Getting Rid of Bad Freelancing Habits
Posted June 1, 2008 in Business, Lifestyle 9 Comments »
Having worked with a lot of freelancers throughout the years, let’s just say that I have identified quite a few bad habits which will make me not recommend a certain service provider and, of course, not work with him or her in the future.
This article is written from the perspective of a person who works with and hires a lot of freelancers. Taking advantage of my experiences and advice and getting rid of these bad habits may just prove to be a decision you will not regret. That’s if you actually have these bad habits. If you don’t, keep rockin! :)
Basically, I have identified two important types of habits, and let’s start with:
Bad Habits When Delivering
After receiving your payment or at least an advance, you will obviously have to deliver. Many people I have worked with have made the big mistake of searching for the easy way out. Let’s say I hire someone for x projects and that person thinks that he can get away with doing a great job only the first time and neglecting the rest of them afterwards, that won’t work.
If you are interested in establishing a long-term partnership, you will simply have to understand that always providing value is the way to go. If you do a great job with project one, I will gladly hire you for project two. But if you become sloppy with that project, I won’t even think about working with you for other projects in the future.
When it comes to delivering, searching for shortcuts and thinking that you can afford to neglect projects which are a part of a long-term agreement is definitely a habit you need to get rid of and, that being stated, let’s move on to:
Bad Habits When Offering Support
A person who hires a freelancer also expects support (especially if stated in a contract), it’s as simple as that. A lot of freelancers make the mistake of neglecting this aspect and that is definitely not the way to go. In the end, if I have to choose between two freelancers and everything else is pretty much equal, I always go with the person I can better communicate with and that offers great support.
Also, don’t assume that the clients knows everything when it comes to things such as programming, for example. Never be shy when it comes to providing detailed explanations since, in the end, a customer will always appreciate such an approach, no matter how knowledgeable he or she may be.
The Bottom Line
All in all, you need to develop a long-term way of thinking, especially if you are interested in a full-time freelance business down the road. Keeping customers happy is definitely not what one would call an easy task, but that is the only way to go if you are serious about convincing each client to take advantage of your services in the future.
In the end, you would be the only one losing out in the long run if you choose to always search for shortcuts when it comes to delivering.
Now, as a freelancer or small business owner, have you ever hired other freelancers? How did it go? Got some good/bad experiences? Please share your own tips and tricks on dealing with other freelancers with us! :)
Best wishes,
Alan Johnson
******
Author info: This is a guest post by Alan Johnson, the author of The Online Business Handbook.
About the author: This is a guest post by Alan Johnson, be sure to grab your free copy of The Online Business Handbook over at TheRatingBlog.com.
-
If you’re not careful, your freelancing work habits can make you sick.
[Read More...]
We freelancers, many of whom rely on our… -
These days, I’ve been hearing a lot about people starting a part-time freelance business while they still have day job.…
[Read More...] -
One thing freelancers can never get rid of are dilemmas.
[Read More...]
Work from home or work at starbucks? Take a much…
The Unlimited Freelancer is Now Only $19
Unleash the true potential of your business. Get The Unlimited Freelancer and start transforming your freelance business,
now only $19.
Try searching "Getting Clients" or "Productivity"
FreelanceCommunity
Free Resource: Massive Web UI and Button Set
This is a free photoshop set provided by MediaLoot with hundreds of free buttons, boxes, and other useful web elements.5 Fresh and Useful jQuery Plugins Were Born in November 2009
In November 2009, 5 jQuery plugins were born that are new and useful for web designers. Read this post to learn more.How Well Do You Understand CSS Positioning?
The css position property seems easy to grasp, but it works a little differently than it appears on the surface.
Free Report
Sign up for our product discount list to get a free copy of Why Some Freelancers Thrive and Others Barely Survive. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Popular Articles
- SEO Techniques All Top Websites Should Use
- When a Client Can't Afford You: Why It's Still Better to Bid High
- How To Stop Scrambling For Clients And Get A Steady Stream Of Paying Gigs
- A Simple Way To Stop Clients From Rejecting Your Proposals
- 3 Reasons Your Rates Are Still Low (And How To Start Raising Them)
9 Comments
Keith Johnson
June 1st, 2008 at 1:51 pmReally nice post, Alan! Indeed, habits are everything – we need to systematically approach work, especially freelancing, to give our work “shape and form” and so that we can continuously improve. Otherwise, the quality of our writing will fluctuate, so getting rid of bad habits starts with a definite systematic approach to quality. All the best, Keith Johnson, Technical Writer & Author “365 Great Affirmations”.
Susie
June 1st, 2008 at 2:23 pmVery sound advice from the other side of the fence, thanks for sharing your experiences and your criteria. As in anything, I think the constant communication is key to keeping a relationship on track. Even when there is bad news to report, if you are up front, and keep those lines open, it can be an easier task in the long run!
Joe Norton
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 amDefinitely interesting hearing how the other half thinks. Good tips, much appreciated.
Virginia Web Design
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:24 amCustomer service is still king…even over the internet! I’ve been on both sides of the fence as both being a freelancer and hiring freelancers. You offered some great advice – thanks!
Melek
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 pmanother one i’ve heard from new clients (after they’ve fired their old freelancer) is an easy one…communication. it’s amazing to me that some freelancers would wait a week or more to reply to an email. especially something important. That’s the number 1 complaint i get from new clients….that their old freelancer just wouldn’t talk to them or keep them in the loop.
thanks for a glimpse at the other side of the fence :)
Nicholas Paul
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:52 pmGreat post!
I don’t hire freelancers, but I do hear of stories from clients regarding their previous designers. Complaints include over-promising/under-delivering, quitting in the middle of a job (pregnancy, moving, life changes) and telling the client what can’t be done – despite everyone else being able to do it! That last one was regarding a website. The client was constantly told that things he had seen on other sites couldn’t be done, and I mean things like large pictures, and design elements. Nothing complicated! Oh well, he’s my client now.
Pj Germain
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pmHaving been a long-time member of Guru.com, I have used several freelancers in the past. I can totally agree. Also, punctuality (being on time) or even better, early, is a great way to further your success.
Trackbacks