Working as a freelance writer means that you are going to run into angry clients from time to time. This goes along with the territory, and is something you should get used to dealing with. Don’t get me wrong – your clients are not going to be mad all the time. But here and there, something is sure to happen that gets them fired up.
If you are attempting to best deal with an angry client, here are three things you should do:
1. Find out what the problem is. If you did something wrong, you need to pinpoint the issue and discuss it with the client. The last thing you want to do is guess at what went wrong. This may end up making things worse in the long run.
2. Ask the client what you can do to make the situation better. For instance, they may be looking for a rewrite. While this can be a pain in the neck, if doing so will make the client happy you should oblige. Of course, you need to determine if the problem is directly attributed to something that you did wrong. If it isn’t, you have every right to charge for your services as you help your client find a solution.
3. If you are at fault, do not delay in helping your client fix the problem. The quicker you come to the rescue the better chance you have of keeping the relationship in good terms in the future.
Let’s face the facts: dealing with an angry client is not fun. The next time this situation comes up, see if the above tips can help you better your situation.
One thing I learned early on as a freelance writer was that having a budget for my career related money was very important. Although I don’t spend a lot on expenses related to my career, they do come up from time to time.
Here are three money management tips to rely on:
1. Never break your budget. It is very tempting to spend a lot of money on the latest gadgets, or the best of the best in terms of office supplies. If you have the money, and you are willing to spend it, there is nothing wrong with splurging. But remember, you don’t want to go overboard to the point of spending more than you have in your budget.
2. Save what you don’t spend. Every month I put aside a certain amount of money for freelance writing expenses. But guess what? I never spend all of it. Instead of looking at this as a bad thing, I just roll it over into the next month. There is no need to waste money on things I don’t really need.
3. Write it down. No matter if I am spending or saving, I write this down on paper while also tracking it with an Excel spreadsheet. This may be overkill, but it makes me feel in total control of my budget. At the very least, make sure you know where your money is going at all times. This way you can look back to see what you have been doing, whether or not it is working, and if you need to make any changes.
With these three tips you should be able to better manage your freelance budget.
As of late, many aspiring freelance writers have been asking me what they can do to better their career. Although everybody is unique, the one thing you should try to do is get inside the mind of a successful freelance writer. In other words, learn from those who are already doing what you are trying to accomplish. This is what I did when I started out as a freelance writer, and soon enough it began to payoff.
What can I learn from others? Shouldn’t I spend most of my time gaining firsthand experience? While you definitely want to work on building your career, there is nothing wrong with picking up advice from a handful of freelancers. Below are just a few things you can learn:
1. How to market your services. If you have the chance, you will definitely want to speak with other freelance writers about how they drum up new business. This is a big part of becoming a freelance writing success – make sure you focus on this detail as much as you can.
2. How to make the most of the freelance writer – client relationship. While this is something you have a “feel†for, you can learn the ins and outs from freelancers who have already made the mistakes you are trying to avoid.
3. Money, money, money. A freelance writer who has been around the block a few times can give you advice on how to set your rates, what to do when a client isn’t paying, where to turn for more lucrative jobs, and much more. When it comes to money, you can learn a lot from an experienced freelance writer.
If you have the chance to get inside the mind of a successful freelance writer you should take full advantage.
