I upgraded to WP 2.7.1 – big jump from 2.5, where I was. Broke a few plugins – I’m hoping the new Live+Press actually works right. Most everything else seems to be ok.
So I’ve been reading some articles on the InterTubes about “freelancing”. Now having done freelance work for many years, but really putting hard effort into making a living at it this last 18 months, I have what I think to be a pretty solid perspective on things. I’m talking primarily about my segment of the industry – web design, development, etc, though it could cross into graphic design, copywriting, and the like. The first thing I have to say to most freelancers out there: It’s because of you that I have work. A major source of work for me is cleaning up after freelancers who either have no business being in this industry as designers, or no business being in business as a business owner. Did you hear the work business a lot in that sentence? I hope so, because as a freelancer, that’s what you are. So I thought I’d take some time out from the regular BORE of my blog and write something with some hopefully valuable content. This will be the first in a series. The series will be over when I’ve decided I’ve written about enough lessons. So it could be a one-part series, or this could continue on into 2012. We’ll see how it goes.
The first thing I’ve learned as a freelancer, is I think the single most important key to success: Communicate with your clients. In fact, every other lesson I’m going to write about are things you can avoid learning the hard way, by simply being a good communicator. OVER-communicate. Don’t keep your clients in the dark. Don’t try to ‘put one over on them’. Don’t promise what you can’t deliver, and be sure to deliver what you promise.
The worst thing you can do is avoid communication. When you’re running behind, and you aren’t able to meet a deadline, we tend to build up this gigantic confrontation in our minds (ok, maybe that’s just me). In reality, if your client has been in business for more than 10 minutes, they understand. They probably struggle to meet deadlines just like you do. That’s the problem of having work to do – which nowadays is a good problem. Most clients will understand if you pick up the phone, proactively, and tell them where you stand and what they can expect. What they don’t understand is why they’re paying you good money and they can’t get a hold of you and your deadline is 4 days past. And let’s be honest here – unless the client is paying you so much money that it’s worth it, a client that will verbally abuse you for falling behind isn’t a client you want. Once you can communicate your status, give an expectation that the client can count on. Then live up to it. If your deadline is today but you can’t deliver until Friday, say so. Then DO IT. Don’t say Thursday because they want to hear it, just tell the truth, then live up to it.
Your client will respect you, ultimately. And a client that respects you is a client for life – and a client that will pay more to work with someone they can trust. Almost all my business is based on referral. I occasionally hit Craigslist for a gig or two, but that’s the exception nowadays. A referral by a client who knows you are up front and honest is infinitely more valuable than any other. The reason a company is hiring a freelancer is because they don’t have the expertise in-house to do what you do – they are paying for your expertise. They are looking for a reason to trust you, otherwise they wouldn’t be paying the higher hourly rate. So always give clients a reason to trust you. Be open and honest, and you’ll set yourself above most freelancers. But if you want to be an incommunicative liar, that’s fine too — keep the bar low, that just means another client that is an easy sell for me. But I’d like for our industry to have a better reputation than that.
So that’s the first lesson in Freelancing. Stay tuned for Lesson 2, titled “Who’s the Boss?”. (rumors of an appearance by Tony Danza have been greatly exaggerated).
