Many members of my freelance writing course ask about how they should be communicating with clients. Obviously, email is common right now and probably always will be. It is simple and efficient to send and receive emails. But remember, this is far from your only option. You must also consider the benefits of phone communication. I know that some of you guys and gals probably think I am crazy. Even though you may not enjoy speaking with clients on the phone, many of you will fall in love with it soon enough.
Here are three benefits of phone communication:
1. Quicker than email. This may be hard to believe, but it is true. In one phone call you can cover a lot of ground. This is much more efficient than sending a large quantity of emails back and forth. Most of my client phone calls don’t last for more than five to ten minutes. Upon completion of the conversation we are on the same page and probably won’t need to speak again for a few days.
2. It breaks up the boredom of working alone day after day. I love speaking with clients on the phone because it allows me to hear a live voice instead of simply reading emails and instant messages.
3. You can easily gauge your customer’s satisfaction and overall tone. Let’s face it; this is not always easy to do via email. When you speak on the phone it is easy to determine what the client is feeling, good or bad. In turn, you know for sure if you are making the right moves or need to change things as you continue your relationship.
This does not mean that email and other forms of communication are bad for you, but you should be comfortable using the phone to communicate with clients. This is especially true if they stress a desire to do so.Â
Becoming a freelance writer is something you should do for yourself. In other words, don’t take your career in this direction because somebody else, such as me, says it is a good idea. When you truly want to become a freelance writer it becomes much easier to make this a reality.
Believe it or not, you have all the help you need within your own mind and body. This does not mean that you should never talk to others or get help with your career. But it does mean that you have to do most of the leg work on your own. You know you better than anybody else. For this reason, within should be the first place you turn if you want to become a freelance writer.
Try these tips if you are finding it difficult to move forward:
1. Don’t weigh yourself down. It is very easy to become overwhelmed as a freelance writer trying to learn the business. If you want to help yourself, stick to the basics for the time being. As you grow your career you will find it easier to expand without feeling overwhelmed.
2. Have a plan. With a business and marketing plan in hand it becomes much easier to answer any question that comes up. Anytime you are stumped you can turn to your plan for help. Your business and marketing plans do not have to be complex and full of every last detail. As long as it gives you guidance it is perfect for the time being.
3. Get in the right frame of mind. Do you know what to expect from a career as a freelance writer? Do you know which step to take next? You have to be 100 percent dedicated to getting started before you move forward. If you are not, you will find a little voice holding you back. Any freelance writer, no matter their experience level, will tell you that dedication is essential to success.
You are your own best help. If becoming a freelance writer is your career goal, look within so you can get started.
Before accepting a new freelance writing project you need to ask the client many questions. Two of the most important are: when does the project begin? When is the due date? If you do not ask these two questions you are going to find it difficult to work effectively. While most clients will bring this up because they want you to meet their needs, there are times when it can be overlooked.
In my experience, most projects begin the moment that all the details are finalized. In other words, I don’t have too many clients award me a job and then tell me to get started the next week. Instead, they want me to go ahead at once to ensure a timely completion.
The more important of the two questions is when the project is due. This is the date that you want to be most concerned with. You never want to agree to a completion date that you are not comfortable with. Trying to meet an impossible deadline will put a lot of pressure on you. The due date is always negotiable. But remember, you want to make the client happy. I always do what I can to agree to a completion date that works for the client. When this is not possible I ask for a couple extra days, and this is usually not a problem.
Every freelance writing project is different. Some jobs will only take a day to complete so I agree to a quick turnaround. Others are much more in-depth so the client will agree to give me as much time as I need.
As you are finalizing the details of a project make sure you talk about both the start and completion date. This will show the client that you are on top of things, and ensure their happiness in the long run. Not to mention the fact that knowing these dates will allow you to better schedule your days.
