Comments on: Writers Worth Tip: Avoiding Empty Promises from Clients

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 18:00:46 +0000

Amen, Paula. Leave it to you to have the right approach. 🙂

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:25:34 +0000

Instead of facing the waiting game, I try my best to ignore it. I don't start on anything until the deal is finalized and I've been given all of the information I need to get started.

If it's not important enough for the (potential) client to follow through, it's not important enough for me to reserve time for it until they get me what I need to do the job.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:22:04 +0000

Oh, it's universal for sure, Melanie. I don't know one writer who hasn't faced the waiting game.

Don't you love clients like that? I love that kind of connection. However, that same connection makes us hesitate to bring it up when they fall back on promises. Friendly reminders maybe, but more than likely a phone call will sort it out easier.

Still, some people are simply terminally late. :)

By: Melanie Kissell

Melanie Kissell — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 21:36:48 +0000

I have one client, Lori, whom I'd eagerly and happily choose as a personal friend (if she didn't live on the other side of the country). You know, the kind of gal I'd enjoy going shopping with and discussing life with over drinks.

HOWEVER ...

She's the guiltiest party of all for making the "I'll get that project over to you tomorrow" kind of promises. I've waited as long as four months for her to get an assignment to me that was promised in 24 hours. Sheesh. Drives me batty.

All I can conclude, especially after reading your post, is that false promises from clients (or prospective clients) must be a universal syndrome!Boo-Hiss. :(

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 15:30:16 +0000

Great line, Cathy. I'm going to use that. Sounds to me like you already know the answer to the absentee client, though I had one that reappeared after 9 months (like giving birth at that point). They put me on retainer for a year, too. In fact, I just finished another project for them last week. It can sometimes pay to follow up. :)

I've used a version of your line with people I've tried to hire. One lawn service just never responded, so I left this message: "I've called a few times, and I'm hoping you're taking on new customers. If not, that's fine, but please let me know either way as we've heard such good things about you and we don't want to move on unless we must."

He called within an hour with apologies. That was after three attempts to reach him went unanswered. He couldn't take us on, but he was really nice on the voice message.

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 13:13:08 +0000

The worst for me are those who ask for a specific proposal with options. You take the long time it takes to pull it together and then play the follow-up echo game. Hello...hello...hello

I typically try to give them an "out" just so I can hear something. e.g., I am following up to our discussion regarding XYZ project. Are you ready to move forward or have your plans taken a different direction?

It almost always works to get some kind of response. Although I have one prospect who came to me, had multiple emails and a call who does the "Thanks for the information. I will review this next week" and does nothing over and over again. It's been almost a year.

Like you, Lori, I touch base but in my mind I've written this one off. If it happens, great. If it doesn't, I will not lose sleep over it.