4 Things to Stop Doing That Will Grow Your Freelance Business

Just when you think nothing can shock you, something else does.

A friend of mine moderates a LinkedIn group. The group has specific rules regarding what you can and cannot post. For example, one cannot post a thread that’s a link to that person’s blog or website or anything that is intended to be self-promotional. Since the group was set up to be a discussion group for the business of freelancing, driving traffic elsewhere is frowned upon.

And yet, there are people who not only don’t get this, but disagree vehemently.

One gent submitted a post that was no more than a link back to his blog. My friend, who moderates all posts, rejected it and gave him the standard “no promotions allowed” note. End of discussion.

Except it wasn’t. What happened next: he asked for explanation. My friend gave it. He then pushed: it’s not promotional — it just happens to be on my website (which again, drives traffic to his website and away from the discussion group). When she repeated the rules, he tossed out an insult. Then another until it was a full-blown, name-calling rant.

All because he didn’t like the rules. He said so. Called the rules proof that my friend is a “despot” running a “fiefdom.”

At no point did this guy stop to think that with tens of thousands of members, if the group allowed outside links, the floodgates would be opened and no discussion would be occurring. He didn’t care. He wanted what he wanted and she was standing in his way. He also didn’t stop to think that maybe this is a writer who’s in a position to hire or to refer. Oh, the bridges we burn….

I’ll make a prediction right now — writers like this are writers who don’t hold on to clients for very long. You can’t. You can’t hit people with the “your rules don’t apply to me” attitude and expect them to say “Oh gosh, you’re right! We didn’t realize how special you are!”

[bctt tweet=”The argumentative #freelance writer is the unemployed freelance writer.” username=”LoriWidmer”]

Unfortunately, he’s no exception. On that same LI group, I’ve seen people arguing openly that old line “LinkedIn is all about self-promotion….” including the reason they should be exempt from the rules.

Ah, the smell of a career on fire.

That’s just one of the ways in which freelancers are killing their businesses. And while the ways in which people are screwing up their livelihood are myriad, here are a few I’ve found particularly baffling:

Ignoring the parameters.

Like our insulting little friend mentioned previously, there are times you must follow the rules. They exist because, well, people like that are there waiting to take advantage. The client wants to see specific clips, but you decide you don’t want to send them. Then you get pissed because they didn’t hire you. Honey, your ability to follow instructions is your first test. If you can’t do that, you’ll never hear from them again.

It’s okay to question the rules when it’s appropriate. It’s not okay to get nasty because you want to be the exception. Clients will not work with people who appear to be difficult to work with, even if you’re not. The appearance that you’ll be trouble is enough to make them turn away.

Following the herd.

Remember not long ago when the internet was caught up in those in-the-moment must-haves for success?

• “Long-form bog posts are essential!”
• “Shorter blog posts are all the rage!”
• “You must have a blog!”
• “It’s all about content marketing!”
• “Internet copywriting is a must-have in your writing arsenal!”

Here’s the thing — fads are not yours to worry about, in my opinion. What you should put energy into is building a freelance business based on what fits for your personality, your business and, frankly, your interests. No amount of following the “latest” advice drummed up by someone trying to fill a blog quota is getting you where you want to be. Consistent effort at things you want to be doing nets better, more sustainable results.

Staying in your bubble.

It’s a big, scary world out there, I know. You’ve carved out this niche and while you don’t make a ton of money, you’re holding your own; well, almost. But guess what? It’s also a big, ripe world for anyone who wants to expand their horizons (even a little). Your niche (or for you generalists, the projects you love doing most) come with skills that can go beyond what you have going on right now. Imagine taking that horticulture knowledge, for example, might fit nicely in the areas of agriculture, cannabis, or soil management.

By staying in that bubble, you’re robbing yourself of plenty of opportunity to grow your freelance writing business and hey, make more money. By looking sideways to other areas, you could open up new doors and reach into deeper pockets.

Sticking with the tasks in front of you.

Yes, they need doing, but you need to be looking at what’s on the horizon. Is there work arriving in the next two weeks? No? Get busy marketing then. Network like mad, and upsell to current clients. Also, get some magazine article ideas circulating. While they may be more one-and-done in nature, they’re good money and another way to get your name in front of potential clients.

Another method that breaks you out of this cycle of always looking for work is to shift your mindset. You’re not just writing — you’re partnering. You are taking on the goals and the well-being of your client. Make suggestions. Give them ideas. Make it easy for them to work with you. Sure, you’re getting their projects completed, but what else can you do for them? Locate publications for their thought leadership pieces or maybe give them some social media boosts perhaps. Or maybe they are hit-and-miss with the project deliverables. Could you help with suggested articles/topics and maybe offer to write a number of things ahead of that schedule so they’re not always scrambling at deadline time? Sure you can.

Writers, what things could some writers drop from their habits that would make life easier for them?
What’s one of your go-to ways of improving your business results?