How Not to Fail at Freelancing
/Any writer without some business sense is destined to fail. To succeed with clients and enjoy a freelance career in writing, consider the following points:
1. Client Diversity – Stability, Leverage, & Satisfaction
After building a strong portfolio, freelance writers should strive to secure a second client as quickly as possible. Such advice may seem a bit counterintuitive, as many newcomers may feel more inclined to fixate on perfecting their first few projects. Although satisfying the first client is an indisputable priority, it is only one of many keys to ensuring future success. Another core element of a thriving practice is business stability, which arises from cultivating a deep list of high-quality clients. One client can be pleasant and pay well in the present, but there is no guarantee that this source of work will remain this way in the future. Furthermore, points of contact at companies regularly come and go, and businesses can have equally capricious needs. Losing anything in life is much more tolerable when suitable replacements are ready to go – clients are no exception.
Critically, a second client also offers valuable perspective on how the first values a freelancer overall. Without additional viewpoints, freelancers will struggle immensely to ascertain whether or not they are being treated well by their first client. From a strategic perspective, clients that know that a freelancer is deriving significant income from them will eventually come to hold uncomfortable leverage in their relationship. Some may even knowingly capitalize on this imbalance and try to extract more for less. Sadly, this same toxic dynamic drives the misery of many employees slaving away for abusive employers worldwide. Avoiding and even reversing this relationship requires abundance. By having multiple clients to choose from on a regular basis, the freelancer actually holds the power by selecting who benefits from his or her collaboration. It is in the best interests of clients to treat those who excel at their craft with respect. Freelancers with a deficit in self-esteem would do well to remember that it is not always easy for clients to find people who are talented, reliable, and personable. By recognizing their value, good freelancers can equalize the field and derive the satisfaction they deserve from their work.
2. Project Diversity – Keep It Fresh & Fun
Although some may take comfort in doing the same work over and over again, I find that having some project diversity can help keep freelancing fresh. Cultivating new skills is also particularly valuable in a dynamic field like medical writing, where information delivery methods are evolving as rapidly as the content itself. As technology advances, so too will the formats used to disseminate information. In a changing world, writers with diversified skillsets will probably prove most attractive to coveted, high-paying clients. Beyond enhancing a writer’s appeal, project diversity can also help freelancers spontaneously discover a new focus for business that is either more fun, more lucrative, or even both. Over time, it is okay to pivot the orientation and goals of a business – what’s ultimately important is surviving and thriving. Monotony, at best, offers the lowest form of comfort and arguably sows the seeds of long-term discontent. Success in businesses large and small tends to come to those who are proactive instead of reactive. Mix things up and see how it can keep operations moving smoothly!
3. Contracts – Always Use Protection
One of the greatest privileges of standard employment is the clear sense of structure conferred by companies. In good organizations, corporate policies and the scope of a position are well-defined, which simplifies the process of evaluating success. Such order can be noticeably absent in the interactions between clients and freelancers, especially if the latter fails to structure the working relationship. Although contracts can seem overly formal, do not engage any paid client without having one in place. This document, beyond protecting the client, protects the freelancer and will provide clarity on many matters that can cause uncertainty and stress (e.g., deadlines, compensation, etc.). In my experience, professional clients will not hesitate to sign an agreement or furnish a standard contract for freelancers. In fact, most will appreciate such professionalism and commitment to the work being done. Without one, realize that there is the risk of not getting compensated for completed work and having no legal recourse for abuses. Additionally, there is the possibility that the work performed will not be used in ways the writer had intended or approved. Take the time to draft contracts for every single engagement. The drudgery of filling a template out regularly is far preferable to the torment of resolving client conflicts in the absence of a binding agreement.
If a freelancer enjoys a more regular working relationship with a company, consider a master service agreement that encompasses multiple engagements done over time. Beyond outlining basic terms like rates, freelancers should also include a scope creep clause that prevents a client from mercilessly piling on additional work to any given engagement. When projects deviate significantly from the originally defined terms, freelancers have a reasonable right to request additional compensation to cover unexpected additions. Writers who proactively protect their time will protect their happiness, along with the relationships that they forged over time with paying clients.
4. Staggered Deadlines – Treat Yourself Right
If freelancers successfully cultivate a broad roster of clients, they will almost certainly have to balance multiple deadlines that overlap. Although the degree to which writers can control their due dates is rather limited, I have found it helpful to actively communicate timing concerns with clients. Point contacts with whom writers have built significant rapport will most likely understand a freelancer’s perspective and can often grant extra time for a project. That said, this flexibility often only exists when writers broach such concerns at the beginning of an engagement. Clients would much rather modify internal deadlines for projects at the start of a project than towards the end. Indeed, few actions can do more to damage a writer’s credibility with a client than failing to deliver work on a specified due date. To avoid being the bearer of such bad news demands good planning.
The tantalizing prospect of collecting an additional rush fee for a project with a short turnaround time can prove tough to resist, but it is best to decline such offerings on a full schedule. Clients may feel fleeting disappointment when a project is declined by a freelancer, but they will become apoplectic if the freelancer accepts the job, botches it, and then demands a premium fee for the disaster. Preserving good relationships with clients should take precedence over a short-term boost in earnings; the reputation of a writer’s work is a precious asset that can be easily damaged. When determining projects to accept or decline, prioritizing the kindest, highest-paying, and most frequent clients is often best. That said, this advice must be tempered with the advice above regarding client diversity. For best results, start small with new clients. Such projects fit easily into a schedule and leave both parties with fewer bad feelings if the project does not proceed as smoothly as hoped.