How to Snag Long-Term Direct Order Clients and Keep Them Hooked
Attracting long-term Direct Order clients is one of the key ways to find success at Textbroker. Snagging new clients is easier than you might think when you add these strategies to your writing routine.
Are you ready to take the next step to success as an author? Read more here to learn about how to earn money by setting the right Direct Order rate!
Snagging Direct Order clients can sometimes feel as elusive as catching “the big one” out at sea. After all, the Open Order pool is full of clients, yet you never know which one will get lured in by your flawless grammar and creative take on a topic. Once you’ve got a new client on the hook, it’s frustrating to get a Direct Order or two only to have your new client disappear and never return.
Believe it or not, long-term Direct Order clients aren’t a myth. In fact, many clients prefer long-term relationships with authors who make it easier to get consistent content. If you’ve been waiting for that special client to come your way, then it might be time to change things up. As a freelance writer, you can use these new tactics to be proactive about increasing your Direct Order queue.
Update Your Public Profile
New authors often skip over some of the details of setting up their profile in an effort to get straight to writing. Long-time authors sometimes forget to go back and update their profiles as they gain new types of experience or earn a degree. Clients often search for authors using keywords for specific topics, industry fields and languages.
Think about what types of orders you want to attract, and update your profile accordingly. Do you want to bring in more travel-related topics? Then put a
marker on the map to document your travel history. Adding more detail to your profile brings you closer to the top of the list when a client does a search.
View Open Orders as an Audition
The easiest way to connect with a new client is to dazzle them with your Open Orders. Established clients often post orders in the Open pool to go fishing for new authors to add to their Favorites list. New ones generally place a first article hoping to find a go-to author for all of their content needs. You’ll frequently hear that the best way to earn money as an author is to practice good grammar and follow the order instructions, and it’s simply the truth. Treat every order as an audition, and you’ll soon start getting more Direct Order requests.
Respond to Excellent Ratings
Reaching out to a client for the first time is always easy when you already know they like your work. Client ratings may not affect your status as an author, but they do let you know when you might have a chance of them sending you Direct Orders. Your first message to a client doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, keeping it short and sweet is best. Just thank them for the excellent ratings, and let them know that you are available for orders if they have a need.
Take Care of Your Teams
Team Orders sometimes get overlooked as a source for attracting new Direct Order clients, but there are several benefits of paying attention to these types of projects. You already know that the client sees the value of consistent work from authors they trust to provide quality content. They’re also likely familiar with your name and writing style. At times, a Team Order client may have content that needs a fast turnaround. By making sure that you pay attention to deadlines and stick to the team’s instructions, you can bet the client will send Direct Orders to you when time is of the essence.
Give Your Direct Order Clients a Heads Up
Being a freelance writer comes with the freedom to choose how and when you want to work. However, that doesn’t mean that you can blow off Direct Orders when something else comes up. Treating your Direct Order clients just like the
people you work with in person goes a long way. If you’ve got a client that you know always sends orders at the first of the month when you have an upcoming vacation planned, try to let them know ahead of time. They might prefer to send the orders sooner or extend the deadline. Either way, they’ll appreciate you giving them time to plan.
Continue to Prioritize Quality Content
Watching as your Direct Order queue fills up is exciting, but now is not the time to start rushing through your projects. Make sure to give each new order the same level of time and attention that you did your first ones. Long-term clients appreciate you making their orders a priority and love it when you help them make their content shine.
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