Should Freelance Writers Fire Problem Clients?

Companies don't hesitate to fire freelances who fail to live up to their obligations. We should hold our clients to the same standard. Sound crazy? Perhaps not, and here's why. Problem clients contribute to our income, but they also contribute to our angst. And if we can't have fun doing what we love, and love the clients we do it with, what's the point?

Anytime is a great time to review your client list and evaluate whether any of your clients are holding you back from achieving greater success. So get out a piece of paper and a pen or pencil and start making a list. Which client is your slowest payer? Which one demands the most and expects to pay the least? Which client doesn't get the concept of project creep or why it should bother you? Which brings you the most boring or unprofitable assignments?

Now, look at your list and consider this: if you fired the client today whose name appears on your list most frequently, or whose name appears in the category you consider to be most important, and invested the time you would have devoted to that client's work this month on finding a new (and hopefully better) client, how much better would the rest of your year be? Probably a lot better!

Instead of constantly wrestling with problem clients, fire them and get better ones. This puts you in a position of strength. It gives you control, improves your work environment, maximizes the daily fun factor, and increases your bottom line.

Making the decision to fire a client is exhilarating. But actually firing them? Well, that can be, too. Although not always practical, it can be beneficial to tell the client you're firing why you're firing them. This way they can learn from their mistakes. However, they rarely do because problem clients usually have problems throughout their organization.

The more common way to fire a client is to do it subtly. This can be done most easily by being "over-booked" when they call with a new assignment. The advantage to this approach of firing a client is that, by not offending them, you can keep them in the wings in case you get slow or have a change of heart. A third approach is to increase your pricing to the problem client. If they balk, you've achieved your goal. If they choose to pay the higher prices, it's amazing how much more tolerable a problem client can become.

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Will Seminars Get You Clients?

I am often faced with public speaking, like a good way to show potential customers what you can do. Many professionals and consultants have successful practices by established free presentations to associations, businesses and educational institutions. But what about the production of your own seminars, where you organize the logistics and invite the guests? Does this work as a strategy for landing clients?

A seminar can be an effective means of visible to your targetMarket. If you get a good (or even good) moderator and the right people for your seminar, you will receive in any case, new customers. But to use seminar marketing successfully, you must clear your goals, and plan each seminar carefully.

If the purpose of your seminar is primarily to customers who do not expect to make money on the seminar itself. Maybe you just want your money, or maybe even meet a little extra. For this kind of seminar, the key towhich will be worth it to attract people, good prospects for your business in the first place, and not just through space.

Instead, free seminar, it's a good idea, a small fee. In this way, your potential customers will perceive you as offering something of value. The fee will also discourage them, may not be the presence of people make your product or service. It is the quality of the participants, what counts, not quantity.

If what you really want isfor your seminar to turn a profit, you must recognize that by offering full-fee seminars, you with your business to another line of business. Operating as a seminar producer will require the same kind of planning and ongoing management as your existing business.

It is so difficult to make a profit on the first seminar, as it was originally to start your business. Many people will not sign up for a seminar for the first time they see it, others would like to come, can not butDate. They will have a better chance to make money if you plan from the outset to offer your seminar on a regular basis. However, you may find that this takes too much time away from your core business.

Whether the seminar that it is planning for advertising or profit, you estimate your projected income and expenses, before he carry on his will. Base the income you project solely on the fee per person you are by the number of visitors you expect multiplied charge. Contain noprojected spin-off companies value in your income. If you land new business, you are still working extra hours to earn the compensation.

Typical charges are designing and printing of a flyer or brochure, postage, a reference to your website, the purchase of mailing lists (if you are not your own), print and Internet media ads (including calendar listings), facility rent , audiovisuals, handouts, and refreshments. You should also consider the cost of their own timeDesign of promotional materials, lists, writing e-mails and phone calls, as described below.

When designing a postal or e-mail campaign for your seminar, keep in mind that there is very typical, only one registration for every 100 pieces you get e-mails, even with pre-qualified list.

Subtract your projected expenses from your income, then a rational decision about whether to continue. If the purpose of your seminar is to get companies to estimate, how much spin-off companylikely. Before we continue, ask yourself if it could be a simpler and cheaper way to get many new customers or orders.

If your goal is to make money, you divide your expected profit by the number of hours, you get to design, market and deliver the seminar. When this amount is adequate compensation for you?

If your best guess at the numbers shows that the production of a seminar makes good business sense for you, go for it! Because people do business withthey know how to trust and seminars can help you get a solid repeat customer base. And as awareness of contacts, mailings and ads about your seminar will generate more visibility for your core business.

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