Comments on: The freelancer’s short guide to getting paid http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid Copywriting Tips for Smart Copywriters Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:30:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Freelance Writing: Ten Steps, Tons of Resources — Aliventures http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid/comment-page-1#comment-19087 Freelance Writing: Ten Steps, Tons of Resources — Aliventures Fri, 06 May 2011 12:29:02 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1398#comment-19087 [...] The freelancer’s short guide to getting paid – a step-by-step guide on how to respond of your invoice isn’t paid on time, from Dean Rieck of ProCopyTips. [...] [...] The freelancer’s short guide to getting paid – a step-by-step guide on how to respond of your invoice isn’t paid on time, from Dean Rieck of ProCopyTips. [...]

]]> By: Dean Rieck http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid/comment-page-1#comment-16580 Dean Rieck Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:46:51 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1398#comment-16580 Outsource: I've had only minor issues on Vista, such as certain formatting on documents saved as .doc. It's worked well outside of that. Outsource: I’ve had only minor issues on Vista, such as certain formatting on documents saved as .doc. It’s worked well outside of that.

]]> By: Outsource http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid/comment-page-1#comment-16520 Outsource Sat, 02 Apr 2011 16:20:14 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1398#comment-16520 Just wanted to let you know that for some reason Open Office hasnt worked well for me. I am using Windows Vista. Really appreciate your information on how to get paid as a freelancer. Just wanted to let you know that for some reason Open Office hasnt worked well for me. I am using Windows Vista.
Really appreciate your information on how to get paid as a freelancer.

]]> By: Dean Rieck http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid/comment-page-1#comment-15574 Dean Rieck Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:41:43 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1398#comment-15574 Michelle, Maybe there's a misunderstanding here. I send invoices by email and always confirm receipt immediately. I just ask the client to reply and say, "Yeah, I got it." And there's a contact and invoice stipulation on the time allowed for payment. However, I don't call a client the day after the deadline to immediately demand payment. When you have been in business as long as I have, you get to know your clients. I know one guy will pay me a couple weeks late, but he'll always pay. Another guy will pay within 2 or 3 days. Etc. In the nearly two decades I've been doing this, I've only had maybe 4 times when someone didn't pay. Most problems are avoided before they ever happen by weeding out bad prospects at the beginning and with contracts and clear, professional communication at the start of every project. Michelle,
Maybe there’s a misunderstanding here. I send invoices by email and always confirm receipt immediately. I just ask the client to reply and say, “Yeah, I got it.” And there’s a contact and invoice stipulation on the time allowed for payment. However, I don’t call a client the day after the deadline to immediately demand payment.

When you have been in business as long as I have, you get to know your clients. I know one guy will pay me a couple weeks late, but he’ll always pay. Another guy will pay within 2 or 3 days. Etc. In the nearly two decades I’ve been doing this, I’ve only had maybe 4 times when someone didn’t pay. Most problems are avoided before they ever happen by weeding out bad prospects at the beginning and with contracts and clear, professional communication at the start of every project.

]]> By: Michelle Dunn http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid/comment-page-1#comment-15572 Michelle Dunn Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:24:38 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1398#comment-15572 Dean, That is great but not always the case. Since I am a freelancer myself, I am familiar with this and have helped other freelancers who have had problems getting paid - though they did not get a signed contract which I am sure contributed to the problem. I respectfully disagree that calling before an invoice is due (especially in this economy) to inquire if they had received it or if there were problems is unprofessional and unnecessary. One of the most common stall tactics or honest mistakes or excuses made is that the invoice or bill was never received, delaying payment. Dean,
That is great but not always the case. Since I am a freelancer myself, I am familiar with this and have helped other freelancers who have had problems getting paid – though they did not get a signed contract which I am sure contributed to the problem.

I respectfully disagree that calling before an invoice is due (especially in this economy) to inquire if they had received it or if there were problems is unprofessional and unnecessary.

One of the most common stall tactics or honest mistakes or excuses made is that the invoice or bill was never received, delaying payment.

]]> By: Dean Rieck http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid/comment-page-1#comment-15570 Dean Rieck Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:02:38 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1398#comment-15570 Michelle, Most clients in my industry pay and pay on time. So if I have a good client who's a week late, there's no reason to jump on them immediately. And I'm certainly not going to call ahead of time, which seems to assume I think they won't pay. It could be you're not familiar with this industry, but calling BEFORE an invoice is due is unprofessional and unnecessary. Michelle,
Most clients in my industry pay and pay on time. So if I have a good client who’s a week late, there’s no reason to jump on them immediately. And I’m certainly not going to call ahead of time, which seems to assume I think they won’t pay. It could be you’re not familiar with this industry, but calling BEFORE an invoice is due is unprofessional and unnecessary.

]]> By: Michelle Dunn http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid/comment-page-1#comment-15566 Michelle Dunn Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:39:59 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1398#comment-15566 This is a good and timely topic but I have to say I do not agree with item #2: Don’t call the day after the deadline. IN my opinion and in my experience you should call BEFORE the deadline, never wait until after and especially do not wait weeks or months after a due date to contact a client. Especially in this economy, I advise folks to call before. when you make the call before, you ask if they received the bill or invoice, if there were any issues or problems and ask if the bill is on schedule to be paid. If your bill is lost in a pile, when you call, it will get pulled out and looked at and when you hang up it gets put down on top of the pile. Your #3 items says to wait 3 or 4 weeks before sending a friendly reminder! Eeeek! This is NOT a good idea. You do not want to work for free. You want to get paid and get paid on time. This is a good and timely topic but I have to say I do not agree with item #2: Don’t call the day after the deadline.

IN my opinion and in my experience you should call BEFORE the deadline, never wait until after and especially do not wait weeks or months after a due date to contact a client.

Especially in this economy, I advise folks to call before. when you make the call before, you ask if they received the bill or invoice, if there were any issues or problems and ask if the bill is on schedule to be paid.

If your bill is lost in a pile, when you call, it will get pulled out and looked at and when you hang up it gets put down on top of the pile.

Your #3 items says to wait 3 or 4 weeks before sending a friendly reminder! Eeeek! This is NOT a good idea.

You do not want to work for free. You want to get paid and get paid on time.

]]> By: Freelancer http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid/comment-page-1#comment-10032 Freelancer Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:45:39 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1398#comment-10032 Nice blog!! i also know a very good site for Freelancer at gighour(.)com !!!! Nice blog!! i also know a very good site for Freelancer at gighour(.)com !!!!

]]> By: JD Ebberly http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid/comment-page-1#comment-7443 JD Ebberly Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:27:41 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1398#comment-7443 Skelliewag ( @Skellie ) has written an EXCELLENT piece about freelancers at http://j.mp/beONBL It is an amazing work by @Skellie and all freelancers should read it and use it as a reference. Skelliewag ( @Skellie ) has written an EXCELLENT piece about freelancers at http://j.mp/beONBL It is an amazing work by @Skellie and all freelancers should read it and use it as a reference.

]]> By: Freelance Writing Jobs for May 24, 2010 : Freelance Writing Jobs for Web and Print| Part of the Freelance Writing Jobs Blog Network http://www.procopytips.com/getting-paid/comment-page-1#comment-5231 Freelance Writing Jobs for May 24, 2010 : Freelance Writing Jobs for Web and Print| Part of the Freelance Writing Jobs Blog Network Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:58:12 +0000 http://www.procopytips.com/?p=1398#comment-5231 [...] the Freelancers Short Guide to Getting Paid at Pro Copy Tips [...] [...] the Freelancers Short Guide to Getting Paid at Pro Copy Tips [...]

]]>