As a freelance writer, radio voiceover artist, photographer, and graphic designer, I can say that there is always someone, either a client or even a friend or family member, who ends up saying something that is offensive to the freelancing professional. In today’s article, I figured I would share some of these. If you’re a freelancer, I hope you can relate. If you’re not, please read these four points and try to avoid making these mistakes with your freelancer when you hire one. 1. NOT WANTING TO PAY FOR SERVICES/PRODUCTS
However, nothing is more frustrating as a freelancer when you get an invitation and someone was only inviting you to take photos for them. The best thing a friend or family member can do for a freelancer is support them. Clients should never ask for discounts on work, especially if they don’t have a good working relationship established with the freelancer. When a client asks for a discount, even though they may just be trying to save some money in their budget, it comes off as devaluing my work as a freelancer! Also, please don’t tell me “you would be supporting my start-up” or “it is an event for charity,” especially if I know nothing about the charity. I say this because I work on a website for freelancing and have gotten messages like these from total strangers. This isn’t Becky from the Kiwanis club asking for help, this is someone from halfway around the world who could simply be scamming me. 2. TRYING TO CORRECT ME ON SOMETHING THAT ISN'T INCORRECT
“Grapes, bread, and milk are all great items to keep in your fridge.” The person told me I should have used “is” instead of “are.” They said that they would make the correction, so I did not fight them on it. It just never makes sense to me when people pay for a service, but then want to question stuff like this! 3. NOT BEING CLEAR OR PROVIDING LITTLE INFORMATIONI was under the impression from their messages that they hosted a blog that gave brides-to-be some ideas for their big day. When I turned in one of their articles, they asked me where the “call to action” was.
4. GETTING ANGRY AND LASHING OUT WHEN WE STAND UP FOR OURSELVES
I put my foot down. He actually went out of his way to contact the support team to change his rating on an order he had rated me 5-stars on because I stood up for myself and refused to continue to re-write his orders for him. I launched some pretty harsh emails at the support team for allowing him to do it, but they did not care. They cared more about getting their commission from my sales.
But seriously, don’t do this. It is super unprofessional. Freelancers work for themselves and their clients. They don’t have to put up with your BS!
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