If you’re starting out as a content provider in a network like GAF or Elance, you probably want to get as many clients as you can, Finding the best clients to work for online is one of the toughest things I’ve had to deal with as a freelance content writer. It was only after I realized a crucial factor involved in freelancing that I really learned how to screen the clients I work for… freelancer and client attitudes and philosophies should match.
If you’re writing about a specific niche, you must use your client’s philosophies on the topic if you’re comfortable with them.
example1: weightloss
I, for one, am not a believer of fad diets, but a lot of people online are looking to promote fad diets. What do you do when a client is adamant that you write positively about yoyo diets and the “next best quick weightloss product ever”? I would decline the job offer, but it really depends on your level of comfort.
In the end, the client doesn’t give a rat’s a** about your personal views as long as you get the job done, but for you to get the job done (i.e. write hundreds of articles around the topic), you must operate on the same wavelength. Your goal must always be to cultivate a long-term relationship, and you can only do that if you can be completely professional about the topic on hand.
Clients will only hire you again if…
1. You can endlessly come up with good things to say about the product he or she is promoting
2. You can incorporate his or her ideas into your articles
3. You can get the job done quicker than others
4. You understand the subject and know how to sell the product from different perspectives
Can you be a “prima donna freelancer” and still get hired? Absolutely. You come up with your own rules and get the articles delivered quicker because your rules are met. Some clients will appreciate that attitude, and some won’t, but you will get a loyal following if you develop an identity and a mindset that your client will like.
