Comments on: Whatever Happened to Face to Face?

By: A, B, C’s of Good Customer Service : Freelance Writing Jobs

A, B, C’s of Good Customer Service : Freelance Writing Jobs — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:47:38 +0000

[...] out as much about your client as possible and then learn as much about the task as possible. Meet face to face if necessary. Keep him apprised of your progress as the project moves along and follow up after the [...]

By: T

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:47:32 +0000

I have a great relationship with my SEO editor (I live in California and she’s in the mid-west) and we’ve never met (only virtual contact and phone), and it works for us. However, I think things get lost in translation when you don’t have that face-to-face contact on a regular basis. When I work with clients on web copy, it really helps to interview them and talk to them in a person so I can get a “feel” for their personality. I just had a meeting with a potential client last week and it really helps to sell yourself and your writing services/skills/talents in person.

However, I love the fact that I can Gmail chat or IM my editors when they’re online and can get an instant response to my question, especially if I’m in the process of writing my article and need clarification.

I also worked for a publisher and I never saw the authors either. I don’t think the editors and copywriters would have had the time (or patience ha!) to deal with pesky authors coming into the office 24,7.

I think it’s a Catch-22. The Internet makes life easier but I think the personal touch is also lost.

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:13:08 +0000

Hey,

The image with my previous post looks just like me!

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:12:32 +0000

I have clients all over the country, and one in Brazil. Going to the offices would be a little time consuming.

By: m

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:14:05 +0000

I think it makes a difference. If you know them on a personal level and have seen them in person, it’s very different from being an anonymous person with an email address. If you’re anonymous it’s easier to duck the person indefinitely and never have to own up to it (on the editor or writer’s side).

I think both the editor and writer take a risk in contracting work completely online without any in-person contact because the editor doesn’t know for sure if the writer will meet the deadline and the writer doesn’t know for sure if the client will pay up. I’d say if you can meet in person, go for it. If they can put a face to the name, they will feel they know and trust you better, and will give you more assignments. It’s just not always possible, especially if you live outside of the NY area.

When I worked on staff at a book publisher, it was still rare for a writer to come meet with editors in person (that was only for special projects or high-profile authors). It was actually considered a nuisance, and they didn’t really have time for it.