What’s on the iPod: Right in Time by Lucinda Williams
I had a productive day yesterday despite a bit of a headache lingering. I finished eight projects for a client and got some preliminary work on another project. Then out of the blue, the big-assed project showed up once again, after much delay. Naturally. As I’m about to take some days off and finish up other projects. But these things can’t always be helped. I’ll do what I can because this is a client I really enjoy working with.
We’d had a lovely break this weekend — we attended the Philadelphia Folk Festival and paid big moola to see Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle. One of the performers – Wanda Jackson – had been delayed because of traffic. Knowing the area, I’m not surprised. She arrived much too late for her set, and we were there until nearly ten, so I can’t say if she ever appeared. It was disappointing for her fans, I’m sure.
The apologies were made as soon as it was clear Ms. Jackson couldn’t arrive. That’s about all one can do in that case. And I’m sure in general, Ms. Jackson is a punctual person. Yet we as freelancers have many more options for pleasing – and yes, for pissing off – clients. Here are some of your habits that may be killing your business:
Deadlines seen as optional. I hired someone once to write a short article for me (500 words). A week after it was due, I finally contacted her. Her response: “Yea, it was too hard, so I just decided not to.” Which meant I had to, and fast. She was never hired (or heard from) again. Deadlines aren’t optional. Clients need information at certain times for good reason. If you can’t make the deadline, tell them as soon as possible.
Lack of follow-up. How do you know your client is happy? Are you sure your client gave you the job, or did you think the outline written in email was your project despite your not responding? Never assume. Always follow up.
Not knowing what you’ve agreed to. I’ve heard from writers who say “I’m not sure what they mean by this” but they’d already signed the contract. If you don’t know, ask well before you sign. Know what you’re signing, and know what your clients expect of you.
Lack of communication. Clients are funny – they actually expect you to interact with them at some point during a project. If you decide now that you’ll contact your client once a week with an update, you’ll be rewarded with happier clients who see you as someone on top of the project, not someone they have to continue chasing for answers.
Not getting that invoice paid. If you let that invoice go unpaid and don’t bother to chase it, guess what? You’re not getting paid. It’s your money – fight for it.
What mistakes do you see freelancers make that could harm their businesses?
7 responses to “Five Things That Could Be Killing Your Business”
Not being thorough in the contracts. You have to think through various possibilities of what could happen along the way and provide for them. "Change of direction" and "late fee" clauses are really important.
Great point, Devon. You have to think "Now, did I state clearly enough when I expect to be paid?" I'm shocked at how many people forget that part.
I may have been hallucinating it, but it seems that a week or two ago I read a blog post where an "expert" was sharing tips on how to build a freelance business. Most of his points made sense, but when it came to chasing invoices, he implied that hounding clients for payment makes freelancers look desperate and unprofessional.
What? Since when is wanting to be paid unprofessional? Quite the contrary, I'd say (unless the invoice had just been sent out).
I wish I'd saved the URL. It was one of those posts that someone tweeted or retweeted, so I honestly couldn't say where I saw it.
The biggest mistake freelancers can make is agreeing to do a job and blowing it off, like you described. Of course, I've landed a couple of quick jobs thanks to irresponsible types who left my editors in a lurch.
Paula, that's crazy! Who wouldn't chase an unpaid invoice? Hell, even doctors do that!
Great list! At the risk of nitpicking, I'd amend "Lack of communication" to "Communicate in the fashion your client wants."
For some, that might mean weekly or even daily updates, or just when an important milestone is reached; for others, less is more — in *my* experience, anyway. It's worth asking, early in the relationship how often and how (voice, email, IM, smoke signal) they'd like to receive any updates. YMMV.
The reason I mention it is that it used to drive me NUTS back in my days as an editor when a FLer needed constant handholding or updated me on silly stuff.
Lori – IIRC, the bio blurb of the guy who posted those tips listed him as a publisher or past publisher of something. Perhaps he was a slow payer who didn't like it when vendors asked where their money was…
I am not a writer, I am a freelance translator, but our professions are quite close to each other. In translation a big mistake is to translate into a language other than your native, or to take on projects outside your areas of specialization. Want it or not, you will produce lower quality translation on such projects and lose credibility.