Once I first began freelance writing, I spent approach an excessive amount of time worrying about my emblem and model colours.
Ought to it’s teal or coral? Serif or sans-serif? Did my homepage look “skilled sufficient” for somebody to belief me?
I might tweak little issues late at evening — spacing, colours, buttons — pondering this was the ultimate element that will make purchasers take me critically.
However you recognize what no consumer ever requested me?
“Elna, what font did you employ in your homepage?”
Not as soon as.
As a result of your model is the half purchasers truly bear in mind and has nothing to do together with your header picture or your shade palette.
It’s not the gorgeous surface-level stuff we obsess over at the start.
Your actual model exhibits up within the locations purchasers don’t see in your web site like:
- The e-mail you ship when timelines shift
- The tone you employ when a undertaking feels messy
- The endurance you deliver to a last-minute edit
- The kindness you provide when a consumer is overwhelmed
Your model exhibits up within the quiet locations.
Within the anxious moments.
Within the “this wasn’t within the transient, however let’s determine it out” conversations.
And most of all?
Your model exhibits up when one thing goes improper.
That’s typically the second purchasers determine whether or not they need to work with you once more. Not throughout onboarding… however through the hiccups.
If you wish to know the way this performs out in actual consumer relationships, and why being straightforward to work with is your actual energy as a contract author, carry on studying.
When a Freelance Writing Undertaking Falls Aside
Just a few in the past, I had a SaaS consumer whose workforce modified route and I used to be most likely the final to learn about this.
I bear in mind on a Monday I’d map out a content material plan… and by the next week half of it was outdated as a result of the product roadmap shifted once more.
Previous me would’ve panicked. Or overthought it. Or assumed I did one thing improper.
However over time, I realized that reacting with flexibility was often the quickest technique to stabilize the state of affairs.
As a substitute of replying with frustration, I’d responded with one thing like;
“Acquired it! Simply ship over the up to date transient and I’ll regulate.”
Nothing dramatic.
However don’t let this imply you must simply fold and let the consumer stroll throughout you.
In fact, I obliged for some time however as soon as it impacted my psychological well being and I simply couldn’t adapt that shortly, I let go of this consumer and moved on.
However this gig taught me that being straightforward to work with is a aggressive benefit no AI instrument or cut price freelancer can replicate.
Anybody can write a sentence however not everybody can keep skilled when the undertaking shifts for the third time in every week.
If you happen to’ve ever had a consumer whose plans change each 5 minutes, right here are some things that helped me keep sane and shield my enterprise:
1. Keep Regular within the Second
There shall be occasions in your freelance writing profession {that a} enterprise might pivot their content material schedule or route as an entire.
When plans shift, reply calmly and purchase your self respiratory room: “Thanks for the replace — ship the revised transient when you’ll be able to.”
That’s all you’ll be able to actually do for the primary time but when if turns into regular this is probably not the consumer for you.
In any other case, if the consumer doesn’t have a quick you can even provide that service for them!
One factor to recollect although, is to vet your purchasers within the interview stage.
That is the time to ask them about their content material or weblog and the kinds of content material they’ve or need.
2. Get Readability Earlier than Transferring Ahead
It’s okay to ask easy follow-up questions so that you’re not guessing your approach by means of a transferring goal.
When a consumer modifications route, they’re often juggling inside conversations, and issues can get muddy quick.
Just a few fast questions like:
- “What’s the brand new angle?”
- “What ought to I prioritize?”
- “Does this transformation the timeline?”
This might help you pin down precisely what they want proper now.
You don’t need to rewrite a whole draft solely to search out out they needed one thing fully totally different.
These questions forestall misunderstandings, preserve you aligned with the consumer’s targets, and make the undertaking simpler for everybody concerned.
However, understand if this turns into an even bigger drawback, it’s time to let this consumer go.
I had considered one of my Writeto1k course college students inform our Fb group a couple of long-term consumer pivoting their content material after which deciding to decrease the speed for this author.
Ultimately, this particular person determined to now not work for this consumer.
3. Reset Expectations When Wanted
If the content material pivot impacts your schedule or workload, communicate up early earlier than it snowballs into stress.
You’re not refusing the work, you’re simply adjusting the timeline so you’ll be able to ship one thing strong.
For instance, I had one consumer have me write 1x week as a substitute of 1x biweekly. I used to be okay with this as I solely had one different consumer on the time.
But when this pivot disrupts your course of or day, easy message like: “With the change, I’ll want till Friday to ship. Does that work?” units a boundary with out sounding defensive or overwhelmed.
Most purchasers admire this type of honesty.
They need to know what to anticipate and when to count on it.
Clear construction helps coients plan on their finish, and it retains you from speeding by means of a draft you don’t have time for.
And whenever you talk these shifts clearly, you shield your workload and preserve belief.
4. Know When to Stroll Away
Generally consumer will change into a bitter or dangerous consumer down the street.
That’s okay, it has nothing to do with you or your writing!
And whereas flexibility is a helpful attribute, it shouldn’t come at the price of your well being or bandwidth.
There’s a distinction between being straightforward to work with and being stretched so skinny you’ll be able to’t suppose straight.
That’s why I don’t tackle greater than 3 purchasers AT THE MOST.
I’ve different companies, different blogs, and twins…I’m already busy.
Different freelancers can tackle extra purchasers however for me, that’s not attainable.
When a consumer’s fixed modifications begin draining you, that’s a sign, not one thing you need to ignore.
If each replace appears like a fireplace drill, otherwise you’re rearranging your whole week time and again, it’s okay to step again.
You’re not being troublesome.
You’re defending the standard of your work and your psychological well-being.
Some purchasers suit your workflow and respect your course of.
Others function in a approach that doesn’t align with how you’re employed finest.
That isn’t a failure, it’s simply a part of freelance writing.
The extra you take note of these patterns, the better it turns into to decide on purchasers who allow you to do your finest work with out burning out.
How I Constructed a Model So That Purchasers See as “Dependable”
It took me years to construct the model that I’ve now.
So, did I construct a dependable model?
For me, reliability confirmed up in a these easy habits that finally was a recognizable model for me.
1. I Turned in Work Early (Not Simply on Time)
Once I first began freelance writing, I didn’t have an enormous writing portfolio or years of expertise.
However I did have management over one factor: how briskly and the way easily I delivered what I promised.
If an article was due Friday, I’d often ship it Wednesday or Thursday.
Not as a result of I needed gold stars however as a result of that’s what I’d admire if I had been managing ten transferring elements on a content material workforce.
Purchasers would write again issues like:
“Wow, that is sooner than anticipated, thanks!”
“This offers us extra time to evaluation. Wonderful.”
These little “wow” moments matter greater than any emblem ever will.
2. I Made Edits Straightforward
When purchasers request edits, I don’t make it emotional or create lengthy explanations.
Simply: “Thanks for the notes. The up to date model connected.”
That’s the sort of easy professionalism purchasers bear in mind.
On an analogous be aware, I additionally was not the kind of stringent freelance author that solely allowed 1 revision and any extras would value the consumer more cash.
This could make you seem like a troublesome freelance author and for companies, it’s straightforward for them to search out one other certified freelance author.
Doing one thing like easy edits with none obstacles sticks nicely for purchasers and so they WILL keep in mind that!
3. I Was Clear and Constant
Purchasers belief freelance writers who make the method smoother, not heavier.
And this appears like if I requested for extra time to write down the piece or had some questions if I used to be unclear about part of the transient.
I made certain to not overwhelm the consumer with an absurd quantity of questions or parameters round my writing and that helps me seem like the “go-to” author for them!
4. I Gave My Purchasers Causes to Need to Say Good Issues
Over time, I began receiving testimonials that mirrored precisely what I used to be attempting to construct:
- “Elna is reliable and delivers clear drafts each time.”
- “We by no means have to fret about deadlines together with her.”
- “She’s environment friendly, considerate, and really easy to work with.”
These weren’t scripted or requested — they had been the pure results of exhibiting up the identical approach, week after week.
5. I Made Reliability A part of My Writing Course of
Over time of freelancing, I’ve modified my writing course of.
It’s now on the level the place I can get the content material transient from a consumer, analysis and collect SME quotes after which write the article in round 3-5 days (together with modifying).
And with this push of doing issues sooner however more adept I received into the routine of handing over my article a little bit sooner than anticipated.
I knew my article didn’t want modifying. I solely had possibly 2 out of the handfuls and dozens of purchasers I’ve had over a decade, ask for a revision.
And I credit score that to my in-depth modifying course of that I element in my Writeto1k course.
Over time, these tiny, nearly computerized steps grew to become the spine of my workflow.
They created a rhythm purchasers may rely on, and that rhythm is what formed my repute.
Purchasers began to name me dependable as a result of my course of made their day smoother and their work really feel manageable.
And that consistency grew to become a part of my general model.
It’s Time to Construct a Skilled and Trusted Model as a Freelance Author
I hope you discovered some useful ideas that will help you construct a powerful freelance writing model.
Whereas I do benefit from the colours and design components of name constructing, I do know that being skilled, trusted and dependable is extra necessary to your model.
Inform me within the feedback the way you constructed your model as a contract author or copywriter! I’d love to listen to it!