It may not happen often, but there could come a time when a client wants to meet in person. As a freelance writer there is a good chance that this will freak you out. After all, you are used to staying at home and communicating via email, instant messenger, and an occasional phone call.
Over my many years as a freelance writer, I have only met with a few clients in person. I do this maybe once or twice a year.
If the client is local, you don’t have anything to worry about. Put on your best clothes, get prepared, and make the most of the trip. This may be scary at first, but I have found in person meetings to be a lot of fun. It is not often that freelance writers have the chance to get out and meet people!
What if the client expects me to travel a far distance for the meeting? This is a problem that you may encounter. There are two things you can do:
1. Ask the client if it is possible to “take care of business†over the phone, through an online conference, or via another method.
2. Kindly suggest that the client pays for your travel expenses. This can be difficult to do, but if you put it the right way there is no reason to be intimidated. I have done this twice, and both times it was a huge success. Not only did they pay for my transportation to and from, but I got a bit of extra cash for food and lodging. Does it get any better than that?
If a client suggests a face-to-face meeting your first reaction may be one of fear. Even if this is new to you there is nothing to worry about. Follow the above advice, and do the best you can to make the most of your meeting.
Since the beginning of the year I have had more interest than ever in my freelance writing course. Just this year alone, a handful of past students have made contact to let me know they are now working as a full-time freelancer. This is like music to my ears.
At this time, I have two openings. One person transitioned into a full-time freelancer after three months of mentoring. The other decided to head back to the corporate world.
If you are interested in joining, shoot me an email as soon as possible. If the past is any indication, these spots will only stay open for 24 hours at the most.
I am looking forward to having a couple more readers on board!
Just because you are a freelance writer does not mean you can avoid the job interview process. In fact, you will go through this more often than you ever imagined. Every time a potential client gets in touch with you they are more or less performing an interview. They want to see what you have to offer, what type of person you are, and of course, whether you fit in well with what they are trying to accomplish.
Here are three common phone interview questions that you will hear time and time again. Be prepared for these so you don’t stumble:
1. Can you tell me more about your experience as a freelance writer? On the surface, this sounds like a straight forward question with a simple answer. While true, you must make sure your tailor your response to the type of client you are speaking with.
For a web content position you will want to speak about your experience in this area. On the other hand, if you are interviewing to create newsletter content you have to talk about experience related to this function.
Targeted experience shows the client that you are the right person for the job.
2. How much do you charge? If you are anything like me, answering this question is never easy. As you know, you don’t want to throw out the first number that comes to mind. If your number is too high you could lose the job. If your number is too low you could end up working for less than your normal rate.
My advice: ask the client for a general idea of their budget. From there, tell them you will follow-up with an estimate. This gives you time to put your thoughts together.
3. Do you have any references? This is a tough one for new freelance writers. In short, you have to be honest. If you have references you definitely want to supply them. If you don’t, explain that you are new to the industry and don’t yet have any solid references.
No matter what, make sure you offer to email a few samples. This will make the client feel better about your past as well as your ability to complete the job.
Anytime you interview with a potential client on the phone these three questions are sure to come up. Make sure you are ready for them.
