Comments on: When Freelancing Sucks

By: Alexis

Alexis — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:01:29 +0000

@Shiva – Since becoming a freelancer, I think I’ve gotten “soft” — I can’t handle a lot of stress anymore!

By: Shiva

Shiva — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:12:41 +0000

I agree with Alexis. If you have worked at an office, try remembering the worst day you had. It will definitely be much worse than this.

And… there is nothing specifically called “real job” and that definition varies from people to people.

By: Alexis

Alexis — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:07:18 +0000

@Dannybuntu – Sounds like you’ve been burned badly by freelancing. But hey, even my worst day in freelancing doesn’t come close to my worst day in working in an office. Best wishes to you!

By: dannybuntu

dannybuntu — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:28:47 +0000

I just found this because the same thing happened to me a few days ago. We’re like fish. They bait you with worm and then when they get you, they cook you….

Thinking of getting a new job or something. But hey this isn’t a real job.

By: Alexis

Alexis — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:19:58 +0000

@Chris – So true, it takes some doing to find our ideal clients – those who can afford us and are willing to make the investment in service providers who know what they’re doing.

Lexi
.-= Alexis´s last blog ..When Freelancing Sucks =-.

By: Alexis

Alexis — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:12:08 +0000

I guess we can’t help it if clients want to cut costs – but they should always remember that they get what they pay for. You’re right, hiring a less expensive service provider can often mean higher costs, if not in actual payments then in opportunity loss.

Lexi

By: Loretta

Loretta — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:52:07 +0000

I’ve had it happen a few times with transcription clients. I understand that people shop around and it hard to pass up a good deal. It’s disappointing to lose a client, especially when you make schedule changes to accommodate them.

I’ve also had those same clients that ditched me for a lower deal rate come back to me a week later and beg me to fix the mess the cheaper service provider gave them as their transcript. Then they basically paid me to do it over, because the “discount” product they received was such an awful mess that it wasn’t even usable, it was easier to just start over fresh.

In the end they ended up paying more instead of less because they had to have it done twice! Sometimes a deal isn’t the best way to go
.-= Loretta´s last blog ..Do You Jump In Head First? =-.

By: Chris from 'Freelance For Money'

Chris from 'Freelance For Money' — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:49:55 +0000

Beware the D list client.

I think it’s our job to sit down and work out what makes a good client. What do they spend, what position in the company are they in, what size of company etc.

Then work to attract that kind of client and never get taken in by the ‘it’ll be easy’ people. They won’t value your time and skills.

Chris

By: Carol Tice

Carol Tice — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:43:33 +0000

This felt like reading my own story! Earlier this year I had a client contact me that I’d written five figures of work for previously. She asked for a quote on just a single article, hinting it would be easy to do, no editing, give me your lowest rate. I quoted her the rate I’d been using for them which was already middle-ish in my view, not $1 a word by any means. And she got back to me and let me know they took a lower bid.
I was bummed! If they said, “This is a bidding war, how low are you willing to go?” maybe I would have considered another price. (Or maybe not!)
But I wasn’t bummed for long; in the back end of this year a lot of $1 a word/$100 an hour work has come along which I might not have had room for if I’d gotten back in gear with them. I think if you have a philosophy that you’re worth good money, good-paying jobs come to you, and low payers aren’t the clients you want anyway.
More on my pay philosophy here at 7 Reasons Why I Won’t Write $15 Blogs: http://www.caroltice.com/blog/27