The question of what freelance writing clients want is a difficult one to answer. After all, no two clients are the same. With that being said, there are quite a few generalizations that you can make.
Here is a short list of what most freelance writing clients are looking for.
1. They want a writer who will listen to what they say, and then offer input based on what they hear. If you are not listening to your clients, and instead preaching to them, you are missing the boat. Remember, your client is the one paying for the work. They know what they want, and you should do your best to deliver.
2. Every client has a deadline in mind. For this reason, you need to make sure that you are always on the same page. If your client tells you that they need a project by Wednesday at 5pm, you need to take this to heart. Once you miss a deadline, it is safe to say that your client will no longer be able to trust you in the future. And in many cases, you will not get a second chance to prove yourself.
3. Although some people know what they want, others are looking to you for help. Time after time I receive inquiries from webmasters and companies who have a basic outline, but want me to decide on article topics, length, etc. Remember, you are the professional, and many people will base their decisions on what you tell them.
4. Are you easily accessible? This is something that you need to keep in mind. Make sure that your freelance writing clients have access to you via email, as well as phone. This way they can quickly get in touch with you if they have any questions, comments, or changes.
5. Quality work! When you get hired to write anything, no matter how big the project, your client is expecting high quality. Make sure that every project you complete is done to the best of your ability.
These are five things that the majority of freelance writing clients are looking for. If you keep them in mind while seeking new clients and servicing existing ones, you will better your chance of achieving success.Â
Everybody needs some time away from their job, and this definitely holds true when it comes to freelance writers. Even if you feel comfortable working longer than normal hours, you still need to be very careful about what you are doing.
When I started out as a freelance writer I thought that working 12 to 14 hour days was the only way to succeed. While there is nothing wrong with hard work and persistence, this was bordering on crazy. Not only was I working these hours on weekdays, but I was doing the same thing on the weekend as well. Simply put, this was not good for my health, quality of life, or the work that I was producing.
When possible, I try to stick with 8 to 10 hour work days. Additionally, some of this time is not spend on writing, but instead on blogging and putting together new business ideas, etc. Time away from writing, even if you are still at your computer, can be a huge help. After all, you don’t want your ideas and mind to become stale and lead to sub-par work for your clients.
Overall, you should not be afraid to take time off from your freelance writing career. Just because you are working normal hours does not mean that you will miss the boat. Do yourself a favor and settle into a groove that you are comfortable with. From there, you will find it easy to work enough hours to get your work done, but not too much that you are being affected in a negative way.
Don’t get hurt! If you are a freelance writer in today’s day and age, you spend most of your time typing. What would happen if you broke a wrist, damaged a nerve, or cut a finger in the kitchen? The fact of the matter is that my freelance writing career would be pretty much non-existent if I could not type at a high rate of speed.
Last week, I began to experience some extreme pain in my left wrist. This always seems to happen when I ramp up my production, and work longer hours. Although it goes away after a couple hours of rest, it is still worrisome nonetheless. Is this pain going to become worse as I get older? I have no idea of knowing, but it is definitely something that I worry about.
All in all, make sure that you are keeping your hands, wrists, and arms safe. If you get injured and cannot type, you will have one heck of a time turning out a lot of work. Can you imagine trying to work with only one hand? This is nothing that I want to try anytime in the near future.
This may sound like a silly tip, but it is very important to say the least. Many people who type all day everyday begin to suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is not joke, and is a quick way to set your career back. Do not let this injury or any other jeopardize your freelance writing career.Â
