Comments on:

By: Irreverent Freelancer

Irreverent Freelancer — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 15:18:00 +0000

Don’t you hate it when you put all kinds of time and effort into winning a client, you’re so close you can taste it and then BAM! they go with someone else? Usually, I lose out on an assignment because someone undercuts my price. I never fall for the “We’re really impressed with your work but we’ve got offers that are half your price” ploy. Good for you for remaining so professional. I too am confident you’ll hear from this particular businessperson again.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 21:40:00 +0000

Great diplomatic way of handling it.

When the original writer screws up -- you'll be there to pick up the pieces.

With an additional "rush" fee.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:29:00 +0000

Did that, Anne. Offered that first, then he said, "That's what the designer said. Would you work with him?" Sure!

It's a head-scratcher, for sure.

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:43:00 +0000

another approach might be to team with a designer so you too can offer both… this is one of those ideas I’ve never acted on… I don’t like working with most designers, but…

A
http://www.thegoldenpencil.com

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 06:21:00 +0000

It's always a bad sign when a freelancer can't be professional enough to work with other freelancers under a single client. I have a wonderful client who works with many freelance writers and they keep coming back to me because they know I can handle the collaboration professionally.

I suspect this client will return to you when he discovers that he should have trusted his gut. And to be sure, you should follow up in a couple of weeks (or whatever the length of the project) to see how everything went and make sure he has everything he needs.

One rule I find myself fighting but inevitably fall back on is ALWAYS be the professional. (But you knew that!)

-Jess

By: Kristen King

Kristen King — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 21:51:00 +0000

It's funny, when my sister-in-law was buying her current home, she ran into a weird, somewhat related problem with her realtor and her mortgage guy. Evidently, they had some long-standing feud going on, and they positively refused to communicate with one another. Faxes mysteriously disappeared, contracts never showed up, all in all it was a real treat, and I can tell you right now that neither of them will ever get any kind of referral from anyone in our family EVER. Business is business, and you need to behave like a business person in order to succeed. Lori, you've clearly got the hang of that, but it looks like some clients may still need a little work.

kk