Category Archives: Client
Putting 2:30 a.m. to Good Use
Why was I up at 2:30 a.m.? Because my brain had wrapped up that “sleeping thing,” and I was wide awake. Some writers would simply jump into work and say “the hell with it, might as well get started” or watch TV (is there anything good on at that time?) Yeah, that always sounds like a good idea, but I think taking any extra moments I have (and there are few) to explore more ways to promote or perfect the ones I have, are the best way to do early morning hours.
Promoting can be fun. It can also be tedious and confusing with so many avenues available. There is always a time factor involved in any new promotion avenue… and aren’t there ALWAYS new avenues? I have a book on Google+, which I’m on, but I know I’m not making the most of that platform. It’s still new for business, but Chris Brogan is a guru you should follow and bow down before as a Google+ deity. I also just received a book on Pinterest for blog promotion. I didn’t know that was possible, but if it is, I will find out how to maximize that avenue as well. And today I just read that Goodreads is going to sell books. It’s not a maybe, it’s happening soon. Yes, I’m on Goodreads, but no, I’m never “on it.” I was just thinking yesterday that I’d like to find a way to squeeze more hours out of the day to concentrate on the bones of the business. Apparently my subconscious found it for me.
Your Social Media Presence Can Cost You Clients
Crowd at Planned Parenthood Rally (Photo credit: WeNews)
Some might consider this a Romney-like gaffe, but I own it. When the Komen and Planned Parenthood meshugaas began, I came out pretty vocally on the side of Planned Parenthood on Twitter. I did this, never thinking it could cost me a client. Well, looks like it did. It hurts my bottom line a bit for the month, but never for a second did I consider reigning in my support of women’s health issues because a client didn’t agree with me and chose to play in another sandbox. Bub-bye.
As a Registered Nurse, my voice and opinion carries a lot of weight. When I speak, politicians and companies listen. I know this, and I use my influence to champion causes and people who can’t champion themselves. I’m a person that other people want on their team because I do not back down or frighten easily, and I know how to get under people’s skin without attacking them personally. I’m smart. I’m savvy, and I’ve been on this planet for a while. That said, social media isn’t just a tool that traditional employers are using to check up on their employees and all the bad stuff someone says about their boss. Companies also use it to check up on independent contractors.
I would think that someone could separate out their politics from my politics and still do business with me. I’m not an ax murderer for crying out loud. I just want women, ALL WOMEN, to have access to the healthcare they need in order to live. Breast cancer screenings save lives. The abortion issue should be separate. If women AND men stopped to think about it, all OB-GYNs in this country have patients that have undergone abortions. If the doctor doesn’t perform them, he knows where to send his patient that needs one. Ya think he doesn’t make the referral? Come on.
This post isn’t about abortion, or my preaching my beliefs to anyone. People can choose to do business with me or not. I don’t badmouth a client because they tick me off or disagree with me. It’s going to happen. It does happen. It doesn’t mean I’ll fire them. Our relationship should be about the work, not one another’s beliefs.
As Ferris Bueller said,
“So who gives a crap if they’re socialists? They could be fascist anarchists, it still doesn’t change the fact that I don’t own a car. “
I don’t care if you’re a fascist anarchist hot tranny mess, what do you need written and what’s your deadline?
Paying it Forward for Your Client
Image via Wikipedia
As a copywriter I promote my client’s work and website. Why? Because if they do well, I do well. They continue to have a budget that supports hiring me. When I read my work, or even another writer’s work on the site that I think the public should read, I Tweet it out or post it to Facebook. And I don’t charge for this service. My take is continued work and in this economy, we need to help one another out as much as possible.
In my mind taking a moment to Tweet or Facebook a link to my client justifies my time on social media. My soul rests a little easier when I can say “I’m promoting someone else, so I can check in on my friends and what they’re up to…” For me, it’s a win-win, and my clients think it’s cool that they’re not paying for the service. Of course, if they want a more defined PR program, I have a fee schedule for that, but for the most part hiring me again and again, works for me.
Hospitals Getting Crafty in Drawing in Business
If you’re considering which hospital you’d like to take out your appendix or clean out your arteries, maybe it’s the one with the best symphony tickets. Or maybe you’d like to drop some money at a casino after your knee replacement, or is free parking enough?
Hospitals need to draw in business, and they’re willing to entice patients with lots of loyalty rewards. See full story at View on Hospitals, here:
http://shar.es/fXP4p
Personally I’d rather see less expensive healthcare, or more staff hired to alleviate the patient load put on so few, but I’ve worked the system from the inside and I know what’s needed. It’s not the perks, hell the people that work there don’t even have time (or interest, sometimes) in using the perks that they’re offered. The last place they want to be is work, hanging around for the perks.
If the loyalty rewards help the hospitals stay in business, great, but they do better hiring an extra nurse or two. I know I won’t be looking for a hospital’s perks to demonstrate my loyalty, I’ll look at their patient satisfaction scores for hot spots.
