Posted on August 11, 2008 by Monetizing Your Blog

Today I visited Let’s Get Ahead by Neil Smith, an advice blog about starting a business and growing a start-up into a stable business. Most of it was not applicable to me since my own work isn’t really related. And I already believe that we need multiple income streams, even if they are income trickles, especially in today’s economy, so it was good to hear my views reinforced! He also had one great piece of advice for freelancers:

You wouldn’t tolerate an employee who brought nothing of value to your company, so why do so many feel compelled to tolerate “DEAD WEIGHT CLIENTS?” If you are just starting out with your business, it could make sense to put up with a few clients who are seemingly more trouble than they are worth in order to have a list of satisfied (though in reality, some may be unsatisfiable) customers you can point to in order to gain new business. But as time goes by, if you are not able to derive what you need in order to continue your services, CUT BAIT, MOVE ON AND DON’T LOOK BACK.

This is such excellent advice. As freelancers, we end up taking clients who aren’t so hot because they’re better than an empty calender (which quickly becomes an empty bank account). Or we suffer from clients who simply aren’t sure what they want, and we spend more time trying to pin down their assignment than actually doing the assignment.

It’s not easy, but it’s good advice!

Via FIRE YOUR CUSTOMERS! … by neil smith « LET’S GET AHEAD! … by neil smith Make Money, Save Money, Live Well!