How to Turn an Angry Client into a Loyal Client with One Little Word
It’s like getting struck by lightening.
You’re having a great day and then BLAM! Your client ambushes you at a meeting or starts yelling at you over the phone. Something is terribly wrong and you are in the hot seat.
What do you do?
Don’t panic! You’re human and there’s no way to be totally calm when a client is angry. But you need to keep your head clear. How? By remembering one word: ANGER.
It’s easy to recall, given the situation. Each letter gives you a step for dealing with the problem: Acknowledge — Nod — Guide — Execute — Retreat. I’ll explain each step. Then I’ll tell you how this word can help you turn your angry client into a loyal client for years to come. Read more
What to Do When Freelance Business Is Slow
Even the very best freelancers go through times when the phone just isn’t ringing. It’s nothing to get worried about. If you’re managing your money properly, you should have enough in the bank to ride it out.
In fact, down time gives you an opportunity to do a little marketing. Here are a few tips for using your free time productively and getting the phone to ring with paying projects.
- Call past and present clients. Don’t sit around getting depressed. Pick up the phone and call everyone you’ve worked with. Don’t tell them your business is slow, just say you wanted to touch base and see how they’re doing. Chitchat for a minute, then ask if there’s anything you can help with.
- Call leads and prospects. Again, don’t say things are slow. Just say you wanted to stay in touch. Ask if there’s anything you can help with or if they need more information. Keep it short and friendly.
The Red Flags for Freelance Scams
Over at Freelance Writing Jobs, there’s been an energetic discussion about scams aimed at freelancers. I don’t want to get into the specifics here, but there is one business that seems to be a concern for a variety of writers. That’s putting it mildly.
Deborah Ng posted an article as a follow-up that provides some excellent, practical advice for spotting freelance scams, and some wise words about not throwing around unfounded accusations without proof.
I really wish freelancers didn’t have to deal with this, but it’s a fact of the business world. Every business has to watch out for the ethically challenged among us. What makes freelancers so vulnerable is, I’m sorry to day, desperation. Freelancers get taken advantage of because they are so eager to get work their good sense goes out the window.
I ‘m proud of the people over at FWJ for having their heads screwed on straight on this issue and looking out for each other.
For more on self-defense against scams, here are some other links for you:
- Watch out for these Freelance Writing Scams talks about poetry and writing contests. If you’re wanting to be a freelance pro, you shouldn’t be wasting time trying to make money like this anyway. Fiction and poetry are fine as hobbies, but the pay is lousy.
- How to Sniff Out Literary Scams lists six tell-tale signs of a literary scam and provides some information on checking out your suspicions and protecting yourself.
- Tips for Freelance Contractors is an article I mentioned recently, but it’s worth repeating. It lists eight pointers for protecting yourself as a freelance contractor.
- Freelance Writer’s Warning - New Cheque Cashing Scam is a disturbing article about a variation of the Nigerian scam, which you’ve probably received in your e-mail at one time or another.
- How to Avoid Freelance Job Scams is a good, general guide to work-at-home scams. I doubt too many readers here would fall for these, but some of these scams can be pretty sneaky.
It seems like most of the scams I see for freelancers involve writers or are of the work-at-home variety. I’m curious if anyone has seem scams targeting designers. Let me know.
