Should Clients Know You Work from Home?
About ten years ago I worked as a secretary for a screen printing company. We had sales reps who worked in the office, and reps who worked from home. Since my job entailed answering and screening phone calls, I had to hide the fact that some of our reps worked from home. If a customer called for a telecommute rep, I would take a message and contact the rep with the information. I never questioned the reason behind the big secret. I did my job like a good little secretary and kept my mouth shut.
But, I couldn’t help but think: so what if a few employees telecommuted? As long as their aren’t kids crying or loud background noise, what’s the big deal? They had to report to the office on a regular basis, and a supervisor checked their progress. I assume the company wanted to project the most professional image possible, in which telecommute employees didn’t fit their ideal description.
Because some work at home jobs involve customer contact, a company might require it’s workers to stay mum on the telecommute arrangement. After putting myself in the company’s shoes, I can better understand their position. I don’t think hiring telecommuters makes a company less professional. And if a client discovers that a employee works from home, it shouldn’t become an issue. On the other hand, I realize the need for damage control.
Some telecommuters lack discretion. They may answer the telephone with the television or kids playing in the background, or they may put off customers to tend to personal matters. Employers are generally open to a telecommute arrangement - as long as work and home don’t collide. Maybe employers feel that telecommuters will uphold a professional image and be more conscious of their surroundings when forbidden to disclose their location.
Technorati Tags: work at home, telecommute, telecommuting, self-employed, clients
4 Surefire Ways to Tick Off Your Clients
In previous posts we’ve discussed how to show client appreciation, and I’ve offered tips on running a successful work at home business. For the most part, the key is establishing a good relationship with clients. This keeps them happy…and you’ll stay busy.
Of course, keeping a client satisfied isn’t always simple. Let’s face it, some people are impossible to please. You can bend over backwards for them, give their projects priority, deal with their mess - and they’re still not happy. In these instances, your level of restraint and professionalism doesn’t matter - you can’t control every outcome, and you can’t please every client.
Still, we can control the outcome of most situations. And sometimes, a client’s dissatisfaction is our fault. Before pointing your finger and hitting the blogosphere to warn other freelancers about a particular client, take a hard look in the mirror and consider your role in the mess.1. Did You Follow Instructions? - Read more
3 Ways to Show “Client Appreciation”
If you’re looking to run a successful and profitable freelance business, repeat business is the key. I’ve been a freelance writer for five years, and during this time I’ve worked with numerous clients - some long-term.
Long-term relationships are the best. Since assignments are normally steady, you’re practically assured a regular check. But, long-term relationships don’t always start off that way. Sometimes we have to go the extra mile and show our appreciation. If your clients are happy…your business will thrive.
Here are three ways to show your appreciation, which can potentially turn one-time or sporadic assignments into a recurring gig.
1. Respect their Deadlines: Read more
How Well Do You Handle Criticism?
Whether it’s constructive or harsh, criticism isn’t always easy to swallow. As a freelance writer, I’ve dealt with my share of criticism - some good, some bad. It’s a part of the business, and anyone who wants to be a freelancer should learn how to deal with criticism - fast! An editor or client might request re-working an assignment, or a blog reader might consider it necessary to pinpoint every minor typo.
I’ll be the first to admit, it isn’t easy in the beginning. You’ll come across clients who are happy with your work, which can boost your self-confidence and you feel ready to take on any new challenge. Then it happens. You complete an assignment, turn it in, and the client isn’t pleased.
What do you do?
The one thing you shouldn’t do is become defensive. I know it’s hard, and you’ll probably think “how dare he/she criticize my work. I did exactly what they asked.” Maybe you did. However, regardless of whether a client is too picky or didn’t clearly state their need, the goal is to complete the assignment to their satisfaction. In turn, they’re happy and you get paid. Besides, the way you handle constructive criticism says a lot about yourself. If the client likes what they see, this might open the door to a long-term, lucrative contract.
Technorati Tags: constructive criticism, clients, telecommute, freelancer, work at home
Types of Clients You’ll Likely Encounter as a Freelancer
I’ve been a freelance writer for a few years, and during this time, I’ve dealt with different types of clients. The typical client is appreciative and respects the fact that I do have a personal life. However, I’ve also ran into a few characters who thought my life and business revolved around their project.
Being a freelancer and working with varying personalities is similar to working in an office setting and dealing with an annoying boss or worrisome co-worker. The only difference is that in the freelance world - you can fire a client!
Here is my top five list of different types of clients you’ll encounter from time to time:
- “No-Information” Client - You apply for a freelance job, get the gig, and receive your first assignment. Everything is fine, right? Wrong! The “no information” client is best described as the person who sends an assignment, but doesn’t provide essential details such as word length, due date, payment arrangement, and so on. In turn, you have to communicate back-and-forth to work through the details, which can be a huge time waster.
- “Something-for-Nothing” Client - Again you stumble across a seemingly perfect freelance opportunity. But there’s one major problem - the client doesn’t want to pay a reasonable freelance rate. This is common with web copy. I realize that web content doesn’t pay as much as print publications. Still, I’m not writing a bunch of SEO content for pennies, so that you can turn around and get rich off the revenue (maybe not rich, but you get the point).
- “Urgent, Urgent” Client - These clients are real characters. Their projects take precedence and you’re expected to re-arrange your schedule to meet their last minute need - or so they think. Urgent clients are annoying - and if you let them - they can make your freelance experience miserable. And the worse part…they aren’t appreciative! I stopped bending over backwards for irritating clients a long time ago. Since my freelance projects are pretty steady, I can afford to be a bit choosy.
- “No Pay” Client - Do I need to go any further? But here’s the gotcha - I still own the rights to the content. Therefore, I can market the articles elsewhere and recoup the loss.
- “Appreciative” Client - We can’t overlook the grateful clients. These are the people who make freelance life enjoyable. They provide ample instructions, respect our time, compensation is beyond fair, and they always pay on time. And you might even get a “thank-you” card at the end of the year.
Technorati Tags: freelance, telecommute, work at home, writer, types of clients
