Don’t Count Your Chickens
How many times have you been in this situation? You’ve talked to a potential client, who is enthusiastic about your services and promises to hire you. You sit back in your office chair, feeling smug about having landed another job and rearrange your diary to make space for this lucrative new commission. Then … nothing. The client goes quiet on you. You wonder what’s going on and chase the client. Still nothing. Instead of feeling smug you start to panic about the hole in your diary and your bank balance.
Even when you know better, it’s difficult to always get it right. I had an IM conversation with a prospective client that lasted one and half hours, so that we could establish exactly what was needed. At the end of the conversation, there were potentially three projects instead of one, all of them reasonably well paid. I did my part and waited for the client to do his. I’m still waiting. He may eventually get his act together, but who knows?
When I first started freelancing, I learned the hard way that clients’ schedules don’t always match my own. That means it’s better to keep slightly too much in the diary and have some trusted friends you can call upon if you need to outsource. If all the work comes in at once, then you need to prioritise. I tend to look at how much jobs pay and how easy they are to do to guide me in planning my packed work day.
I’m not going to wait around for this client. If the job works out, then I’ll see where I can fit it in. If not, I try to keep my income sources diverse. That means that I have three regular gigs from a couple of long term clients, and a fair bit of other work coming in from clients I’ve cultivated in the last six months. I keep bidding so that I don’t find myself with an unwanted gap. I’ve often said that you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. The case of my disappearing client illustrates why diversity is a good idea.
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Couldn’t agree more Sharon. I’ve often been in this position but am now learning to take things as they come.
Preachin’ to the choir, sistah!
I had this happen even before I launched my freelance career. Go figure.
Also, I’m way too acquainted with this concept from working in ad agencies. The “disappearing client” was a frequent occurrence at my last job since I handled all the PR. Reputation: always last on the list for clients when it should sit right near the top. (((shakes head)))
I’m in a similar position right now and evaluating my diversity. I’ve given similar advice out about not putting too many eggs in one basket and find myself a victim of it right now. A slow paying client has put me in a position where I’ve had to put them on credit hold so now I’m waiting for money and for work. It’s forcing me to look at the way I structure my diary as well.
Good post!
And its clients like this, that I now have so much time for my blogging, entrecarding, and html5 research.
Maintaining a balance is difficult. Sometimes clients contact me for a sample edit and quote, then they don’t even respond to the e-mail. Months later, they contact me that they’re ready for me to start work. I have one potential client who calls me about every two or three months to tell me he’s still planning to have me edit his book, just as soon as this happens, or he finishes that, or … I’ve explained that he may have to wait for me when/if he ever decides he’s ready.
@ Sue: that works, too, though I go after work to make sure it’s diverse.
@ Kristen: I used to have disappearing writers as an editor, but not disappearing clients.
@ Dana: When things are going well, it’s tempting to ride the wave and ease off diversifying, but it pays to keep searchng.
@ Daniel: you sound busy
@ Lillie: I’ve had that happen to me, too, and usually take a similar tack. In fact, I am getting much better at fitting clients into my schedule.
I don’t mind this as much as I mind the client who gets back to me a month later and says “I found someone to do it for 60% of your fee. If you drop your price (but keep your standards and quality) then I’ll hire you.”
That - is what really sticks in my craw.
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