Communication plays an integral part in establishing so many successful relationships. Even in working relationships between freelance writers and clients, this connection must always be present. After all, you should never regard freelance writing as a one-time fling. Strong relationships with clients tend to create long-term work and repeat jobs from the same clients.
Repeat Clients Keeps Your Career Going
Many writers are so busy wooing new clients that they forget to befriend their previous ones. Come to think of it, your previous clients are no strangers to you. You’ve worked with them before and they know what you can do!
On the other hand, forward thinking tells you that new clients can become repeat clients in time. In the service-oriented world of freelance writing, it’s a continual cycle that keeps your career going. Thus, it’s very important to take care of new clients while continuing to serve previous clients. In fact, this could be your winning combination!
Treat Repeat Clients like Royalty
Be people-oriented, and you’ll acquire the skills to generate repeats clients and writing assignments successfully. As to how, give importance to these top 10 tips to help you.
Tip #1: Identify the people who can give you repeat business
Recall past clients and editors who had hired you for assignments and projects. If you have them on record in your portfolio, then so much the better. Otherwise, list them down by name, contact information, and type of project.
Tip #2: Send them an e-mail or voice mail
The nextstep is to initiate communication. Instead of sending random messages saying you’re just dropping by to say hello, say something more definite. As part of your sales pitch, construct a brief message with certain key points. In short, plan what you’ll say and then deliver it amiably.
Tip #3: Leave your new contact information, too
Because changes happen, contact information gets lost and people lose touch. Thus, it’s practical to inform clients if your contact information has changed or if it is still the same.
Without any hard feelings, forget how long-time clients forgot you and understand that everyone is busy these days. At any rate, the important thing is to renew old ties and restore the lines of communication.
Tip #4: Re-establish communication
It’s easy to reconnect whenever you extend your regards on special occasions and yearly holidays. Call or email to let them know you’re out there, still writing for a living.
Now that you have re-established communications, keep the relationships going. When they do remember you (and it helps to remind), it might be for a new writing assignment.
Tip #5: Inquire about a repeat assignment or a reference
Reminding clients about your existence may or may not generate a new writing assignment. Still, you can’t go wrong with a query.
If they have no jobs for you at the moment, they may know someone who needs a writer. Thus, if they can’t be your repeat business, they can possibly be your reference.
Tip #6: Utilize search engines and optimize on websites
You have many ways to optimize your current website so that your name shows during searches for freelance writers by area or specialty. In a passive way, this generates more clients, particularly new clients. It also validates your activity, especially when old clients check if you’re still listed.
Launching a new website also helps. Through your latest articles and links, you can provide clients with insight on what you’ve been up to and how you’ve progressed as a writer.
Tip #7: Market your skills actively!
Since you’re both a writer and a marketer, continue to advertise your skills through quality work. If you delivered a past project on budget and on time, these clients will entrust you with future writing assignments.
Tip #8: Resell your services!
Update clients on new services that you are offering. Do you write more than general interest articles now? Have you branched out into finance, fitness, sports, entertainment, and other
specialty niches?
Also, update clients on your availability. Let them know if you’re officially at work or off on vacation. You never know when you could be the right person at the right place at the right time, simply because you’re available and ready to start on an assignment!
Tip #9: Schedule your tasks
To stay connected with work and people, rely on more than your memory. Use scheduling software like Microsoft Outlook or mobile gadgets like organizers and calendars. These tools will help you manage your schedule and attend to all your clients.
Tip #10: Always follow up
Lastly, you never want to lose a client for lack of follow-up, would you? It involves extra effort, but do follow up on your message and do follow through on alternate means of communication like phone or email.
The quickest follow-ups are made the minute you finish an assignment. As you express your thanks, offer to assist further – not once but for many more projects to come.
