As freelance writers working online, our success relies more heavily on reputation than other professions. We rarely, if ever, meet clients in person. When people want to find out about us, they have to depend on what they find on the Internet.
It’s good because we can be found easily. A single article retweeted by the right people can bring in long-term, high-paying clients without extra promotion on our part. On the other hand, it can be disastrous. One irate client who posts negative reviews, tweets, or comments about us, and we may miss out on the best projects.
While I am confident that most freelance writers know this – at least in concept, I am not so sure that we all take proactive steps in ensuring our reputation is intact.
Ask yourself when you last googled yourself with the intention of assessing your reputation for work’s sake (as opposed to vanity). [Read more…]