Comments on: We Get Letters http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/ Mutual Respect Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:51:11 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Lori Molitor http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/comment-page-1/#comment-18414 Lori Molitor Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:04:42 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/we-get-letters-14/#comment-18414 It's all about expectations. The only thing I expect from my employer is a paycheck and anything else is superfluous. When we expect things from others it ultimately leads to disappointment. If you enjoy your job do the best you can for your individual satisfaction. Don't take it as a blow if you don't get a thank you. Imagine if your boss started to feel guilty for not saying thank you or sending bonuses? Isn't that what the person with expectations hopes to make the other feel? Let go of your insecurities and move on. It’s all about expectations. The only thing I expect from my employer is a paycheck and anything else is superfluous. When we expect things from others it ultimately leads to disappointment. If you enjoy your job do the best you can for your individual satisfaction. Don’t take it as a blow if you don’t get a thank you. Imagine if your boss started to feel guilty for not saying thank you or sending bonuses? Isn’t that what the person with expectations hopes to make the other feel? Let go of your insecurities and move on.

]]> By: Jodee http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/comment-page-1/#comment-18311 Jodee Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:26:59 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/we-get-letters-14/#comment-18311 @ PreSchool Mama: You're welcome. I bet that if we said/wrote those words more often ourselves, our clients would respond in a postive way. @ PreSchool Mama: You’re welcome. I bet that if we said/wrote those words more often ourselves, our clients would respond in a postive way.

]]> By: PreSchool Mama http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/comment-page-1/#comment-18223 PreSchool Mama Sun, 02 Mar 2008 07:40:34 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/we-get-letters-14/#comment-18223 @Jodee, you're right. All of my clients are prompt paymasters, except those who are on a monthly schedule, by choice. And I haven't really made an effort to thank them beyond the first couple of times I received a paycheck. We might think we don't need to thank them because we work hard for them, but then, they don't need to thank us either.:) Thanks for the idea. @Jodee, you’re right. All of my clients are prompt paymasters, except those who are on a monthly schedule, by choice. And I haven’t really made an effort to thank them beyond the first couple of times I received a paycheck. We might think we don’t need to thank them because we work hard for them, but then, they don’t need to thank us either.:)

Thanks for the idea.

]]> By: Brooke http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/comment-page-1/#comment-18158 Brooke Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:02:14 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/we-get-letters-14/#comment-18158 I've gotten a few bonuses/tips from editing clients. Neither these nor holiday greetings/gifts are expected but I have learned the hard way to be wary of the client who never says thank you or indicates in any way that my work is appreciated. For three years I was the second-top producing editor at a major online editing service. The owner not only never thanked any of the editors for our work, but ended up treating many of us in a shoddy and unprofessional manner. A person who over an extended period of time never thanks you or in any way appears to appreciate your work probably doesn't in fact value that work and thinks you are easily replaced. There's no reason to stop working for that person, but protect yourself by building up client relationships with others who do value your work and will therefore be less likely to up and leave someday. I’ve gotten a few bonuses/tips from editing clients. Neither these nor holiday greetings/gifts are expected but I have learned the hard way to be wary of the client who never says thank you or indicates in any way that my work is appreciated. For three years I was the second-top producing editor at a major online editing service. The owner not only never thanked any of the editors for our work, but ended up treating many of us in a shoddy and unprofessional manner.

A person who over an extended period of time never thanks you or in any way appears to appreciate your work probably doesn’t in fact value that work and thinks you are easily replaced. There’s no reason to stop working for that person, but protect yourself by building up client relationships with others who do value your work and will therefore be less likely to up and leave someday.

]]> By: Jodee http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/comment-page-1/#comment-18149 Jodee Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:33:26 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/we-get-letters-14/#comment-18149 @ Ann G: I would think that they can claim the cost of the bonus on their taxes as as business expense, too. I have got to say that I have very generous clients who say thank you often and who provide bonuses from time to time, including at Christmas. I received a gift from a client with the company logo on it before Christmas. Another person who is not a client but who provides expert answers questions on a site that I write for sent a gift of gourmet fruit delivered once a month for three months. It's not something I would have ordered for myself but I may have to because the product is absolutely exquisite, and it was much appreciated. Just to put a different slant on the whole Thank You thing, do we remember to thank our clients for their business and their (hopefully) prompt payments often enough? @ Ann G: I would think that they can claim the cost of the bonus on their taxes as as business expense, too.

I have got to say that I have very generous clients who say thank you often and who provide bonuses from time to time, including at Christmas. I received a gift from a client with the company logo on it before Christmas. Another person who is not a client but who provides expert answers questions on a site that I write for sent a gift of gourmet fruit delivered once a month for three months. It’s not something I would have ordered for myself but I may have to because the product is absolutely exquisite, and it was much appreciated.

Just to put a different slant on the whole Thank You thing, do we remember to thank our clients for their business and their (hopefully) prompt payments often enough?

]]> By: Ann G. http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/comment-page-1/#comment-18133 Ann G. Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:23:21 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/we-get-letters-14/#comment-18133 @James - I do have one person who throws in a $5 bonus from time to time which is appreciated. It is with my review site where I tend to get the gifts and they do make me feel slightly uncomfortable because while I am giving an author or publisher my opinion of their book, some of them have been known to go all out. I feel bad they are spending that much money. I've gotten things from Beanie Babies embroidered with a book's title and author name to cooking aprons, t-shirts, hats, food items, to my all time favorite, a basket full of Godiva products from hot cocoa to truffles. In the end, it is my husband who says that if they wouldn't send it if they didn't have the budget. @James – I do have one person who throws in a $5 bonus from time to time which is appreciated.

It is with my review site where I tend to get the gifts and they do make me feel slightly uncomfortable because while I am giving an author or publisher my opinion of their book, some of them have been known to go all out. I feel bad they are spending that much money.

I’ve gotten things from Beanie Babies embroidered with a book’s title and author name to cooking aprons, t-shirts, hats, food items, to my all time favorite, a basket full of Godiva products from hot cocoa to truffles.

In the end, it is my husband who says that if they wouldn’t send it if they didn’t have the budget.

]]> By: James Chartrand - Men with Pens http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/comment-page-1/#comment-18130 James Chartrand - Men with Pens Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:32:26 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/we-get-letters-14/#comment-18130 Am I the only one who feels uncomfortable about bonuses? :) Seriously, each time I receive a bonus - a money bonus, not a gift bonus - I've wanted to absolutely squirm. I feel bad. The client didn't have to do that, and it makes me feel very awkward, as if I owe someone something. I do thank them nicely, though. Gift certificates to Amazon or other presents are cool as hell. Those don't make me squirm in the least, and I always tell the client what I ended up buying. Funny how my brain works, I guess. Am I the only one who feels uncomfortable about bonuses? :)

Seriously, each time I receive a bonus – a money bonus, not a gift bonus – I’ve wanted to absolutely squirm. I feel bad. The client didn’t have to do that, and it makes me feel very awkward, as if I owe someone something. I do thank them nicely, though.

Gift certificates to Amazon or other presents are cool as hell. Those don’t make me squirm in the least, and I always tell the client what I ended up buying.

Funny how my brain works, I guess.

]]> By: Genesis http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/comment-page-1/#comment-18093 Genesis Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:42:52 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/we-get-letters-14/#comment-18093 It is definitely nice, but not required for a client to say thanks. I have two regular clients, both of whom frequently send me emails saying "Great work" and it is really a boost to my confidence. One of them also gives bonuses, but I think that is pretty rare in the freelance world. It is definitely nice, but not required for a client to say thanks. I have two regular clients, both of whom frequently send me emails saying “Great work” and it is really a boost to my confidence. One of them also gives bonuses, but I think that is pretty rare in the freelance world.

]]> By: Skippy http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/comment-page-1/#comment-18086 Skippy Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:12:59 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/we-get-letters-14/#comment-18086 With the type of industry I usually write for, I never see the finished product. Once I send something to an editor, other than one round of revisions, I never know what happens to it. Did anyone like it? Were they pleased with it? Or did they just delete the whole thing and start over (I used to work on the editorial side, and that practice was not infrequent when there wasn't time to keep sending things back, or when the writer just didn't seem to be getting it)? But there's one editor I do a lot of work for who has on a number of occasions taken the time to write to me and tell me that the client was really pleased with my work, and that everyone loved it. I guess it's kind of pathetic that even though I've been freelancing for a number of years and people must be hiring me for some reason, I still need to hear that occasionally. When that editor contacts me for a project, I don't even hesitate to say yes. With the type of industry I usually write for, I never see the finished product. Once I send something to an editor, other than one round of revisions, I never know what happens to it. Did anyone like it? Were they pleased with it? Or did they just delete the whole thing and start over (I used to work on the editorial side, and that practice was not infrequent when there wasn’t time to keep sending things back, or when the writer just didn’t seem to be getting it)? But there’s one editor I do a lot of work for who has on a number of occasions taken the time to write to me and tell me that the client was really pleased with my work, and that everyone loved it. I guess it’s kind of pathetic that even though I’ve been freelancing for a number of years and people must be hiring me for some reason, I still need to hear that occasionally. When that editor contacts me for a project, I don’t even hesitate to say yes.

]]> By: PreSchool Mama http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/we-get-letters-14/comment-page-1/#comment-18084 PreSchool Mama Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:10:34 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/we-get-letters-14/#comment-18084 My favorite clients are the ones who say "Thanks for a great job" or something like that. They don't have to do it, but I love that they recognize how good it feels. Having said that, it isn't in some people's nature, and I don't hold that against them. My favorite clients are the ones who say “Thanks for a great job” or something like that. They don’t have to do it, but I love that they recognize how good it feels. Having said that, it isn’t in some people’s nature, and I don’t hold that against them.

]]>