lwidmer | Words on the Page

Is Negative Branding Killing Your Freelance Biz?

Posted on by lwidmer

Picture this: You’re on a public forum where lots and lots of company execs hang out. You can post anything you want to attract attention, build name recognition, draw people to you. Here’s what you choose: I’m sick and tired of prospective clients asking me the same questions! No, I don’t want to send you…

All Freelance Advice is Not Created Equal

Posted on by lwidmer

Sigh. (insert large exhale here) A writer friend alerted me to a few posts and tweets seen recently that offer “writing tips” from freelancers that can help nearly any writer find more work this year. I guess the word “freelancer” is pretty loosely defined these days. I’m not saying only veteran writers have great advice…

The “What Should I Do When” Freelance Post

Posted on by lwidmer

Not long ago, I followed up with a client with whom I’d gotten all the way to the part where they send the NDA and contract. It never arrived. It wasn’t as though they weren’t eager to get going on the projects, nor was it that I’d done anything to make them bolt. A pandemic…

Market in 2021 Like a Freelance Boss

Posted on by lwidmer

A few weekends ago, I sat down to tally up my invoices for 2020 and pay that final self-employment tax installment. It’s an exercise that used to fill me with untold amounts of angst. I loathe figuring taxes. I never get the percentage right no matter how high I estimate. This year, I still owed…

Freelance Writing Projects: Warnings Signs (& fixes)

Posted on by lwidmer

A writer friend called me the other day about a project a contact had proposed. As I listened to my friend’s overview of the project, I got the same gut response she did — This project is, and always will be, a nonstarter. Not everything we writers deem to be a lousy business idea is…

The Great Freelance Rate Debate

Posted on by lwidmer

There was another discussion on yesterday’s Twitter #FreelanceChat about rates. Ironic since the chat was about negotiation, but rates are indeed part of that. And not saying the rate discussion isn’t warranted — far too many writers don’t know what to charge for their services. What I am saying is the discussion isn’t needed. I…

Taming the Freelance Project from Hell

Posted on by lwidmer

Question: How many of you have taken on a freelance project that turned out to be one speed bump after another? Yea, me too. Let’s face it — even the best writer is going to come across that one project that threatens to break them. I had one such project recently that, while small and…

Freelance Game Plan: January

Posted on by lwidmer

Welcome to 2021. It already looks better, doesn’t it? That is, unless you’re trying to kickstart your freelancing business. However, I have good news for you: [bctt tweet=”You can find #freelancewriting clients any time of year.” username=”LoriWidmer”] Fact: clients need freelance writing help any time of year. Another fact: finding them isn’t always easy. But…

Does Your Freelancing Say ‘Amateur’?

Posted on by lwidmer

Maybe it was bad SEO keyword use. Or maybe it’s just lousy writing. Honestly, on my first read, it didn’t really matter, because I tuned out. A writer friend sent over what is probably one of the worst examples of whatever kind of writing this bot was trying to emulate. Yes, I said bot. I…

Why Burning Freelance Writing Bridges Sucks

Posted on by lwidmer

A short while back, I got an email from someone I’d done some projects for once upon a time. The note set me back on my heels. Let me back up — the fact that I got a note from this particular contact at all was a pretty major shock. This is a former client,…

Gabriella

Holy cow. The entitlement.

I’ve burned a bridge only once that I recall, and it was for the same reason you did. The client was beginning to be a slow payer. Eventually, he asked if he could pay by credit card. I don’t remember exactly how it devolved from there, but in the end, the client got mad when I wasn’t a team player on his launch.

Nope, dude, you launched a business. I already have one. If you want a partner, that’s a different story.

Don’t get me wrong. I go above and beyond for lots of clients in lots of ways. But the ones who EXPECT you to roll with their punches and get mad if you don’t? Nope, you’ve got the wrong gal.

1. lwidmer
  
  Gabriella, that sounds like the client burned the bridge, not you. And good riddance to him!
  
  About that pseudo-partnership on his business launch: you nailed it. That’s exactly what he expected — your unwavering loyalty and buy-in to his passion. When will some of these people learn that their labor of love is not our sacrifice, too?
  
  Once had a client who insisted on weekly, unpaid “team” calls. Since I wasn’t getting paid and I had paying work in front of me, I skipped the second call. My god, my phones and email went nuts — where are you? We’re having a team call, did you forget? Phone in as soon as you can.
  
  I did. Not once did they ask me a question, refer to anything I was doing, or pay me for my time. This is the same client who asked if I’d refer prospective clients to them. Right. Next!
Paula Hendrickson

I’ve never publicly named even the worst of past clients, but I have created nicknamed used to discuss them in public forums. They likely wouldn’t recognize themselves in my comments, and if they did, they’re smart enough to realize I have disguised their identity. I have named them privately to other writers who have either worked for them or said they were going to contact them.

The worst clients weren’t trying to actively cheat writers. They simply didn’t know how to treat us properly. Maybe one day they’ll realized their turnover rate wouldn’t be as high if they learn to treat freelancers with professional respect.

That reminds me: lately I’ve noticed multiple job listings from the same content company. Every couple months they advertise for the same freelance positions. Their first mistake: admitting they only pay $20/hour. Just a theory, but maybe if they paid better, or demanded less for the amount they pay, contributors would last more than a couple weeks?

1. lwidmer
  
  I’ve not named any publicly either, Paula. I change up the details enough that they wouldn’t recognize themselves even if they were reading. Hmm, would be interesting if they thought ‘Wow, that client’s a real jerk!’ wouldn’t it?
  
  I wish I could say the same about clients not actively trying to cheat writers. I’ve had it happen, thankfully just a few times, that the intent from the outset was to get as much work out of me as possible before they disappeared. It’s why payment up front makes so much sense.
  
  Gee, $20 an hour and they wonder why they’re not keeping freelancers? Wonder what the workload is like. I know someone who just quit a FT job because it required them to work from 5 am to well past 6 pm. No benefits, of course.
  
  It’s when I see employers/clients like that that I wonder about the karma that’s owed to so many people out there.
Sharon Hurley Hall

Well said, Lori. I don’t name any publicly, either, and only mention them privately if I need to warn a fellow freelancer. But I agree that once a bridge is burned, it stays burned. I have a short list of people I’ll never work with again. It’s not worth the hassle. But I am sometimes amused by people contacting me after forgetting the last conversation we had – I usually just chuckle to myself before turning them down.

Krista

Yup, I’ve definitely burned a few bridges over the years. One was working for someone who always payed late, scheduled calls and never showed up, and didn’t ever understand I couldn’t just drop everything and do what he asked right away. Other clients just kind of fell away after I kept turning them down for better paying work. And other client I loved on a personal level and they paid well, but I just no longer felt okay with the content they were asking me to write. That one was tough.