each question is addressed you can cross it off your list.
3. Have an idea of what the client may ask of you. In most cases, I have a good idea of what the client wants to talk about when they call. The same holds true if I am the one who initiates the contact. When you know what the client may ask, your answers will be much better.
Â
If you are not usually prepared for phone conversations with clients you should follow the tips above. Soon enough these tips will turn into a part of your regular routine.Â
Dealing with difficult clients is something that every professional has to face at some point in their career. I have found this to definitely be the case as a freelance writer. Even though 99 percent of my clients are fun to work with, there are always some that come along and make things difficult.
Here are three tips that I use when dealing with a difficult client:
1. Do not stoop to their level. Entirely too many people deal with difficult clients by giving them a dose of their own medicine. You should treat every client with respect no matter if they are on your case all the time or extremely easy to work with. There is nothing good that can come from stooping down to the level of your client.
2. Make the expectations clear. Difficult clients often times change their mind from day to day. You should make sure you know exactly what the client expects, and then tell them what you are going to do. It is much easier to stay on track when you verify what the client wants from you. This will do wonders for you, while also making it next to impossible for the client to change things without notice.
3. Do not give the client reason to complain or make things difficult. This goes along with number two. If the expectations are clear, you should be able to deliver high quality content that suits the client’s needs.Â
Will these three tips solve all my problems? Maybe, maybe not. I have found them to be very helpful, and at the very least they should make things a bit easier on you the next time a client gives you trouble.Â
