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How to handle difficult clients as a freelance writer

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Growing your career as a freelance writer requires networking and putting yourself out there to gain new clients. Unfortunately, you’re bound to encounter a difficult client at some point with your writing jobs. It’s a matter of time before you work with a client that expects the world, doesn’t pay on time, or will put you up against an unrealistic deadline.

One of the most beneficial things you can do when setting out on the freelance writing path is to learn the basics of dealing with clients. Taking the initiative can help you navigate these challenging cases to reach the best outcome for both parties.

Read on for the best tips you can use to manage client relationships and grow as a freelance writer today.

Document everything

A paper trail is your best defense when encountering difficult clients as a freelance writer. Documenting everything can help you do your best to meet and exceed client expectations. Still, it’s also a step toward protecting yourself from clients who deny something they agreed to previously.

Talk to the client to get a clear description of what they want and ask inquisitive questions to get as much detail as possible. Let the client know you’ll send them a summary of the project and a custom quote. The last step is to email them the quote and the deadline for the project, along with your fee and an explanation of what you’ll do.

Back up claims with facts

Facts are your friend when working writing jobs and dealing with difficult clients. Getting everything in print is an excellent start, but you can do more to protect yourself and your livelihood.

You can begin by politely reminding them of the terms they agreed to. You may get a client who says your fee is too high when you submit the finished piece. You can use the facts as boundaries if a client begins creeping or adding new facets to the project that you haven’t previously discussed or agreed upon.

Never agree to unrealistic deadlines

One of the worst things you can do when writing for a difficult client to earn money from home is to agree to an unrealistic deadline. You’re more likely to upset the client while adding a gigantic ball of stress to your professional and personal life.

It does not matter how much the client is paying you; the tight deadline is not worth how you’ll feel when you complete the project. Rushed content is often of a lower standard. It’s best to put your best foot forward and work forward, and setting realistic deadlines is a fantastic place to start improving the quality of your work.

Follow up often and trust in yourself

Freelance writing affords some amazing opportunities, but you’ll need to accept that following up with clients comes with the territory when you get deeper into your writing career. A difficult client could try to stiff you for the work you’ve done if they’re unhappy with the fee you’re charging.

The only way to get paid is by following up consistently. Don’t let difficult clients get away with not paying you for the time and hard work you’ve poured into an agreed-upon piece. It’s easy to view incessant follow-up emails as rude, but it’s far ruder for a client to avoid paying you.

Some clients will even push you to lower your rates for them, or ask you to do extra work for free. Look out for clients that attempt to bribe you with future work for a lower rate. Hope is a poor trade for cash when working writing jobs.

Understand the root cause

Difficult clients can make you take harsh words and criticism to heart. Understanding the root cause of the client’s actions and behaviors can give you insight into the true issue at hand. Clients could face pressure from those above them to deliver incredible results and tight deadlines.

The individuals could also be facing stressful issues in their personal lives, which could lead them to project those feelings onto you. Pay attention to the tone and word choice to understand and empathize with what they’re experiencing.

Grow your client base today

When earning money from home with writing jobs, it’s vital to begin growing your client base. With that growth comes difficult clients. Understand the root cause of their behavior and keep a paper trail to protect yourself. Never agree to unrealistic deadlines, and back up all your claims with facts when conflict arises.

By writing with Words of Worth, you can avoid the hassle of having constant difficult conversations with clients. We act as the middle man for you, allowing you to focus on your writing. Apply today to join our amazing team of freelance writers.