What’s on the iPod: Viva la Vida by Coldplay
I’m fighting something. Not sure if it’s a cold, a flu, or some other ailment. Whatever it is, it has me tired by noon, my voice is feeling strained, and I’m congested. Here I thought it was all the loud singing I was doing on New Year’s Eve.
Nevertheless, I have to work today. I have a phone interview this morning, then some work on a number of articles, plus some more marketing. Also, I’d love to squeeze in work on one of my upcoming projects.
I was thinking of all the things that can get in the way of our doing our jobs properly, and I kept coming back to one very large conclusion – we are our biggest obstacle. The things we do in a day that practically scream “Don’t do business with me” are surprisingly common. Here are the worst, in my opinion.
1. You don’t market. If you think the work will fall into your lap, welcome to your new career as a short-order cook, retail salesperson, or gas station attendant. There’s no way you’ll survive in freelancing on word of mouth, referrals, or your cousin’s neighbor’s brother-in-law who happens to need a resume.
2. You market yourself too much. Conversely, while we should be marketing ourselves, if your blog posts, comments, or tweets consist solely of “Look! Look at ME!” type info, your target audience is going to assume you’re a blowhard and look the other way. No one likes a self-promotional jerk. Link to someone else for a change, why dontcha?
3. You don’t do the job as stated. You agreed to write a primer on the South American tree frog, but you gave them a sidebar of information on the South American rain forest. And you don’t see this as a problem?
4. You quit. Nothing says “I’m a rank amateur” more than someone who quits midway through a project – and does so consistently. Worse is the writer who quits and doesn’t inform the client of this little fact. Even worse is the writer who complains about every topic assigned. Say “That’s too hard!” often enough and the client/editor will figure working with you is more hassle than it’s worth.
5. You don’t ask for a decent wage. I know for those starting out, it seems like a great idea to take any job that comes along. But know this – those low-paying jobs lead to referrals for even more low-paying jobs and people soon expect something for next-to-nothing out of you. Start with a respectable fee and don’t compromise just to get a check.
6. You don’t follow up on invoices. If they owe it, ask for it. Keep asking until that check appears. Don’t be afraid to upset or anger your clients by asking for money. If they’re avoiding paying you, that’s a client you wouldn’t miss if you lost them anyway. Get the check and forget their contact info.
7. You won’t take advice. It will always amaze me when writers ask for help, then argue why the solutions won’t work (even when they probably will). If you don’t want to hear it, stop asking.
These are just the tip of the iceberg. What sins have you seen committed?
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