Comments on: Dealing With Dead Silence, Advice for Freelance Writers http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Thu, 17 May 2012 02:51:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-7138 Michael Stelzner Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:39:33 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-7138 Great advice Jess! Great advice Jess!

]]> By: Jess Sand http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-7122 Jess Sand Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:56:14 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-7122 One additional step worth taking if a prospect passes on your proposal or bid: follow up in a month or so (depending on the project length). I drop an email to these folks to "check in and see how the project went." There's all kinds of ways to phrase it so that you show your concern for the success of their project—you can ask to see the final results becuase you're genuinely interested, you can ask if there's anything else they need, you can ask them how it all went. The key is to keep the communication moving back and forth for as long as they will let you (without being a pest, of course). Rejections are just part and parcel of the business—I just try to deal with them as gracefully as I can. One additional step worth taking if a prospect passes on your proposal or bid: follow up in a month or so (depending on the project length). I drop an email to these folks to “check in and see how the project went.” There’s all kinds of ways to phrase it so that you show your concern for the success of their project—you can ask to see the final results becuase you’re genuinely interested, you can ask if there’s anything else they need, you can ask them how it all went.

The key is to keep the communication moving back and forth for as long as they will let you (without being a pest, of course). Rejections are just part and parcel of the business—I just try to deal with them as gracefully as I can.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-4510 Michael Stelzner Fri, 19 Jan 2007 16:56:12 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-4510 Roberta - Thanks for sharing your process! Seems excellent. - Mike Roberta - Thanks for sharing your process! Seems excellent. - Mike

]]> By: Roberta Rosenberg http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-4407 Roberta Rosenberg Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:44:04 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-4407 Great topic. After I send a proposal, I'll email within 48 hours just to make sure the prospect received because email is NOT a guaranteed delivery service. Then, if I haven't heard, another quick email after about a week to answer any questions or to set up a time to discuss. Still no word after two weeks? I'll call, but early in the am (prior to 8:30am) or after 5:30 pm when I have the best chance to catch the person and not the VM. If still a no-go, I consider it dead, but do keep in occasional touch. I had a no-go turn into a big account after 6 months. You never know ... Great topic. After I send a proposal, I’ll email within 48 hours just to make sure the prospect received because email is NOT a guaranteed delivery service. Then, if I haven’t heard, another quick email after about a week to answer any questions or to set up a time to discuss.

Still no word after two weeks? I’ll call, but early in the am (prior to 8:30am) or after 5:30 pm when I have the best chance to catch the person and not the VM.

If still a no-go, I consider it dead, but do keep in occasional touch. I had a no-go turn into a big account after 6 months. You never know …

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-4109 Michael Stelzner Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:33:02 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-4109 Hi Susan and David; Susan - You are right! Phone calls are very important. Why are so many of us scared to pick up the phone?? David - Great point about getting the feedback. That helps big time! We learn more when we fail. Mike Hi Susan and David;

Susan - You are right! Phone calls are very important. Why are so many of us scared to pick up the phone??

David - Great point about getting the feedback. That helps big time! We learn more when we fail.

Mike

]]> By: David Airey http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-3859 David Airey Sun, 14 Jan 2007 22:20:09 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-3859 I used to use the follow-up after unsuccessful job applications, so I could work on my weaknesses. It's a good habit to get into. I've found that most of the time those clients don't get back to you because they're simply too busy, and have been meaning to for some time. I used to use the follow-up after unsuccessful job applications, so I could work on my weaknesses. It’s a good habit to get into.

I’ve found that most of the time those clients don’t get back to you because they’re simply too busy, and have been meaning to for some time.

]]> By: Susan Weiner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-3699 Susan Weiner Sat, 13 Jan 2007 16:02:15 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-3699 I agree about the importance of follow-up phone calls. I've been pleasantly surprised by how often prospects have thanked me for calling them to follow up. If you're wondering if it's time to make a phone call, it's probably time to call. That's a lesson I learned during my corporate job hunting days. I agree about the importance of follow-up phone calls. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how often prospects have thanked me for calling them to follow up.

If you’re wondering if it’s time to make a phone call, it’s probably time to call. That’s a lesson I learned during my corporate job hunting days.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-3601 Michael Stelzner Sat, 13 Jan 2007 00:13:17 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-3601 Hey Jonathan and Tom! I actually have had clients get back to me months later. I think it is good to follow up with a voice mail if you can. You can often tell by their voice if they are interested. Persistence pays well! Mike Hey Jonathan and Tom!

I actually have had clients get back to me months later.

I think it is good to follow up with a voice mail if you can. You can often tell by their voice if they are interested.

Persistence pays well!

Mike

]]> By: Tom Chandler http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-3595 Tom Chandler Fri, 12 Jan 2007 22:43:37 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-3595 It happens to everyone. After a couple e-mails, you need to call. Two weeks is a reasonable stretch of time. E-mail is distressingly easy, but you're less likely to get real answers. Also, if you ask for feedback, take it like a pro. Don't whine when they tell you the job went to someone else because you made four errors in the cover letter. Finally, if the job's still on the rails, don't let someone turn this into an opportunity to negotiate your fee downward (no, I'm not bitter). It happens to everyone. After a couple e-mails, you need to call. Two weeks is a reasonable stretch of time.

E-mail is distressingly easy, but you’re less likely to get real answers. Also, if you ask for feedback, take it like a pro. Don’t whine when they tell you the job went to someone else because you made four errors in the cover letter.

Finally, if the job’s still on the rails, don’t let someone turn this into an opportunity to negotiate your fee downward (no, I’m not bitter).

]]> By: Jonathan Kantor http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-3571 Jonathan Kantor Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:06:04 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/11/followingup-as-freelancer/#comment-3571 A more appropriate question is how much time do you give the prospect before beginning the email and phone assault. You have to put yourself in the client's shoes as well. Many have a lot on their plates between meetings, travel, deadlines, etc. Unfortunately as a freelance resource you rank very low on their list of priorities. I would give the client 2 to three weeks. After leaving both email and phone messages, if they don't return any of those, then consider your proposal dead. The whole idea of not getting a return call is something that urks me a whole lot. In fact I posted something to that effect in my blog: http://www.whitepapercompany.com/blog/?p=88 A more appropriate question is how much time do you give the prospect before beginning the email and phone assault.

You have to put yourself in the client’s shoes as well. Many have a lot on their plates between meetings, travel, deadlines, etc. Unfortunately as a freelance resource you rank very low on their list of priorities.

I would give the client 2 to three weeks. After leaving both email and phone messages, if they don’t return any of those, then consider your proposal dead.

The whole idea of not getting a return call is something that urks me a whole lot. In fact I posted something to that effect in my blog:

http://www.whitepapercompany.com/blog/?p=88

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