As any experienced freelance writer can confirm, attracting a steady stream of regular clients is essential to succeeding in these field. Although this may seem like a harrowing task for writers who are just getting their start, finding new clients and hanging onto them doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. By conducting yourself in a professional manner and honoring your commitments in a timely fashion, you can bolster your professional reputation and earn the trust of a wide range of clients. Writers who are new to the freelancing scene are sure to be well-served by the following pointers on client interaction.
Be Timely – But Not Aggressive – When Sending out Invoices
Although some clients will keep track of your hours and assignments for you, a fair number of them will expect you to do this and subsequently record this information on an invoice. When sending out invoices to clients, it’s important to avoid being slow or too fast. For example, sending an invoice as an attachment to an assignment is generally considered bad manners unless a client has specifically requested it. Rather, an invoice should be sent within 48 hours of an assignment – or group of assignments – being turned in. By the same token, however, you should also abstain from waiting more than a few days to send out your invoices, as this often annoys clients more than receiving them too quickly. Writers looking to expedite the invoicing process are urged to check out the Aynax.com free online estimate template.
Always Be Mindful of Deadlines
You’d be hard-pressed to find a job that doesn’t involve deadlines, and freelance writing is no exception. Depending on how many regular clients you have, there’s a good chance you’ll constantly be working against multiple deadlines at once. As such, the responsibility of managing your workload and delegating your time productively falls on you. In the freelance writing game, failing to meet deadlines is one of the easiest ways to burn bridges with clients, so unless you’re faced with a family emergency or similarly extreme circumstances, make a point of treating your deadlines as sacrosanct.
Honor Revision Requests
No writer relishes having to revise his or her work. However, making revisions at your clients’ behest is an unavoidable part of working in virtually any creative capacity. While you may not always agree with the revisions your clients request, it’s in your best interest to make them without a fuss. Arguing with a client is never going to work out well for you and being disagreeable with regard to revisions will diminish your chances of being asked to work for them again.
Earning your livelihood as a freelance writer can be difficult when you’re just getting your start, but at the end of the day, the same can be said for virtually any freelance occupation. Provided you’re courteous in your interactions with clients and complete your work in a timely, professional manner, you should be able to build up a solid network of valuable business contacts. Freelance writers looking to attract new business and hang onto existing clients should be timely with their invoices, constantly mindful of deadlines and open to requests for revisions.
