When to dump a client

I've written for a variety of magazines, newspapers, online content providers and private clients. Some clients I keep for years and years, and other clients last only a few short weeks or months before I see the handwriting on the wall. For example:

·      They lower word count, fees or frequency of orders because they don’t want to spend the money for professional work.

·      They start picking at minutiae and frequently change their minds about what they want.

·      They want to appear unhappy with the writer’s work in order to get more out of the writer whether it’s HTML programming or adding in Creative Commons art/photos or other free services.

·      They become big time sucks and emotional burdens by constantly wanting to chat about an assignment, even one that pays in pennies -- all unpaid time.

·      They act like they have purchased you for life and now have you chained in their basement to a laptop on 24/7 call.

·       They don’t expect you to have other clients—even for a $10 blog post.

When I start to see these warning signs above, I know it’s time to say my adieus. I am not angry, but I’m not going to have a dysfunctional relationship with anyone from a family member to a client. It’s got to work for both of us; we have to be on the same page (had to use that cliché).

One of the main reasons I have to let a client go is because when they act like the above bullets, they are telling me they really don’t know what they want, so they change guidelines or focus or point of view hoping the writer will, through the process of elimination, come up with what they want even though they have no idea what they want.

I love working with clients to iron out the wrinkles of a project, find the voice and content they want and locate that sweet spot where they are deliriously happy with my work. I won't  waste my time or babysit a diva-style client who’s going to pay me enough money to buy a coffee and a donut, but not much more. I refuse to roll over and take it.

New Project Hints: Keep it Simple

So many times I work on a project where the manager does an information dump upon the writers as a way to get us to organize the work or because they want to give us every scrap of information on the project they have even before they or we understand what is expected from us.

I wish they would understand that you have to start off with baby steps when you're doing a complicated project. Managers can add new material, charts, spreadsheets, etc once the basics of the project have been absorbed.

It's like being given the responsibility to make a seven-course meal for 20 with no menu, just 20 boxes or bags of ingredients from lemon curd to shitake mushrooms.

I have managed a few projects in the past, and written copy for many complicated projects. I have a few tips for anyone starting up a project. Most of them will be a variation on the same theme: keep it simple.  I may revisit this title again but for now, here's two mighty important tips that will help your writers known what's expected, which means you'll meet your client deadlines.

1) Boil the project down to one concentrated paragraph. 

This project is to write ad copy for a catalog that sells high-end women's clothing for the 18-50 age group with sizes that range from 2 to 18. This catalog is written with a light, funky and amusing tone and product information is shown in bulleted lists. Total word count per item is 150 words and split into one 100-word description and one bulleted list of approximately 50 words.

2) Give an example to your copywriters.


One example is more effective than 200 pages of guidelines.

Blaine Berrywhite’s gorgeous long-sleeve polka-dot dress looks innocent enough until you realize the skirt is split on two sides right up to the hip and a matching peek-a-boo panty that snaps into place (so you stay a lady even if the wind blows).  What you’ll love about this dress is the synthetic-blend fabric (yes you will) that mimics your three most favorite fabrics in the world: cotton, linen and silk. The difference is with this luxury engineered fabric, you don’t get wrinkles, or booty clinging or see-through visual effects that make you look as naked as a full body scanner does in the airport.

•    Classic jewel neckline with roled edge

•    Long sleeves with cuffs

•    Pearl buttons on cuffs (2 per sleeve) 

•    Matching belt with leather and metal clasp

•    Pearl buttons cover clasp seam

•    Matching panty snaps into place

•    Double French seams

•    Bodice is lined in cotton batiste

•    Fit and flair style

•    Princess seams

•    Made in France

•    Dry clean only


If I had been given this information for a project, I would now feel very comfortable about taking on the assignment.  I'd know the format and the focus and the demographic and the tone. Once I understood the basics, I could expand my knowledge to other guidelines or recommendations, but for now I'd be able to crank out copy and be fairly sure I was doing it correctly.

Listicles: Do you like them?

I was just researching the value of listicles and wondered what you thought? For those who don't know, listicles are what you see all over the Internet and emblazoned on magazine covers. Here are a few examples:

Five ways to get your man in the mood
10 ways to prepare guacamole
7 must-have kitchen tools

What's good about listicles?

By using a numbered or bulleted format, you can write the article quickly and your readers can digest the information easily. One quick glance and you have the basic information. If you care to read more, there is usually a paragraph or so of text for each number or bullet.

What's not good about listicles?

The name (amusing but begging for parody) and the fact that this format style is used for click bait articles which usually aren't worth your click.

So what do you think? Do you enjoy listicles or do you define them as crap?

Get it in Writing

I tend to have faith in people or clients to be exact.

I think they will treat me with the same level of integrity and attention to detail I give to them. I think a person's word means something, so I rarely ask for a contract or a follow up email and accept the assignment based on my faith in humanity.

Recently, I've been burned by a client I have through a business that provides content. This client has emailed me her suggestions and directions for two blog posts, but decided to change them after I had already written the blogs.

When you get a job order at this content provider, all instructions are supposed to be within the job order and not discussed in emails. I know this, but I trusted her and went ahead and wrote the blogs according to her email.

I have worked with this person for months without a problem, so I felt comfortable in bending the rules that are there to protect me as well as the client.

Now I know, it's doesn't matter who the client is or how long you have been writing for her, get the facts in writing. Know the word count, the subject, the expectations of the client, the additional requests like creative commons photos or if you need to use HTML, subheads or any other special requests.

Don't let your guard down and end up with blog posts or any other type of writing that now have no home. Get it in writing so you have something to fall back on if your client becomes less friendly and cooperative than she was in the past.