I met this client on DP. Now he is not even responding to my messages. The three articles are for the main pages of a website of a company this guy is developing. I see that they have used two of my articles for two of their pages, but for the topic of my third article, the client has apparently chosen to use someone else's content - they did not use mine. Is this something for which I should leave a negative feedback? Plus, if I do that, the client will do the same for me, and as someone who has just started here, it will put me in the negative right away! Btw, I have worked with 5 clients from DP in the last one/two weeks, and 4 of them have been ( or are proving to be ) awesome. Even this client did not cheat me outright, but he/she has just wasted my time. Another option I have is contact the site he works for ( its a big site). But for $5 I do not want to drag this for weeks. Plus I am not sure the site is not a one-man operation. I think the best option for m is to leave a negative fedback, AFTER I have had some postive feedbacks! So my question is: What do you do with bad or worse clients? edit: recourse!!
Unfortunately, for $5 I think I would chalk it up to the cost of doing business. Perhaps put the article in question (with the company name removed) on your blog under a category called samples or something? That way at least you'll have published it first and make it less valuable for the other folks.
This is why I always require payment up-front. At the very least, 50% up front... and 50% BEFORE I deliver anything I've written. Dot
I do too. I used to write articles for private clients without any upfront pay and got burned a few too many times. Like the $25 article I wrote for a credit card affiliate site that they used but never paid me a dime for. Lesson learned. Unless it's a big content providing company like Demand Media Studios or Bright Hub, I would insist on 50 percent upfront especially if you have published samples and a track record of solid experience. Good luck! Stephanie
@Dot and @Stephanie Thanks for the ideas. I will be pursuing that approach - I don't even mind 25% upfront. Or some other arrangement. Basically the client should bear some risk too. @YMC and @Perry I recognize that this is not much. I am more interested in knowing what would you do in a case where there may be more money involved. My idea was to get ideas so I could prepare for scenarios worse than this ( and tackle this too in the bargain ). I am new to content writing and I haven't yet asked a client for upfront payment, and it seems I should start doing that, as suggested by Dot and Stephanie.
Vishal, I might get in touch with you. I've checked out your blog and am impressed by your fair rates and English writing skills. I'm trying to outsource more of my writing work and also promote my eBooks and coaching business with article writing. Peace, Stephanie
Yes, vishals, like what has already been suggested, require at least 50% upfront. That is the norm. But since we are talking about rates so low, even at, say, $25 per article, you should request it all upfront. That to is the norm. Make it sound like the norm to them also, so they will just send you the full amount without thinking about it: "...I will get working on your project this evening. After receiving the agreed $25 for the "How to Fix Small Appliances" article, I'll send you the article for any changes you may have. How's tomorrow night sound? You're going to love this particular article, John, and so will many of your readers. Good luck with it!" They have seen your past example articles, you can also send them a 100-word sample piece on what they need, so there shouldn't be a problem of them balking. If they do, I would pass on them. To me, that's a red flag. There are way too many looking for a good writer anyway.
@ Parry Thanks for your comment, and the advise in it. I will be trying to do just that. @Stephanie Thanks for your encouraging words, and willingness to have me work for you. I have sent you a PM too, and look forward to hearing from you.