How To Double Or Triple Your Freelance Pay By Being A Lot Nicer

I used to be a terrible freelancer. I was arrogant and impatient. I expected clients to pay me just because they asked me to do work for them, no matter how crappy my attitude or how late my invoices were. 

Then one day, it dawned on me that if I changed my attitude and started being nicer, my clients would reciprocate. And you know what happened? 

All of them did! In fact, some of the biggest jerks became some of my favorite clients once they saw that I didn’t hold grudges after they’d treated me badly in the past. 

If you’re tired of dealing with frustrating freelancing situations, here are a few things you can do differently;

Takeaways
Building strong relationships with clients can lead to increased referrals and repeat business.
Demonstrating excellent communication skills and being responsive to client needs can set you apart from the competition.
Going the extra mile and providing exceptional customer service can result in higher rates and client satisfaction.
Collaborating effectively with clients and understanding their goals can lead to successful project outcomes and client loyalty.
Maintaining a positive and professional attitude can contribute to long-term client relationships and career growth.

Be The First Person To Answer Clients’ Emails

Start being the first person to answer clients’ emails. Clients don’t like waiting, so it’s best to address their concerns as soon as you can. 

Even if the problem is small, it could be something that needs immediate action. It’s helpful to be open and honest with clients when replying to questions about assignments. 

This will show them that you’re willing to work hard for them and will make them want to work with you again in the future.

When possible, offer solutions instead of just giving a “yes” or “no” response (unless there is no solution available). 

For example: “I’ll check with my client about this.” Or: “I’ll get back in touch after I’ve talked with my team.”

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Recall The Last Time You Had A Pleasant Interaction With Another Human Being

Think about the last time you had a pleasant interaction with another human being. It could be as simple as your barista remembering how you like your coffee and telling you she hopes to see you again soon. 

Or as impactful as your boss calling you into his office to tell him that he’s proud of all the hard work and dedication you’ve been putting forth lately. 

Whatever it is, remember what happened in detail what exactly did each person say, do, or feel? How did those actions make each person feel? 

Write down those details so they’re fresh in your mind when crafting these emails.

If You Decide To Raise Your Rates, Never Say That Your Work Is Worth More

If you decide to raise your rates, never say that your work is worth more. Instead, frame your new rate as a service charge for the client. 

This will frame it as an investment in their business, rather than just another expense.

As an example: Let’s say I’m a freelance writer who makes $10 per hour and writes 1,200 words in an hour (average). 

If I charge $15 per hour (a 30% increase), then my hourly rate would be $12.50 (a 25% increase). 

But if instead, I charge $20 per hour ($15 + 30%), my client will feel like they’re getting much more value for their money and won’t balk at paying me more.

Always Send Gifts Around The Holidays

Surprise your freelancer friends and clients with gifts.

I always send a gift to my clients around the holidays, and they are always so happy to get them. 

One year, I sent an Amazon package with a variety of books that I thought might be helpful to them or their families (and guess what? They all said thank you).

You can send flowers, chocolates, or treats, but remember this is not about spending money; it’s about showing you care and taking time out of your day to think about someone other than yourself once in a while which is what makes working from home such an awesome opportunity!

Have Some Opinions About Pop Culture

One of the biggest ways to impress clients is by being able to have a conversation with them. 

You can do this by having some opinions about pop culture (movies, TV, music), the latest news, and the latest trends. The more you know about these things, the more interesting you’ll be!

One way to get into pop culture is by watching a lot of TV or reading books/articles about it. 

Another way is going on social media and following people who post about pop culture all day long. I like doing both.

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Chat With Clients About Their Weekend Plans, Life Goals, Kids, Or Whatever They Like Talking About

Chat with clients about their weekend plans, life goals, kids, or whatever they like talking about.

If a client mentions their love of fishing one time, don’t assume it’s a fluke and that you can ignore it from then on. 

Find out what other interests he has and ask him about those too. You might need to dig deeper into his hobbies so he doesn’t feel like you’re only interested in fishing stories. 

But if you do it organically and naturally by asking questions along the way (and not just when he mentions fishing), then it won’t seem weird at all!

Don’t Ignore Invoices Or Pretend They Don’t Exist

You’re a freelancer and you don’t have to answer to anyone. You can pretty much do whatever you want, right? Well, not exactly. 

No matter how much you may hate money, or if you think the client is a total jerk (which they probably are), your job is still to deliver high-quality work on time at a fair price. 

So if your client invoices for $1,000 and pays $600 three weeks late that’s still $400 that would now be in your pocket if only they had paid when they said they would. 

To avoid this sort of thing from happening again, it’s important to follow up on all outstanding invoices immediately upon receipt and regularly remind clients that their payment is due (or overdue).

When You Are Rude, Apologize Immediately

You are a professional. You are working for someone else and they have paid you money to do work for them. 

Likely, this person is also a human being with feelings and emotions, just like you. When you are rude to them, it hurts their feelings just like when someone is rude to you. 

If this person happens to be your client then I can guarantee that your rudeness has hurt their business image in the eyes of their other clients or employers who may be looking at their work product (you).

If you were trying not to offend anyone by being intentionally rude then maybe consider apologizing anyway? 

Even if people don’t take offense, they will appreciate it if they know that as a freelancer making decisions based on what’s best for yourself isn’t always easy!

Are you on the right path to a flourishing freelancing career? Recognize the signs that indicate you’re heading towards success by checking out our guide on 15 Signs You’re on Your Way to a Successful Freelancing Career. Discover the milestones and achievements that mark your journey to freelance excellence.

Bring An Attitude Of Gratitude

It sounds simple, but it’s easy to forget how much other people are doing for you. Express appreciation for the people you work with, your boss and the company he or she is running, and the projects themselves, and their end-users. 

This can be as simple as sending a short email once a month (or more often if things are going well) expressing appreciation for what they’re doing or have done lately. 

It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate just thanks for letting me work here!

Say “Thank You” And “Please.” Often

“Thank you” and “Please.” If you’re not using these basic words, start now. They can make a huge difference in how your work is viewed by clients.

Beyond the basics of being polite, consider the following:

Thanking the client for their time. This can be a sincere “thank you for taking time out of your day to help me with this project,” or something as simple as saying “thank you” after every question or suggestion they provide during the conversation. 

If it’s a quick project that doesn’t require much communication via email or text messages, this will go a long way toward softening up any hard feelings they might have about paying you less than they think they should have to pay (or paying at all).

Saying sorry when things go wrong. You don’t need to do this excessively just apologize once and move on with your life. 

But it’s important to show remorse when something goes wrong so that clients feel like they’re dealing with human beings instead of machines or robots (because if there’s anything worse than dealing with robots/machines…it’d just be dealing with an even more romanticized version).

Write Handwritten Notes

Handwritten notes are a great way to show your clients you care about them, and they’re more personal than an email. 

You can buy or make a set of thank-you cards that will come in handy in the future. When I get an invoice from one of my clients. 

I write them a handwritten note thanking them for their business and letting them know how much I appreciate it. 

It’s not very hard to write one or two sentences on each card and it shows your clients that you value their business and want to build up a relationship with them over time.

Be Open About When Things Go Wrong And How You Plan To Fix Them Right Away

Be open about when things go wrong.

Don’t be afraid to admit when you are wrong. If a client points out that the work doesn’t meet their standards, or if they have a request, don’t hedge around it or try to sugarcoat what happened. 

Acknowledge the mistake and take responsibility for it right away (even if it wasn’t entirely your fault). 

Then tell them what steps you’re going to take to fix things for them as quickly as possible and then do so! 

You’ll win customers’ trust by being honest about mistakes; they’ll know that in the future if anything goes wrong on their end. 

They can count on being told about it immediately instead of waiting for weeks only to discover that months’ worth of work has been lost because no one bothered updating them on progress until now. 

Plus: What’s more professional than owning up?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help either! Sometimes there will be tasks that are outside our skillset (graphic design). 

Or we’ll just need another pair of eyes looking over something before sending it off (proofreading), or maybe even just an extra pair of hands with heavy lifting (moving furniture). 

Whatever your specific needs may be at any given moment during a project’s life cycle from the start date through completion date. 

Let other people know what those needs are before asking them directly you never know who might come through with exactly what you need most at just such an intersection between timeframes and skillsets!

Dealing with difficult clients can be a challenge for freelancers. Arm yourself with effective strategies and techniques to handle such situations by referring to our article on 12 Effective Ways to Deal with Clients Who Are Jerks. Learn how to maintain professionalism and navigate client relationships with confidence.

Try Not To Use A Lot Of Jargon In Emails And Project Outlines/Proposals

There are a few reasons why you should try to avoid using jargon in your writing. It’s boring, it’s unprofessional and it can be hard for the reader to understand. 

If you want to impress with your command of the language and impress clients with the depth of your knowledge, there are better ways to do so.

The solution here is pretty simple: write in plain English. Do you know what that means? Use lots of short sentences instead of long ones; 

Use words everyone understands instead of ones only academics know; break up paragraphs into bullet points or lists whenever possible; use images and charts as much as possible too – these things make things fun for readers!

Want to become a top-rated freelancer? Unlock the secrets to success in the freelance industry with our valuable tips. Dive into our guide on Tips for Becoming a Top-Rated Freelancer and discover strategies to elevate your freelance career and attract high-paying clients.

Conclusion

We’ve seen the power of freelance work to turn lives around and give people an opportunity they didn’t have before. 

When you’re a freelancer, it’s important to remember that your clients are more than just a check with a dollar amount on it. They’re real people – and when we treat them as such, everyone wins.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources that provide valuable insights on doubling your freelance income:

Double Your Freelance Rates Without Clients Knowing: Learn effective strategies to increase your freelance rates without alarming your clients and maintaining client satisfaction.

Sell to Existing Clients: How to Double Your Freelancing Income: Discover techniques for upselling and expanding your services to existing clients, enabling you to double your freelance income.

A Guide to Doubling Your Freelance Income: Explore a comprehensive guide that offers practical advice and actionable steps to double your freelance income in the industry.

 Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Do Freelance Copywriters Make?

The short answer is that you can earn a lot of money as a freelance copywriter if you’re willing to put in the time and effort. 

We know people who have earned six figures in their first year, but it takes a lot of work and a lot of hustle to get there. 

If you’re looking for something more immediate, we’d recommend looking into freelancing as an SEO writer or website content editor.

How Do I Get Started?

Good question! The best thing you can do is start with your resume and portfolio. Make sure they’re up-to-date and reflect all of your previous experience and skills. 

You’ll also want to put together a portfolio of samples that show off your best work. If possible, include testimonials from previous clients or even colleagues who will vouch for your skills. 

You should also consider getting some training in copywriting so that you can demonstrate proficiency with the industry standards and practices. 

Finally, make sure that any clients you pitch have budgets that are large enough to support your hourly rate (or at least cover expenses).

How Much Will I Earn?

It depends on your location, experience, and market demand for the type of copywriting you do. You can make anywhere from $50 to $500 per hour.

What Kind Of Work Is Available?

There are many different kinds of freelance writing jobs available, including blog posts, articles, marketing emails, case studies, press releases, and more. 

If you’re new to freelancing as a copywriter, we recommend starting with an article or landing page as your first project because these are easy to complete quickly and will help you build up your portfolio.

What Qualifications Do I Need?

You don’t need any formal qualifications just some writing experience! We recommend having at least 1-2 years of experience in content writing before starting as a freelance copywriter. 

That’s because you must know how to write well before trying to sell yourself as someone who can write well! 

You’ll also need good English skills (or another language if you’re working internationally). 

An internet connection and access to Google Drive or other cloud storage service where you can save your work securely so that it doesn’t get lost if anything happens to your computer or device while working.

How Do I Know If I’m Being Paid Enough?

If you’re not sure, it’s probably time to start looking for a new client. If you’re making more than your rent, that’s a good sign. If you’re making less than your rent, it’s time to find a better client.

How Can I Get Clients To Pay Me More?

The first step is being nicer and more professional. The second step is letting them know how much money they could save by paying you more. 

Even if your rates are already high, there are still ways to get clients to pay you even more!