When you land a new freelance writing job you are going to be as excited as ever. While you are completing the task, you should be interested in doing more than earning money. Along with getting paid, you want to think long and hard about how much you can learn. As the title says, you want to learn as you earn.
Here are three ways to learn as you are completing a freelance writing job:
1. Through your writing. As you write more and more you are going to become comfortable with your style, as well as what you are doing right and wrong. You should look at every piece of content that you create as a learning experience
2. What is your client telling you? Although you will run into some clients that are going to complain about every last thing you do, others offer feedback that you can implement into your day to day writing. It is very important that you take client feedback and use it to your advantage.
3. During the research process. For example, if you are writing a piece on “how file your income tax return†you may learn a lot about this process as well as other details such as what forms you need, how to receive a refund, etc. All of this information can then be used for future articles, or to pitch new ideas to your current client.
If you want to become a more successful freelance writer you should learn as much as you can as you are completing work for your clients.
If you currently work as a freelance writer it is safe to say that you have some goals you are chasing. What exactly are you trying to accomplish? If you can answer this question you are on your way to making it happen. But if you can’t, you need to reassess.
Over the years I have found that most freelance writers are interested in accomplishing one or more of the following:
1. A job that offers the freedom to do other things. If this is what you are after, being a freelance writer is a great choice. Not only will you have time to do other things within your life, such as activities with your family, but it will also open up other career related opportunities. Sure, I work as a freelance writer but on the side I do many other things such as blogging, building web sites, etc.
2. Make a lot of money. This may not be the number one reason to become a freelance writer, but the opportunity is definitely there. If you want to earn a lot of money, the freelance writing industry can help you reach this goal. Just remember this: it may take some time to reach your desired income level.
3. You want to find a career you enjoy. For many, this is the most important thing they are trying to accomplish by becoming a freelance writer. There is nothing worse than working a job that is stressful, tedious, and offers no rewards. Even if freelance writing is not the right career for you, there is something else out there that you will enjoy – go and find it!
So, what are you trying to accomplish as a freelance writer?
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.
