by Dina Giolitto

It’s tempting, when the news headlines are screaming about government financial bailouts, to just sit there with your mouth hanging open as you ponder what might happen to your 401K.

However, in tough times, the LAST thing you should be doing is waiting for further instructions.

If you were a Boy Scout (and even if you weren’t), then you’re no doubt familiar with their catch phrase: “Be prepared.” That’s about the best advice anyone can give. And it’s especially relevant when managing a business.

When people start to clutch their purse strings more tightly, and supply and demand turns on its head, here’s what you need to do RIGHT NOW to ensure that your company stays afloat in trying times.

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Popularity: 95% [?]

Good news; one of my copywriting invoice-dodgers has broken her alleged 2-month vow of silence, claiming that “the check is in the mail.”

Although the real proof is in the pudding, I tend to believe this client because this is the third time I’ve done work for her and she did pay for the other two jobs. (Although I will say that it took a fair amount of hounding before she finally coughed it up for the second assignment.)

I don’t know if people are total train wrecks or what. Maybe they think that if they don’t respond to your invoices, you’ll eventually go away?

What’s your experience with bad payers? I was thisclose to handing my two problem children from February’s billing cycle over to a collections agency. (I have another guy that I may still do this with.)

Let me just review the series of events that took place here:

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Popularity: 28% [?]

A good copywriter should be well practiced in the art of perspective jumping - not just in your marketing communication, but with your client relationships as well. While I was always pretty good at hopping into the minds of my own clients… I was never so tuned in to them as when I began outsourcing aspects of my own marketing.

Here is my take on what small business clients not only want, but desperately need from the people who we outsource our jobs to.

“The Small Business Client Wishlist” from Dina at Wordfeeder.com.

Small business clients wish that service providers would take the initiative.

I know that many freelance professionals wait there passively, thinking “Well, if my clients needed my services, they’d call or send an email.” The truth is that sometimes business owners can’t catch their breath long enough to say what it is that they want, let alone map it out in steps.

I guarantee that the next freelancer of mine who appears in my email inbox and asks for work WILL get it, even though right now I have no idea of what that assignment will be. Believe it; small business owners are THAT busy. If you’re looking for work, just say so. Clients do not spend time wondering how much work you do for other clients. We just like to know that you’re available for US.

Small business clients wish for marketing without ego.

Being on the flip side has allowed me to experience the unspoken friction that happens when clients make copy changes that copywriters don’t appreciate or agree with. There are two occasions where the copywriter has the right of way in this situation. One, is if the copy changes that the client implements might affect sales. (Let’s say the client deletes the call to action or deletes their own URL - yes it happens.) And two, if the client accidentally says something in the copy that blatantly makes them look unintelligent.

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Popularity: 40% [?]

Two months ago, I worked for two copywriting clients who for some reason decided not to pay me. This is such a rarity in my life that I keep thinking there has to be a valid excuse. Maybe he died! Maybe she had a family emergency!

Truth be told, neither is probably the case. What shocks me even more is that the one client was a referral from a web design partner whom I trust.

I guess when other people lower their standards, you get pulled down as well. I came to learn (after the fact) that the designer who worked with my non-paying client was doing a project for him “last March” but then he suddenly disappeared for six months before returning to “finish” his website.

I assumed she meant that he paid before he skipped town; after all, I’m thinking who in their right mind would agree to do work for someone who doesn’t pay you?

Maybe I’m wrong though; the story was “fuzzy.”

(Maybe this is what happened to my client!)

Regardless, I’ve decided I’m going to put this guy, and the other woman who owes me money, into collections. I’ve contacted an agency called Your Collection Solution. Their policy is, if they are unable to collect the money from the client, then you don’t owe them a dime. If they do get the money, you pay something like 20 or 25%. For the real details, go to www.yourcollectionsolution.com.

I’ve had the good fortune to meet smart, honest people online who take our professional relationship seriously. They treat me with respect for my expertise, pay on time, and are always open to new ideas on how we can work better together.

I really, really appreciate that.

As for these two deadbeats… well, I’ll keep you posted on what happens with the collections agency.

Freelancers, have your own issues with delinquent payers? How did you handle it?

Dina at Wordfeeder.com Copywriting and Marketing

Popularity: 26% [?]