You Ask, We Answer: What do I do when a potential client disses me?
Susan asks: I had a phone interview for a new writing opportunity and the client never called me. Now I realize I should have asked for his number in advance, but should I delicately email him saying “gee, I thought we had an appointment”? Or should I write him off as unreliable, someone I wouldn’t want to write for him anyway?
When things like this happen, I tend to rant about how clueless and rude others can be. Don’t they realize my time is as valuable as theirs? Don’t they have calendars where they, y’know, write down their commitments? Oh yeah, well screw them too!
Then I remember that people get sick, or have emergencies, or have an off day and forget to check their calendar. (C’mon, you know you’ve done this.) So in a case like this, I would follow up with a polite e-mail saying that you hope all is okay with the client — he must have had an emergency since he missed your appointment! Then distract yourself with other work. If the client did have an emergency, he’ll get back to you when things are back to normal. If he’s just a flake, you probably don’t want to work with him anyway.
Have a question for the Renegade Writers? Send it to questions [at] therenegadewriter [dot] com. [lf]
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Aug 14, 2007 Advice, You Ask, We Answer
I actually am having a similar problem via email…
I emailed an editor clips, she asked to hear my ideas, i sent my ideas…. and waited. To follow up I wrote her another email asking if she received it, she said “never received, please resend.” So I did. But still, nothing! Should I follow up again or write it off as a lost cause?
Take the pleasant route, definitely.
I have found that so many prospective clients contact me completely out of the blue, maybe months after the initial contact.
As stated, people get sick, get busy, change their mind only to change it again in a little while. Stay nice, even if it kills you!