When Quality of Work Suffers

You’re about to send off a critical email containing your latest work for a client, and suddenly it hits you—you should have reviewed it one last time. But with the clock ticking and a to-do list that seems never-ending, you hastily press send, hoping the quality meets expectations.

Does this scenario sound familiar? Many freelancers find themselves in similar situations. The unpredictable nature of freelancing can make time management a challenge, leading to rushed work. If you regularly find yourself delivering subpar writing due to an overwhelming workload, it’s time to rethink your approach.

Consistently providing inferior work can lead to lost referrals, refunds, negative reviews, and client turnover. In the long run, it’s far more beneficial to produce exceptional work for a select few clients than mediocre work for many.

When Customer Service Deteriorates

Are you struggling to keep track of deadlines? Is your email inbox overflowing? Have you frequently assured clients, “I’ll get back to you as soon as possible”? If so, it may be an indication that your client list is too large.

Exceptional client service is fundamental to a successful freelance writing business and is what distinguishes you from the myriad of disorganized competitors online. If you can’t deliver a consistently excellent experience to every client, it’s time to make some necessary adjustments.

When Your Personal Life is Affected

Freelance writers juggle various responsibilities beyond writing. Just because you’re self-employed doesn’t mean you should sacrifice vacations, weekends, or mental health days.

If your client load is so overwhelming that your weekends feel like just another workday, it’s crucial to reassess your active clients.

When Financials are Affected

Upon reviewing your finances over the past two years, you notice a perplexing trend. Despite having 20% more clients last year compared to the previous year and billing more, your profits have actually declined. How can this happen?

This realization highlights a common misconception: increased revenue doesn’t always equate to higher profits. Depending on how your freelance business operates, acquiring more clients may lead to diminishing returns.

Several factors could contribute to this situation. Perhaps you’re investing too much time in low-profit projects while neglecting more lucrative opportunities. Alternatively, your administrative costs may be eroding your profits, or outsourcing work might be resulting in losses.

Whatever the cause, if your client list is expanding but your earnings are dwindling, it’s time to reevaluate your business practices.

When Family Relationships are Impacted

This consideration is arguably the most critical. If your growing client list is causing you to miss out on important moments with loved ones, it’s time to think seriously about scaling back.

If you frequently hear, “You work too much,” from those closest to you, take that message to heart. While it’s easy to preach about balance when your income exceeds expenses, if you have the option, prioritize your personal life over work commitments.

Final Reflections

Remember the story of Goldilocks? She had a point—having too much or too little of anything can lead to dissatisfaction, and clients are no exception.

Take the necessary steps to maintain a manageable client load. Whether you create an acronym to help you remember or come up with a clever name, ensure you don’t take on more than you can handle. Your business, personal relationships, and financial health will all benefit.

Stay tuned for the next article, where I’ll discuss how to manage situations when your client list exceeds your capacity.

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