We all know that websites for freelance writers have done great things to open up a world market of potential clients. But what happens once you’ve found a client who’s familiar with how you work and you want to keep them? Let’s talk for a few minutes about how to keep great clients:
Stay in Touch
Staying in touch doesn’t mean spamming a client with emails and telephone calls, just checking in on occasion. If you finish the conclusion for their new book, call or email a few weeks after it’s been released to see how things are going.
Celebrate Achievements
Did you see a LinkedIn note announcing a promotion or new position? That’s great! Almost everyone likes advancement in their career and that people are paying attention to what’s happening in their life. Send an email, snail mail card, or make a quick phone call to congratulate them. Don’t restrict yourself to only business achievements, either.
Meet in Person When Possible
If you happen to be traveling where you have contacts, try to set up a meeting, even if it’s only lunch or drinks. On a recent vacation, I was able to stop by a great winery I was working with and had a great conversation about industry-related issues. Bonus: I wrote off parts of the trip as a business expense.
Ask Their Opinion
Most people are happy to share their opinion. By approaching somebody to bounce ideas off or ask advice of, you’re conveying that you consider them an expert in that sector. You’ll get great ideas and they’ll get a warm, fuzzy feeling because someone thinks that highly of their work.
Offer Help
Did the person you’re trying to connect with mention a volunteer organization that needs help with something you can do pretty easily? Offer to help out! A little volunteer time goes a long way to build a solid relationship. Just make sure that you’re still able to pay the bills.
Mention Them in Your Writing
If you’ve gotten someone’s opinion and it comes up in a piece you’re writing, give them credit for it. Most people like seeing their name in print. It makes them look like an expert in the field and makes them think of you when they need writing done.
Don’t Forget to Follow Up
A follow-up doesn’t have an expiration date. If you heard a great talk a while ago and want to connect with the speaker, mention it! If you’ve forgotten an email you needed to reply to, go ahead and reply with an apology. Once, I’d forgot to change the name on an email salutation and the recipient responded about it. I was embarrassed, but sent him a note apologizing and mentioned having kids home on vacation. In the end, I got the job!
Now that you’ve got a few ideas to maintain business relationships, put it into action! You’ll see great benefits in no time.
Cathleen V is a multi-talented writer with experience in various fields. She focuses on content, article, and blog writing for small business management, content optimization and marketing, arts businesses, crafts, agriculture, home improvement, food, nutrition, and natural health. She is a top 1% content writer out of over 22,000.
