Comments on: When the Client Gets in the Way http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/10/03/when-the-client-gets-in-the-way/ freelance writing by a freelance writer that works in the freelance writing field Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:57:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Monika http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/10/03/when-the-client-gets-in-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-12996 Monika Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:26:07 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1405#comment-12996 @ Avery: I see where you are coming from with this comment Avery and I agree. I think George meant this in regards to how he sees some of his clients doing the wrong thing, despite his advice. But like you said, many small business entrepreneurs are forced to micromanage their employees, whether they are a full time or part time staff. I see this in my own business. Since small businesses have less available cash flow than large corporations they need to make sure things run smoothly and this includes micromanaging people, whether they like it or not. Having said that, if their work is satisfactory then there is no need to interfere. But the scope of this article was in regards to seeing clients doing the wrong thing for their business, despite his advice to change tactics - and since George is the pro and the client doesn't want to listen, it becomes frustrating to see him waste good money down the drain. In the end we all have to experience our own failures before we can reach success. @ Avery: I see where you are coming from with this comment Avery and I agree. I think George meant this in regards to how he sees some of his clients doing the wrong thing, despite his advice.

But like you said, many small business entrepreneurs are forced to micromanage their employees, whether they are a full time or part time staff.

I see this in my own business. Since small businesses have less available cash flow than large corporations they need to make sure things run smoothly and this includes micromanaging people, whether they like it or not.

Having said that, if their work is satisfactory then there is no need to interfere.

But the scope of this article was in regards to seeing clients doing the wrong thing for their business, despite his advice to change tactics – and since George is the pro and the client doesn’t want to listen, it becomes frustrating to see him waste good money down the drain.

In the end we all have to experience our own failures before we can reach success.

]]> By: Avery http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/10/03/when-the-client-gets-in-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-12989 Avery Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:30:27 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1405#comment-12989 So I guess it's safe to say that the big, easy to work with clients got where they are because they do in fact put their trust in people who excel at their craft? I wonder if the reality isn't quite so simple though. Perhaps small businesses micromanage freelancers because they're accustomed to wearing so many hats to keep their daily operations moving so it would seem only natural to do so in regards to the writing and design. The larger businesses have each employee in their own niche duties and may not be accustomed to performing outside of the range of their job description or may just be too indifferent to care either way. Doesn't make being micromanaged any less aggravating but, if you believe this to be true, it may help you to be more sympathetic to your clients when they're being especially frustrating. So I guess it’s safe to say that the big, easy to work with clients got where they are because they do in fact put their trust in people who excel at their craft? I wonder if the reality isn’t quite so simple though. Perhaps small businesses micromanage freelancers because they’re accustomed to wearing so many hats to keep their daily operations moving so it would seem only natural to do so in regards to the writing and design. The larger businesses have each employee in their own niche duties and may not be accustomed to performing outside of the range of their job description or may just be too indifferent to care either way.

Doesn’t make being micromanaged any less aggravating but, if you believe this to be true, it may help you to be more sympathetic to your clients when they’re being especially frustrating.

]]> By: Mark http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/10/03/when-the-client-gets-in-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-12883 Mark Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:10:59 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1405#comment-12883 That goat knows what happened to the hamster. That goat knows what happened to the hamster.

]]> By: Monika http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/10/03/when-the-client-gets-in-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-12877 Monika Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:23:18 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1405#comment-12877 @ Allyn: No offense taken at all. I'm totally with you on the niche marketing and also how it is hard to handle certain clients. But then I'm pretty ruthless these days anyway. If clients piss me off, they are out. I'm in a position where I can afford to be picky, thanks to putting in the groundwork. I'm earning money with my niches too but at this stage it is a side business because I simply don't have the time to build the sites with the speed I'd like to. In the end I'm loving what I do and that is key to anything we do, regardless whether it is niche marketing, writing , website building or else. BTW, love your site Allyn. I know why you are one of the 'Griz' crowd. Honest and down to earth people always connect with one another. :) @ Allyn: No offense taken at all. I’m totally with you on the niche marketing and also how it is hard to handle certain clients. But then I’m pretty ruthless these days anyway. If clients piss me off, they are out. I’m in a position where I can afford to be picky, thanks to putting in the groundwork. I’m earning money with my niches too but at this stage it is a side business because I simply don’t have the time to build the sites with the speed I’d like to.

In the end I’m loving what I do and that is key to anything we do, regardless whether it is niche marketing, writing , website building or else. BTW, love your site Allyn. I know why you are one of the ‘Griz’ crowd. Honest and down to earth people always connect with one another. :)

]]> By: Allyn http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/10/03/when-the-client-gets-in-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-12869 Allyn Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:56:00 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1405#comment-12869 Hi guys, wow, I certainly hope I did not offend anyone with my comment above. I probably should not have used the term "easier ways to make money." I should have said "ways better suited to my own wants and needs." I love to write, but I don't like dealing with clients/customers and this post hit home for me. I get enough customer interaction in my corp day job and don't want my online biz to take on that same flavor. You are right, Monika; the niche marketing side is def not "easy" and in fact, is very difficult. I guess that because I enjoy it, it seems easy to me. I still like reading this blog, so keep the good posts coming! AL Hi guys, wow, I certainly hope I did not offend anyone with my comment above. I probably should not have used the term “easier ways to make money.”
I should have said “ways better suited to my own wants and needs.”
I love to write, but I don’t like dealing with clients/customers and this post hit home for me. I get enough customer interaction in my corp day job and don’t want my online biz to take on that same flavor.
You are right, Monika; the niche marketing side is def not “easy” and in fact, is very difficult. I guess that because I enjoy it, it seems easy to me.
I still like reading this blog, so keep the good posts coming!
AL

]]> By: Monika http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/10/03/when-the-client-gets-in-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-12865 Monika Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:00:52 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1405#comment-12865 @ Allyn: Good to hear you got an alternative income stream that is better suited to you than freelance writing. Despite what you said I have to comment on your <em>"easier ways to make money"</em> comment because they could be seen as free lunch by some, and you and I both know there is no such thing as free lunch or easy money. I have a feeling that you are probably involved in niche marketing since you are a Griz/Vic club member (good on you :) ) but even so you have to build niches up to make them profitable and that is not 'easy'. You still have to research, build your sites, build links and monitor the performance. That takes time just like writing an article or blog post. There are two kinds of freelance writers; one struggles and keeps working for peanuts. This type of writer spends his or her days working for next to nothing. The other type uses the power of others through outsourcing to make money hands-free (or close to.) It is ONLY through the power of outsourcing freelance writing as a business becomes really profitable in regards to the time and effort you put into a business. Like you, I have sacked some clients myself and it feels great to do so. Last week I sacked one who didn't want to be sacked and eventually came back to work with me on my terms. Funny that ;). I definitely agree with you on the observation that small clients are a lot harder to serve. This is an observation I have made a long time ago and to date my smallest clients are also the one that require the most hand-holding. @ Allyn: Good to hear you got an alternative income stream that is better suited to you than freelance writing. Despite what you said I have to comment on your “easier ways to make money” comment because they could be seen as free lunch by some, and you and I both know there is no such thing as free lunch or easy money.

I have a feeling that you are probably involved in niche marketing since you are a Griz/Vic club member (good on you :) ) but even so you have to build niches up to make them profitable and that is not ‘easy’. You still have to research, build your sites, build links and monitor the performance. That takes time just like writing an article or blog post.

There are two kinds of freelance writers; one struggles and keeps working for peanuts. This type of writer spends his or her days working for next to nothing. The other type uses the power of others through outsourcing to make money hands-free (or close to.) It is ONLY through the power of outsourcing freelance writing as a business becomes really profitable in regards to the time and effort you put into a business.

Like you, I have sacked some clients myself and it feels great to do so. Last week I sacked one who didn’t want to be sacked and eventually came back to work with me on my terms. Funny that ;) .

I definitely agree with you on the observation that small clients are a lot harder to serve. This is an observation I have made a long time ago and to date my smallest clients are also the one that require the most hand-holding.

]]> By: tumblemoose http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/10/03/when-the-client-gets-in-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-12858 tumblemoose Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:46:43 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1405#comment-12858 Allyn, Your comment is spot on and exactly what I was driving at. often it does seem as if the smaller jobs are indeed related to the most difficult clients. Good on you for figuring it out early on and I'm glad you've found another way to earn income. Thanks for dropping by. George Allyn,

Your comment is spot on and exactly what I was driving at. often it does seem as if the smaller jobs are indeed related to the most difficult clients.

Good on you for figuring it out early on and I’m glad you’ve found another way to earn income.

Thanks for dropping by.

George

]]> By: Allyn http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/10/03/when-the-client-gets-in-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-12857 Allyn Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:45:36 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1405#comment-12857 This particular problem happens in most customer-driven businesses methinks. When I first began online I did quite a big of freelance writing for roughly 8 large clients and a handful of smaller ones. It seemed that the smaller clients (those who gave me around 4 hours of work per month) were the most "challenging" to appease, and thus the troubles they brought became "not worth the money." What I am getting at is that I eventually decided to drop certain clients and told them very bluntly "you don't deserve me." Some people would call that "just plain dumb" but in the end, I was able to provide better quality for my "hassle free" clients and still keep my hair from falling out. I don't do any freelance writing anymore as I have found easier ways to make money, but my point is that I don't have the patience to deal with difficult clients, so I just drop them. I think I am lucky that I was/am in a position to do that. AL This particular problem happens in most customer-driven businesses methinks. When I first began online I did quite a big of freelance writing for roughly 8 large clients and a handful of smaller ones. It seemed that the smaller clients (those who gave me around 4 hours of work per month) were the most “challenging” to appease, and thus the troubles they brought became “not worth the money.”
What I am getting at is that I eventually decided to drop certain clients and told them very bluntly “you don’t deserve me.”
Some people would call that “just plain dumb” but in the end, I was able to provide better quality for my “hassle free” clients and still keep my hair from falling out.
I don’t do any freelance writing anymore as I have found easier ways to make money, but my point is that I don’t have the patience to deal with difficult clients, so I just drop them.
I think I am lucky that I was/am in a position to do that.
AL

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