Freelance Writing Advice for SEO Content Writers: What to Do When a Client Doesn’t Pay (But Keeps Promising to Do So), Part II

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Today’s Post

In last week’s post here, we had an update from Cold Calling Carol (FYI, this is the eighth update in this series). She had done a ton of work for a client (written like 65 SEO articles), and the client hadn’t paid her the remaining 50% due (she’d gotten half payment up front).

So, she wrote in asking me how to handle his “the dog ate my homework” dance.

Well, she sent me another update, telling me how she handled it. Following is what she said, and how she’s honing in on landing a $700 project from a bid-for-pay site.

Email from a Fellow SEO Writer: How to Get a Client to Pay the Heck Up!

Hi Yuwanda,

I thought it would be nice to give you the update.  I followed your advice, and wrote the [client] a nice letter and now he is on his toes reviewing the content.  We negotiated a deadline for him to review the work and give me feedback.  So, I will let you know how that pans out.

On other news, I dreaded going on Elance.com, I would bid/bid/bid with no luck.  However, I think a day or 2 before Hayden’s guest post [on how to land projects on Elance], I went on Elance and bid for some projects. 

I totally forgot about them and now today, I am in the process of closing a $700 project (emphasis added) on a subject I am passionate about: health — writing on everything from diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressures, and a few other common yet preventable health conditions. And the great thing is, he is paying me more than his proposed budget.   

I guess when I did the proposal, I wrote tidbits about my personal health journey, as well as including that some of my family members “suffer” from these conditions and I am always looking for alternative health options to help them. I think that’s what closed the deal, but nonetheless, I guess the timing was right.  And if all goes well, he has autoresponders and newsletters that he would like to produce content for as well. 

Now after reading, Hayden’s post, I am going to hunker down and create a compelling profile and add some more Cc’s to my account and use some of her tips and work my magic.

On other news, have you ever struggled with being a freelancer or owning a firm?   I am so not an organized person — I hate structure, rules, guidelines, systems, etc. 

Some days, I am like wow, I like being a freelancer.  I can take a day or two before I start a project.   And other days, I love outsourcing so I can have time to work on my business, market, and even sneak in day to spend with my loved ones.  Part of me loves the idea of having a team and part of me loves the idea of it just being me. Any suggestions on how to overcome this battle of the mind?

Thanks again for all of your help!

My Answer: 6 Takeaway Lessons from This SEO Writer’s Situation

I. Take Action: In this case, she did as I advised. The main thing is that when a client doesn’t pay, stay in touch. On the few occasions where clients have been slow to pay, I bug the hell out of them.

But, I tend not to stress about it until it’s been at least two to three weeks, UNLESS they’re a new client.  

To explain more, in the old days, before SEO writing, it was not uncommon for clients to take AT LEAST 30 days to pay; sometimes 45 or 60 days.

One of the things that made me fall in love with SEO writing is that it was almost instant payment, eg, write 10 articles, turn them in in 2 days, get paid on the third day.

So, to wait two to three weeks for payment is like  . . . an ETERNITY (unless you’ve worked out a different payment arrangement with your client).

Most of my clients pay within a couple of days of receiving the invoice. ON rare occasions, it may stretch to a week or more. So, when it gets beyond this, eg, two to three weeks, it’s a long time.

But again, if a client is “proven,” eg, we’ve done tons of projects for them, I don’t worry about it. But if it’s a new client, I don’t let it go that long. I take immediate action (eg, if payment is not received within a week of the invoice being sent, I’m on the horn to them).

III. Constantly Market for More Work: Even though this SEO writer is still handling this situation, she’s still marketing for more work (eg, the possible Elance job).  So, even though she might get screwed on this project, she’s continually filling her pipeline with new work.

This benefits you in a couple of ways: (i) it mitigates possible losses from one client (obviously), but more importantly, it: (ii) lessens the chance that you’ll stay stuck in a negative place. This is extremely important as a freelancer.

When you lose a client, it can not only affect your income, but your psyche. But like dating, if you constantly have other “fish on the hook,” so to speak, it doesn’t keep you down for long.

III. Don’t Get Swamped: As I advised in last week’s post, don’t let one client so overburden you that you can’t take on other projects because if they don’t pay, then you’re screwed.

IV. Break Projects Up: One of the things you have to be leery of as a freelance SEO writer is taking on bulk orders from new clients. While it’s great to get a 65-article order, if the client doesn’t pay, then it’s not so great. So maybe set a limit on the number of articles you’ll do for a new client at one time.

In this case, this freelancer could’ve said, we’ll do half that for you and see how the process goes. This way, you can assess if how we operate suits you, and vice versa. FYI, making it seem like you’re giving them a chance to “test your work” can take the sting out of, “There’s no way in hell we’re writing that many articles without full payment up front.”

You can continue on by saying, “Once this project has been completed to our mutual satisfaction, we can move forward with the remainder of the project if you want,” or you can take the direct approach, ie . . .

V. Get 100% Up Front: Just flat out state that you limit the number of articles you take on from new clients BECAUSE of the amount of work involved and the instances of fraud in the industry.

Of course, you can relay that if they’re willing to pay the full invoice up front (eg, pay 100% before you start), you’d be happy to take on the project.

Note: As I said, I’ve never had an SEO writing client NOT pay. And, I think it’s because I’ve developed a sixth sense about this business. Again, I’ve been a freelance writer since 1993.

My “Brush” with a Possible Non-Paying, SEO Writing Client

I had one potential client who tried to order 40 SEO articles one time. This was very early on in my SEO writing career – back in 2008. Something didn’t sit right in my gut about it, so I asked for 100% up front. The prospect said, “But your website says 50% up front.”

I told them that because it was a bulk order (in my case bulk at the time was over 20 articles) and they were a new client that full payment must be made first.

I never heard from this prospect again. So, my final tip is . . .

VI. Listen to Your Gut: It will rarely lead you wrong.

Next Week’s Newsletter

I’ll answer Cold Calling Carol’s other questions, eg, about organization, outsourcing, overcoming her “battle of the mind,” etc. either in next week’s newsletter here, or in InkwellEditorial.com’s post on Tuesday.

Have a great week!

Yuwanda
P.S.: Learn how to create multiple freelance income streams. Get Living the Freelance Life! How I Live Internationally and Have Earned a Living Completely Online Since 2007 & You Can Too, a free ebook. SeoWritingJobs.com is an InkwellEditorial.com property.

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