Comments on: What Would You Do About a Client Like This One? http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one Income-boosting resources for commercial writers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:48:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Lisa MacColl http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one/comment-page-1#comment-3614 Lisa MacColl Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:23:12 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=179#comment-3614 I had a client approach me with a brochure request that they wanted turned around in 4 days-over the Labour Day weekend. I needed the business, but I knew I couldn't produce quality in that short a time frame, because this was a brand new client. I advised them that I was not willing to sacrifice quality and could not produce a quality product that would let them shine to their clients in the time frame given, and turned the job down. The president of the company was impressed that I wouldn't cut quality, and hired me with a more reasonable time frame and I produced quality product. Neither the client nor I would have been satisfied with the brochure I would have turned out in 4 days. I had a client approach me with a brochure request that they wanted turned around in 4 days-over the Labour Day weekend. I needed the business, but I knew I couldn’t produce quality in that short a time frame, because this was a brand new client.

I advised them that I was not willing to sacrifice quality and could not produce a quality product that would let them shine to their clients in the time frame given, and turned the job down. The president of the company was impressed that I wouldn’t cut quality, and hired me with a more reasonable time frame and I produced quality product.

Neither the client nor I would have been satisfied with the brochure I would have turned out in 4 days.

]]> By: Alan Kravitz http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one/comment-page-1#comment-2673 Alan Kravitz Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:56:01 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=179#comment-2673 Roxanne, Definitely read Peter's books when it comes to pricing. They've been a big help to me ever since I started on my own. Also, Chris Marlow does a lot of helpful stuff in this area. She even does pretty comprehensive surveys that give you an idea what various writers charge for various types of projects. Roxanne,

Definitely read Peter’s books when it comes to pricing. They’ve been a big help to me ever since I started on my own. Also, Chris Marlow does a lot of helpful stuff in this area. She even does pretty comprehensive surveys that give you an idea what various writers charge for various types of projects.

]]> By: Hope Clark http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one/comment-page-1#comment-2589 Hope Clark Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:32:27 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=179#comment-2589 Thanks, Mark. I'm toying with a third edition of The Shy Writer because I keep getting requests for it. Hard to believe I published it in 2004 and a second edition in 2007. Thanks, Mark. I’m toying with a third edition of The Shy Writer because I keep getting requests for it. Hard to believe I published it in 2004 and a second edition in 2007.

]]> By: Roxane B. Salonen http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one/comment-page-1#comment-2586 Roxane B. Salonen Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:13:25 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=179#comment-2586 Mark, thanks so much. What a supportive community you've started here, Peter! And I have read "The Well-Fed Writer" and recommended it to others, but perhaps need to read it several more times. I definitely will add Lucy Parker's book to my list as well, and Hope's too, in time. Appreciate all of your great insight! Hopefully in time I'll be able to add some of my own wisdom to the pool. BTW, I have been reaching out quite a bit. It feels very hopeful but still a ways to go before feeling firm in this path. Mark, thanks so much. What a supportive community you’ve started here, Peter! And I have read “The Well-Fed Writer” and recommended it to others, but perhaps need to read it several more times. I definitely will add Lucy Parker’s book to my list as well, and Hope’s too, in time. Appreciate all of your great insight! Hopefully in time I’ll be able to add some of my own wisdom to the pool. BTW, I have been reaching out quite a bit. It feels very hopeful but still a ways to go before feeling firm in this path.

]]> By: Mark Keating http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one/comment-page-1#comment-2585 Mark Keating Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:01:29 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=179#comment-2585 Roxane: I will echo Alan's advice to read Peter's book. Lots of practical advice on every page. One of the resources he mentions was to a book written another FLCW named Lucy Parker, "How to Start a Home Based Writing Business." The two books complement each other nicely. Lucy has an excellent chapter about setting fees, and includes a worksheet for doing so. I found that very helpful. What it comes down to is knowing your market. The better you can define it, the easier it will be to capture some of it. First and foremostt - as Peter keeps reminding us - the FLCW market is NOT the $10-per-article Craigslist race to the bottom. You need to find some other writers in your area, tell them what you want to do, and listen to them. Tell everybody you know what you're doing, and ask if they know anybody who does something similar. And don't forget Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, meetup - these are your friends. Hope Clark, who made an appearance earlier in this discussion, also has some wonderful resources. I found her book "The Shy Writer" particularly helpful. Good luck! Mark Roxane:

I will echo Alan’s advice to read Peter’s book. Lots of practical advice on every page. One of the resources he mentions was to a book written another FLCW named Lucy Parker, “How to Start a Home Based Writing Business.” The two books complement each other nicely. Lucy has an excellent chapter about setting fees, and includes a worksheet for doing so. I found that very helpful.

What it comes down to is knowing your market. The better you can define it, the easier it will be to capture some of it. First and foremostt – as Peter keeps reminding us – the FLCW market is NOT the $10-per-article Craigslist race to the bottom. You need to find some other writers in your area, tell them what you want to do, and listen to them. Tell everybody you know what you’re doing, and ask if they know anybody who does something similar. And don’t forget Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, meetup – these are your friends.

Hope Clark, who made an appearance earlier in this discussion, also has some wonderful resources. I found her book “The Shy Writer” particularly helpful.

Good luck!

Mark

]]> By: Alan Allard http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one/comment-page-1#comment-2582 Alan Allard Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:16:14 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=179#comment-2582 Tess, thanks for sharing that! Congratulations on your well deserved success. Tess, thanks for sharing that! Congratulations on your well deserved success.

]]> By: Tess Wittler http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one/comment-page-1#comment-2581 Tess Wittler Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:33:48 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=179#comment-2581 This discussion is really valuable to me! I recently "pushed back" with a new client with a deadline I simply couldn't work with. I really, really, really wanted to work with this new client, too, but I simply couldn't fit her project into my already jammed-up schedule. So I told her that as much as I wanted to work with her, I simply couldn't begin the project until X. She paused, and I knew she was considering my soft counter offer. She agreed to the new date, and pushed back the entire project a few weeks until I could be a part of it. A victory for me and my self-worth! :) This discussion is really valuable to me! I recently “pushed back” with a new client with a deadline I simply couldn’t work with. I really, really, really wanted to work with this new client, too, but I simply couldn’t fit her project into my already jammed-up schedule. So I told her that as much as I wanted to work with her, I simply couldn’t begin the project until X. She paused, and I knew she was considering my soft counter offer. She agreed to the new date, and pushed back the entire project a few weeks until I could be a part of it. A victory for me and my self-worth! :)

]]> By: Heidi Fogle http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one/comment-page-1#comment-2574 Heidi Fogle Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:59:14 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=179#comment-2574 I have trained people in business communications for most of my adult life. Setting boundaries is easier for some of us than for others. My business partner is, even by her admission, a real wuss but she has even become more comfortable with it and found, as do most people, that setting boundaries is beneficial even though it makes one uncomfortable. I think you've received a lot of good advice already. Only you can decide if the motivation is there for follow through or if it's just too risky. http://fittingwords.wordpress.com/ is my new freelance writing website devoted to helping people come up with just the right words for difficult situations. I give you four words to ponder:go,face,walk and lead. Is it worth it for you to go to the client and set limits? Is it too fearful for you for you to face them at this time? Is the path that you would be walking one that you can sustain with not only this client but with others? Is it possible for you to lead the way for other writers in your spot by risking the client for the sake of emphasizing a realistic deadline for the sake of all others in our industry? I have trained people in business communications for most of my adult life. Setting boundaries is easier for some of us than for others. My business partner is, even by her admission, a real wuss but she has even become more comfortable with it and found, as do most people, that setting boundaries is beneficial even though it makes one uncomfortable.

I think you’ve received a lot of good advice already. Only you can decide if the motivation is there for follow through or if it’s just too risky.

http://fittingwords.wordpress.com/ is my new freelance writing website devoted to helping people come up with just the right words for difficult situations. I give you four words to ponder:go,face,walk and lead. Is it worth it for you to go to the client and set limits? Is it too fearful for you for you to face them at this time? Is the path that you would be walking one that you can sustain with not only this client but with others? Is it possible for you to lead the way for other writers in your spot by risking the client for the sake of emphasizing a realistic deadline for the sake of all others in our industry?

]]> By: Marlene Oliveira http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one/comment-page-1#comment-2570 Marlene Oliveira Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:24:10 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=179#comment-2570 I agree with Steve Rainwater's comment as he makes a very important point. Having been the client for many years, I know the realities. A seven-day review is not at all an indication of how unimportant deadlines are. In fact, your client may have so many checks and balances they need to cover, seven days may be extremely tight for them. Chasing executive sign-off/review on marketing materials is not an easy task! However, it does say something that all of your assignments are 'rush' jobs. That, to me, is and indication that your client needs to get organized! I agree with Steve Rainwater’s comment as he makes a very important point. Having been the client for many years, I know the realities. A seven-day review is not at all an indication of how unimportant deadlines are. In fact, your client may have so many checks and balances they need to cover, seven days may be extremely tight for them. Chasing executive sign-off/review on marketing materials is not an easy task!

However, it does say something that all of your assignments are ‘rush’ jobs. That, to me, is and indication that your client needs to get organized!

]]> By: Lori Widmer http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/what-would-you-do-about-a-client-like-this-one/comment-page-1#comment-2569 Lori Widmer Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:11:03 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=179#comment-2569 Here's one for you to consider, Peter - I have a client I'd fired two years ago. Long story short, she brought in a third party at the end of the book project. The guy wanted the entire focus changed. Mind you, he wasn't a personal friend of hers - a DJ in another city who'd written one self-help book. After she promised to leave him out of the equation and promptly included his edits in the next email, I walked away. She came back this week. Best part - she came back with edits on an article, which of course she needed by the end of the day. And she added, "Did you think we were finished? Soon!" That indicated she expected this work to be done under the OLD project price. I did answer (stupid, stupid, stupid) and tell her that I was entirely too busy with other projects to help, but that my cursory glance found no glaring errors. Her response - "That's okay. I can push the deadline to Wednesday." I'm handling this as I did two years ago. I'm ignoring the emails. Engaging her with any explanation has not worked. Here’s one for you to consider, Peter – I have a client I’d fired two years ago. Long story short, she brought in a third party at the end of the book project. The guy wanted the entire focus changed. Mind you, he wasn’t a personal friend of hers – a DJ in another city who’d written one self-help book. After she promised to leave him out of the equation and promptly included his edits in the next email, I walked away.

She came back this week. Best part – she came back with edits on an article, which of course she needed by the end of the day. And she added, “Did you think we were finished? Soon!” That indicated she expected this work to be done under the OLD project price.

I did answer (stupid, stupid, stupid) and tell her that I was entirely too busy with other projects to help, but that my cursory glance found no glaring errors. Her response – “That’s okay. I can push the deadline to Wednesday.”

I’m handling this as I did two years ago. I’m ignoring the emails. Engaging her with any explanation has not worked.

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