Illustration by Ramiro Roman, Jr.

We’ve talked about the importance of great testimonials (and how to get them)  before.

Customer (and potential customer!) Feedback is sort of Testimonial’s less glamorous–but extremely useful–cousin.

Why Do You Need to Ask for Customer Feedback?

Well, the most pressing reason to request customer/client feedback is to prevent negative reactions/criticism later on.

Simply asking your customer/client what they think can not only prevent future problems, but give you the chance to correct any that have already occurred.

What’s that? You want more reasons?

Okay. Here ya go:

• Some clients/customers will simply disappear. Rather than tell you why they’re leaving you or what’s wrong with your product/business/personality, some people will just…go. That is, unless you give them an easy outlet to do otherwise.




• Enhance!…or discontinue. When you gather feedback, you gain the ability to correct what doesn’t work or–on a more positive note!–enhance what does. You’ll also be able to get rid of old products that just aren’t cutting it anymore. Or create wonderful new ones!




• Get to know your target market. As copywriter extraordinaire Amy Harrison once said, “Comments let you stay in tune with your target market. You can test new ideas, find popular problems or questions to solve with products and attract new customers.”




• It makes them feel important. And they most certainly are important! But think about how you feel when a business makes you feel good about yourself. Makes you want to stick around, huh? Yep. Improving relations: Just another reason gathering feedback is awesome.

Three Great Tips for Getting Effective Feedback

1. Be specific, but don’t be manipulative. If your questions are too vague, the answers will be nearly useless. However, they should be just open-ended enough to get honest answers. We all want praise, but if we have to trick others into giving it then it’s meaningless. Only honest feedback has value.




2. Give them multiple ways to provide their feedback. Don’t you hate it when you desperately want to talk to a company about one of their products… And the ONLY way to contact them is via their phone number between the hours of 6am and 4pm? Ugh, right?? So give them multiple options. Contact forms, surveys, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, social media outlets. You don’t have to do all of those…but try to do at least two!




3. Don’t ask questions until you’re ready for the answers. The problem with honest feedback is that it’s not always good. Are you ready? If not, don’t bother. Because if listening is hard, acting on it will be even harder. And action is the next step!

So, uh, you got a minute…?

I’ve been pretty good about asking for feedback from my clients. But what about YOU?! My precious, precious readers! (And possibly potential clients! Eh? Ehhhhh?).

I recently found out–via a newsletter subscriber’s feedback!–that my RSS feed was working again. It had been broken forever, but because I asked her a quick question about something else… I now have yet another way to connect with my audience.

And that made me realize that client feedback isn’t the only feedback that matters. READER feedback is crazy important too!

So… Do you have a minute?

I created a survey with 5 easy questions, especially for you.

Click HERE to take the super awesome extra special reader survey!!

Or you can leave your feedback in the comment section below.

Thanks!

The post The Importance of (Potential) Customer Feedback appeared first on LittleZotz Writing.

Illustration by Ramiro Roman, Jr.

Over the past week, I’ve been working with a client who wanted an answer to a simple question: Why do readers hate my website?

The content was good, but the visitors just weren’t sticking around. Read on to find out why! (And how YOU can avoid making the same mistakes).

Back to Basics: Website Edition

I’m not a web designer. However, even as a writer, I have to know the “basics” of web design. And, if you plan to get anywhere online, YOU need to know them too.

According to Usability.gov (an official U.S. Government Web site managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services), “approximately 50 percent of potential sales are lost because users can’t find information and that 40 percent of users do not return to a site when their first visit is a negative experience.”

Lauren’s Top 5 Basic Business Website Mistakes

1. Hidden contact information. Want your readers/prospective clients to contact you? Make your contact information easy to find! Think they’ll bother to hunt it down if you don’t? Think again.
2. Terrible site navigation. Don’t over-clutter your site’s menu bar. Keep it to the bare minimum. If you simply must have additional tabs, make them sub-tabs. (But try to keep those to a minimum too!). If you give your visitors too many options, they’re likely to choose none at all!
3. Wall O’ Text Syndrome. Writing for the web is a bit different than writing for a traditional printed publication. On the internet, text needs to be broken up into “bite size” chunks. Creating a massive “wall” of text is hard to read. You might get a few who scan, but most won’t bother.
4. Broken links and menu tabs that lead nowhere. One of the main tabs on my client’s website led to a BLANK PAGE! Leave the staircases to nowhere to the Winchester House. And check on your in-post and on-page links periodically as well—what was once working could now be a 404 and that reflects badly on you as well as the website it once led to.
5. No focus. You should be able to sum up your website/business in 3 sentences: 1.) Who you are, 2.) What you do, 3.) How you do it. DONE. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Maintain a clear vision of exactly what you want your website to be and to whom and your readers will see it too.

To sum up: Ditching the basics can (basically) lose you a ton of business!

For more common website errors, check out my article “A Guide to Tormenting Your Readers” over on WP Pro Business.

The Pot. The Kettle. The Blackness.

When I was nit-picking my client’s website and telling them exactly why they weren’t seeing the results they were looking for… I started to feel a bit like the pot. Calling the kettle black.

My own website was suffering from a few of the same problems.

It’s that whole bit about “the cobbler’s children have no shoes.” It’s easy to get so wrapped up in helping others that you forget to help yourself with the same issues.

My bad.

I’ve been working to correct these errors.

So far…

• I’ve condensed my menu bar to include only the most important tabs. There were 11 tabs before. Now there are 7.
• I’ve changed my header image. Before it said, “Your source for unique online content.” That was a bit vague. Now it says, “Writing for businesses. Advice for writers.” I summed up what I do and who for in two sentences.
• I made my contact information more visible. I added my CONTACT tab back to the menu bar. I had hid it for a few months in a lame attempt to force people to use the Free Consultation page. That was wrong of me and I apologize. You can now contact me however you see fit. (I also updated my social media buttons in the sidebar!).

I’ve also been working on new About and Home pages. I don’t like what I have now. They’re too scattered. I think I was trying to show off, but I ended up being confusing.

Are you guilty?

Does your website leave something to be desired?

Are you guilty of my “Top 5” biggest website mistakes?

Have you been in the past? How did you fix it?

Leave a comment below!

The post The Top 5 Errors on Business Websites (and How to Fix Them!) appeared first on LittleZotz Writing.

Illustration by Ramiro Roman, Jr.

One of the writing services I’m “most known” for are my handy-dandy press releases. A service that I used for my own good on my recent book tour!

However, not all of my readers can afford to hire me—or even want to! (It’s okay. I’m not offended…much.)—which means that many of you haven’t been able to utilize this valuable tool.

Well, get ready! I’m about to reveal the secret(s) so you can do it yourself. SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Basics: What the Heck is a Press Release?

A press release is a (usually) one-page, four-paragraph document that shares up-to-the-minute information about something the “press” would be interested in.

You can write up a press release about pretty much anything! The one that caught my eye in recent memory was the press release for Burger King’s “Chef’s Choice” burger.

Yes. Even a hamburger can get a press release these days.

Any time you have something new to announce—a product, a service, an event—a press release (or a full-blown media kit!) is something worth doing.

Great! So How Do I Write a Press Release?

If you know your topic and know how to write, it’s actually pretty simple. (But don’t tell anyone I said so!).

When I first got into writing press releases, the first few lines were centered (and some places still prefer that format), but lately left-aligned text has come into favor with only the top-most line centered.

Here’s what it looks like:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today’s Date

Contact information including your name, phone number, and e-mail address. (Website address preferred but optional).

Bolded eye-catching headline.

One sentence slightly-more-detailed italicized sub-headline with additional info, if needed.

Your City, Your State – For the first paragraph, write an introduction that gets immediately to the point. Don’t save the good stuff for last. Jump right in with the MOST important detail about your product/service/event. Make sure the first paragraph is also the one most targeted toward your audience. For instance, if you’re hitting up local papers, you’ll want to share how your product/service/event will affect the community.

Start off your second paragraph with a quote to add human interest. Usually this quote will be from you or someone equally close to the project. When the source first enters the release, use their/your first and last name. After you’ve mentioned them once, you can refer to them solely by their last name for the rest of the release.

Keep the third paragraph brief, adding just a few more details about your product/service/event.

In your final paragraph, re-stress your most important point, where interested parties can get your product/service/event, and how they can contact you/your business.

###

The three # symbols at the bottom are the universal signal for “this is the end of the press release.”

Some versions will also include PRESS RELEASE at the top, centered, above FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

I Wrote a Press Release… Now What?

Send it in!

Get the word out!

Try contacting local newspapers, relevant Blogs, and PR websites. Get creative!

For more information, I highly recommend checking out DIY Writing’s articles on this subject.

Most importantly: Don’t be shy!

Got Some News Worth Sharing?

This might not be the best place to post an entire press release, but, please, feel free to share your news in my Comments section!

The post How to Write a Press Release appeared first on LittleZotz Writing.

Read on to learn how she got her start, what you can do to follow in her footsteps, and what’s next for her career!

Heather Landry

How I Know Heather

Heather is a fan of my significant other, Ramiro Roman, Jr. (Something we have in common!).

Basically, I saw a comment she had left on one of Ramiro’s art pieces on deviantART and I thought she seemed sweet & insightful so I clicked on her screenname to check her out and… I was dazzled by her brilliant use of bright colors! I love bright colors! But so many artists seem to be afraid to use them. Which made me think she was quite daring.

After I introduced myself and we began communicating, I also found her to be incredibly sweet and very intelligent. She’s a “new” friend, but she’s already been a very positive influence. Her optimism is infectious and I think you’ll love her as much as I do.

“Atomic Jazz” by Heather Landry

My Interview with Heather Landry

What do you do?

I am an artist, comic creator, and the head of my own studio, Sandpaperdaisy Art. 

I also serve as an officer in a very active, very driven group, The Arts Council of Doom; and I am the Artist in Residence of a local coffee shop, Abbey Road Coffeebean Emporium.

 How did you start?

I’ve been an artist and storyteller my whole life, drawing and making my own books since I was 3 or 4 years old and participating in student art shows and publications before I carried it over into my adult life.

My family was always supportive and even eager to help me any way they could, but I only really started pushing myself as an artist after I had my two children.  More than anything else, I wanted them to be proud of me.

A panel from “The killing of Dreams” by Heather Landry (Clicking this will take you to the full comic)

What’s your favorite part of what you do?

I love it when something I made reaches another person.

Back when I was younger, it was more difficult for me to show my art or my comics to a large audience.  Now with the Internet and my involvement in several art associations, I can finally get my art into the hands–and hopefully hearts and minds–of a limitless number of people.

The harder I work, the more people I can connect with, and I never get tired of hearing from people who want to tell me what a particular piece means to them or how it has affected their lives.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get into doing what you do?

The single most important thing you can do is just to start creating.

Fill up sketchbooks or notebooks with your quick drawings, concepts and studies of subjects and keep a diary of all your ideas so you can get to them later.  Focus primarily on developing as an artist and while you’re doing that, begin showing your work anywhere you can… Online, local galleries, and so on.

Get started making and showing your work as young/as early as you possibly can because it takes awhile for your legend to build. It may take years to get a good fan-base and that is especially important for comic artists.

For all artists, comic or otherwise, use free sites like deviantART and art-related forums to expose the maximum number of people to your art and meet as many fellow artists and art-lovers as possible, and keep careful track of every connection you make.

Locally, find all the artists you can and find out what art groups are around, take advantage of any free or inexpensive groups you can find and do all the shows you can.  Ask local coffee shops and “artsy” businesses if they will display your work on consignment.

Facebook is an incredibly useful tool for local art events and groups.  As you get more professional, you’ll want to start looking into LinkedIn, Behance, and other places designed to connect freelance artists with clients.

Art school or an art degree can be very useful, but mainly for the connections you make.

Lastly, never let money stand in your way.  If you can’t afford the best materials, use whatever you have even if it’s ballpoint pens and house paint.  The important thing is that you keep creating, and that you try to make every new creation better than the last one.  Keep making art and keep your precious fans involved in your artistic life.

“DIVE” by Heather Landry

What’s next for you/your business?

This year my art has really taken off for a variety of reasons, two of the biggest ones being the wonderful dynamic of my studio–composed of myself and a few close friends–and the exceptional efforts of The Arts Council of Doom.

I am surrounded by creative and hard-working people and it has motivated me to work harder on art than I’ve ever worked in my life.

I’ve also been deeply affected by a couple of friends I’ve become closer to recently…one a writer and one a comic artist (Lauren and Ramiro, in fact!).  Talking to them about their projects and goals has spurred me to work much harder on my own comics.

Because of all this support and inspiration, I anticipate submitting my comics to several publications in the coming years and participating in more art shows than I’ve ever done before in my life.  Depending on the reception of my work locally, I’ll be attempting to reach out to galleries in larger cities.

Lastly, I plan to have a larger online presence, making it much easier for people anywhere on earth to see, purchase and request art from my studio.

But no matter where my art takes me, I’ll owe a huge chunk of my success to my family and friends.  They’re the reason I’ll never stop.

A panel from “Stone Squirrel” by Heather Landry (Clicking this picture will take you to the comic)

LINKS for More HEATHER LANDRY

Official Website: http://sandpaperdaisy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SandpaperdaisyArt

Shop: http://society6.com/sandpaperdaisy

Contact/E-mail: hlandry@sandpaperdaisy.com

“Humankind” by Heather Landry

The post People I Know: Heather Landry appeared first on LittleZotz Writing.

I WROTE A NOVEL!

That’s right. I wrote a young adult (YA) fiction novel!

Today’s the big launch for the paperback version!

Here’s what it looks like in a stack!

The Ballad of Allison and Bandit follows “Bandit,” a fourteen-year-old girl who is suffering in silence after a death in her family, during the summer of 1999.

Feeling bored and alone, Bandit decides to take a chance on talking to the neighborhood oddball: Allison Gale—a large-nosed girl with no sense of smell and a penchant for eating raw onions.

The book tackles grief, growing up, and gaining a purpose. It’s a darkly humorous drama about abandonment, isolation, mortality, friendship, and hope.

Here’s what it looks like next to an angry cat!

The best part?

The E-Book Versions Are FREE!!

That’s right. The paperback version of the book comes out today ($9.99 in select stores and online); however, the e-book version is completely free of charge.

And it’s available in PDF (computer), EPUB (Nook/iPad/iPhone), and MOBI (Kindle) formats!

Just click the header or THIS LINK to get your copy!

Or you can click here to order the paperback version!

Or you can request the paperback version at your local book store by telling them the ISBN # which is: 978-1-300-82556-2.

Here’s what it looks like from the back and from the front!

Regular updates resume May 1st, but…

…if you’re interested, I’m on my Book Tour in the upcoming weeks–which includes a BLOG TOUR.

Looking for a guest post?

Interested in interviewing me?

Click the BLOG TOUR link!

Thank you for reading!

See you soon.

–Lauren*

The post Darkly Humorous YA Novel Made FREE for Readers! appeared first on LittleZotz Writing.

I spoke to 900 teenagers yesterday and I’m going to be on a talk radio program tomorrow.

I’m pooped!

Come back next week on update day to see what this is all about!

–Lauren*

PS: Can’t wait until next week? There was an article about my big news in the local paper if you’re interested.

PPS: In case you missed it when I posted it on Facebook, Twitter, and my Newsletter, check out my article on KrisEmery.com: The 6 Most Important Things About Editing

The post Big News Coming! appeared first on LittleZotz Writing.

Michael Jasorka

How I Met Michael

I met Michael a few years ago at the local roller skating rink, the Moonlight Rollerway. I was rollerblading and he was there in the corner, drawing caricatures of the skaters.

My mom was there too (in-line skating because she’s old school like that) and suggested I go say “hi” to him since he looked interesting. So I did! And she was right.

I haven’t seen Michael in person since that first random meeting, but we’ve kept in touch over the years–exchanging e-mails every couple months. And I’ve been a featured contributor in his art & poetry zine, Hello, World!, in issues 3, 4, and 5.

He’s one of the most eternally cheerful people you could hope to meet. And while it’d be easy to look at him and dismiss him as a “hipster,” he’s not. He’s more like a time-traveler. He owns his fashion and lifestyle choices. And that makes him pretty darn awesome.

Hello, World! Zine #5

My Interview with Michael Jasorka

What do you do?

I’ve been committed to the comic book medium as a contracted and self-published cartoonist for the past seven years with my comics and zine imprint, Bombshell Comics. An imprint I created in college as a student.

How did you start?

I started cartooning as a child. I would watch a slew of cartoon shows that would encourage me to draw. As well as my own mother did, I kept at it for several years.

High school hit and the computer age ushered in a new sense of creativity in the digital form. From there, I enrolled in college as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art, with a concentration in illustration.

After reading comics throughout my high school and college years, it was natural that I began my own quest in the storytelling form of comics. I just didn’t know it took this much energy!

December 3rd 1967: An Alien Encounter by Michael Jasorka

What’s your favorite part of what you do?

My favorite part of what I do would have to be finalizing a project–seeing it come to a full force of what I visualized (hopefully) at the get-go…

Making goals and meeting them in the comics world alone is a quest, but writing and drawing comics is probably the most fun and challenging aspect of a form of clarity, rich with options, to form an interesting narrative.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get into doing what you do?

The best advice I could give anyone with making a move towards independent comics publishing and creation is to just keep creating and reflecting on your own interests as your themes. There’s no better place to pull from than the themes and subjects that are closest to the creator’s heart.

The other [piece of advice], would be what everyone says: Keep drawing…draw some more…keep writing…  Keep making comics!

That Bike by Michael Jasorka

What’s next for you/your business?

What’s next for me and Bombshell Comics would be to just keep pushing forward with storytelling dynamics, interesting themes, and making some moves into the digital platform realm of availability for my consumers.

My biggest project yet, involving my own written music, is on my plate next.

As well as a new Roller Dames showcase and more audio-accompanied comic books. Stay tuned!

A page from That Bike by Michael Jasorka

LINKS for More MICHAEL JASORKA

Bombshell Comics (Official Website)

Hello, World! (Art & Poetry Zine)

Roller Dames (Pin-Up Art Collection)

Follow Michael Jasorka/Bombshell Comics on Twitter.

Like Bombshell Comics on Facebook.

A page from Michael Jasorka’s MISFIT WRESTLING FEDERATION

The post People I Know: Michael Jasorka appeared first on LittleZotz Writing.

To those of you who have just landed here from Meg’s site…

Can you see the frog? (Click to enlarge)

My name is Lauren R. Tharp. I’m a freelance writer for hire and the owner of this fine establishment!

Here are some things you can do while you’re here:

• Grab a FREE e-book!




• Get your writing questions answered!




• Get motivated to keep trying!




• Learn why you don’t have to go it alone!




• Read some mini-interviews with some amazing writers, artists, and entrepreneurs!




• Get to know me a little better!

Thank you so, so much for stopping by. It’s great to have you on board!

Questions? Comments?

Don’t be shy! Leave me a message.

The post 25 Ways to Stop Writer’s Block and Get Creative (Even When You’re Not Feeling It) appeared first on LittleZotz Writing.

Illustration by Ramiro Roman, Jr.

You are your business now. And as a business you’ll be dealing with customers. Which means you’ll be expected to bring some customer service practices to the table…

The Customer: Always Right?

We’ve all heard it.

“The customer is always right.”

But is it really true?

Ehhhhhhhhhhh… Sort of.

As a freelancer, you get to choose who you say “yes” to working with. You get to choose your “customer.”

Once you make that choice to work with someone: They’re “always” right.

“Always” being in quotation marks because they’re only “always right” within the parameters of what you two agreed upon in your contract. (You did get a contract, didn’t you??).

Basically: Once you agree to do something for someone—DO IT!

Pretty simple, right?

But Sometimes Problems Will Come Up

Oh, okay. Maybe it’s not that simple.

Sometimes problems will come up.

Here are a few of the most common problems and how to fix them:

The Problem: The Client doesn’t like your style.

The Solution: This shouldn’t even come up because it should be a part of your pre-screening process. Your clients should already be familiar with your style before you begin. Why else would they want to hire you?

Make sure your potential clients are familiar with your “style” before you even begin and you shouldn’t have any problems later.

Or, if they want you to adjust your style in some way, make sure that it’s something that you’re capable of doing well ahead of time.

For example, I usually try to add just a smidge of humor to my writing, but I’m sometimes asked to take on more serious topics where wit would be inappropriate. Am I capable of serious writing? Yes. Therefore, I can agree to take on the task without worrying about complaints.

The Problem: They’re “needy.”

The Solution: Ask more questions before accepting the job.

Is the client always insisting that you two meet in person? Do they check up on you every few hours? Woo-boy!

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if you’d been expecting it? Or maybe you would have passed entirely had you known?

Ask them questions before you agree to anything!

“Do you did to meet with me in person or can we do everything via e-mail?”

“How often will you need progress reports?”

“Do you want me to write this directly into your website or send it to you as a Word document?”

It never hurts to ask. In fact, it can only help.

The Problem: They want revisions.

The Solution: Relax! That’s normal.

Be graceful. Just do them. It’s all part of the job!

HOWEVER…

That said: Don’t be a doormat.

If they’re being a jerk about it and trashing your work just to trash it for “no reason”… Well, first, that really sucks. Second, stay calm. Third, ask more questions—and firmly insist on specific answers.

Why didn’t they like it? Was there anything they did like? What specifically do they want changed? Why specifically do they want it changed?

Often, once they really sit down and think about it, they’ll realize that changes don’t need to be made after all. Or, at the very least, they’ll come back with more well-formed thoughts about what does need to be done. Either is good.

This problem seems to come up more with clients who have never worked with a freelance writer before. They simply don’t know what to expect. So they’re sometimes baffled by the process.

This is why I include “Have you ever worked with a freelance writer before?” on my client intake/consultation form. That one simple question to them lets me know that I need to ask more questions before we embark on anything.

Oh, and you should also include a limit on revisions in your contract.

The Problem: The client wants the work right NOW!

The Solution: Make it worth your while…IF you choose to accept.

First things first: Do NOT accept any projects you cannot complete with excellence.

If a potential client asks for a deadline that you know in your heart-of-hearts is impossible for you to meet—don’t do it. If you can’t get them to agree to more time, then pass completely.

On the flip side of that, if you can get the job done… Charge a little extra for the bother.

If you plan on doing a good job, that is. And I’m sure you do!

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before… FAST, GOOD, or CHEAP: Pick Two!

Pic source: Wikipedia.

If a client insists you do your job faster than normal—which is a LOT of extra work for you (whether they realize it or not)—then charge them a bit extra. In this instance, you’ve chosen “Fast” and “Good.” And that doesn’t come cheap.

Of course, be sure to make it worth their while too.

The Problem: They can’t afford you.

The Solution: Be polite, but stay firm. If they can’t afford you, they can’t afford you. Wish them luck and move on. It is not your problem—or your fault—that you’re out of their price range.

Don’t apologize. Don’t lower your rates.

In the words of Robert Bly: “No other profession apologizes for charging a decent fee. When was the last time your doctor, dentist, or attorney acted ashamed or embarrassed or apologetic for a fee they charged? Never—because they are skilled professionals entitled to a professional fee. And you are, too.”

Exactly.

The Problem: They don’t want to sign your contract.

The Solution: Then you don’t want to work with them.

Never EVER work without a contract.

A good client knows that a contract protects their interests as much as it protects yours.

The Problem: They have a bunch of “assistants” that you have to report to.

The Solution: Stay cool. Be polite. And keep track of everything.

Keep track of every piece of documentation you pass on to the assistant. Keep your interactions with them as minimal as you can. Report directly to your client as often as you can (or, at the very least, CC them in messages).

It’s just like working for a “normal” client. There’s just an extra step. It’s no biggie.

The Problem: The project is WAY more work than you thought it was going to be.

The Solution: This time: Suck it up. You agreed to do the job. Now do it.

Next time: ASK MORE QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME!

This is the one that’s bitten me in the butt a few times. I’ve had experience with all of the “problems” on this list, but this is the one that’s a real kicker. My personal arch nemesis.

Underestimating the job.

Don’t make my mistake(s).

Ask a ton of questions before the project even starts. Get down to the nitty-gritty specifics. And then draw up your contract accordingly.

If the client wants something more than what you two agreed to in the contract then, yes, ask for more money.

If what the client wants is what you agreed upon at the start, but it’s just “more” than you personally expected… Then you’ve got to finish the work for whatever price two you agreed upon too. If that price wasn’t enough, well, that’s your bad. Not theirs.

Grin. Bear it. Learn. And ask more questions next time.

Maybe It’s You…

Don’t let clients treat you badly. Don’t be a doormat. Don’t let idle complaints get you down.

BUT…

If you keep getting the SAME complaint again and again—maybe it’s you.

That’s right.

Maybe. It’s. YOU.

People don’t complain for “no reason” (Despite what teens will tell you of their parents). There is always a reason.

Being in a bad mood is a reason. Wanting attention is a reason. Wanting to feel powerful is a reason. They aren’t good reasons, but they’re reasons.

So, yeah, sometimes complaints are a bit…ehhhhhhhh…

However, if you keep getting the same complaint over and over again—and it’s a very specific complaint—then you’d better start thinking outside of the “oh, they’re just complaining for ‘no reason’” box.

There could actually be a problem.

And, if so, you’re going to need to fix it.

Or, if you’re SURE—down to your very BONES!!—that there isn’t a problem…

You could be marketing to the wrong clients.

Even the “right” work will get complaints if it’s for the “wrong” clients.

Re-examine the clients who have made a complaint. Do they have something in common? How did you feel when you were working with them? Do they fit with your vision of an “ideal client?”

This time you’re going to have to ask YOURSELF questions.

Which is actually the two main points of the article, I’d say:

1. Ask questions.
2. GET A CONTRACT.

Now, get out there, and write!

Take a Number

Questions?

Comments?

Complaints?

Take a number!

Nah, I’m just kidding.

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I was recently asked how I conduct interviews…and why they might be beneficial to both writers and business owners. Well, you know me! I’m not one to leave a question unanswered.

Illustration by Ramiro Roman, Jr. (Click to enlarge)

How to Snag One!

I had a rather high-profile interviewee featured on my site last week. And a question I kept getting was “How did you get her to agree to be interviewed?”

Short answer: I asked!

No, really. It’s usually that simple. Most people love to be interviewed! All you have to do is ask them.

But there are a few more things you’ll need to keep in mind when snagging (and then conducting!) an interview. So here’s the longer answer:

• Be nice. Even though most people love to be interviewed, no one wants to be interviewed by a jerk. (“Be nice” is good advice outside of interviews as well!).




• Tell them it won’t take much of their time. When you hear the word “interview,” do you automatically think of an hour-long TV special? Or maybe a grueling job interview? A lot of people do! But the truth is, most “normal” interviews take 15 minutes or less. Let your potential interviewee know this. Especially when you’re interviewing someone ultra busy without a lot of time on their hands. (Which is, let’s face it, everyone).




• Let them know they’re important. Because they are! And because they’ll put more effort into it if they know it matters.




• Let the interviewee choose the date and time of the interview, but… make sure it’s well in advance of your deadline. And let them know you’re writing down the date/time they’ve chosen so they understand it’s a firm deadline. (This is mainly for phone/in-person interviews. E-mail interviews aren’t as strict, but we’ll get into that further down).




• Know who you’re speaking with ahead of time. This should be a no-brainer.




• Know what they do. Sometimes you know who you’re going to be speaking with, but you don’t know what they do. I had an incident like this back in 2006 when I was honored with a chance to speak with Daniel Clowes for a reporting gig I had at the time. I had a general idea of who he was and what he did, but I knew I risked rehashing old news and asking stupid questions if I didn’t study up on him. So I read every piece I could find on him and even bought/read some of his comics! Familiarize yourself with your subject. This will even allow you to…




• Write down some questions ahead of time. You’ll think of more questions as you go along, but you’ll want to have a few “starter” questions to get things rolling. Don’t walk into an interview and say “Oh, um, hold on a second while I think of something to ask you.” Ugh.




• Show an interest in them and what they’re doing. Think you’re going to get a good interview out of someone when you’ve got your chin on your palm and your eyes half-closed (“Yaaaaaawn…yeah…uh-huh…that’s nice…”)? NO WAY! You get what you give. Be friendly and open. No one wants an indifferent (or angry!) interviewee.




• Warm them up. Don’t just jump in. It’s the equivalent of going to class and having the teacher yell out “POP QUIZ!” Yuck! That won’t make anyone happy. And it’ll make for a stiff interview. Take a little time to engage in some friendly banter before grilling them with questions.

Ways to Conduct Interviews

There are three main “ways” to conduct interviews:


1. In person.
2. Over the phone.
3. Via e-mail.

And they’re nearly indistinguishable!

Here’s an interview I did in person, one I did over the phone, and one I did via e-mail. I’ve even conducted an interview using instant messages!

Would you have known which was which if I hadn’t told you? Probably not!

Here are my thoughts on each method:

Conducting interviews in person:

This is probably the most glamorous method. And often the most fun/exciting. However, it’s also the most difficult. Not only is it harder to set up an in-person interview, it’s also harder to get the interviewee talking comfortably once you do meet up with them.

Conducting interviews by phone:

These tend to take less time, which is nice. It’s also much easier to take notes. And the interviewee tends to be less nervous. It also saves money to do an interview over the phone (gas for you and hourly billing for them)!

Conducting an interview via e-mail:

This isn’t as fun or exciting as the first two methods, but it’s also my favorite. For one thing, you don’t have to worry that you’ve written down or recorded a quote correctly–it’s right there in the source’s own writing!

As Linda Formachelli puts it, “E-mail works well because the source can think about the questions and answer them at her convenience–even at 3am while you’re sleeping! Can’t do that with a phone interview.”

E-mail interviews are perfect for times when your interviewee is in a completely different timezone!

On the downside, you don’t get the opportunity to engage in some of the spur-of-the-moment questions that come to you only during a “live” interview. (But if you’re using a “questionnaire” format like my own interview series or if you’re only looking for a few source quotes, this is still the best option, in my opinion.).

Why Conduct Interviews at All?

Interviews aren’t just for showcasing talent–they’re also for gathering info.

If you’re a writer, you’ll need to interview sources for articles.

If you’re a business owner, you’ll want quotes for press releases. Or testimonials for your product!

No matter what field you’re in, brushing up on your interview skills is a good idea. No one succeeds in a vacuum.

Get out there and talk to people!

Your Turn!

Have you ever conducted an interview?

How’d it go?

Share your story (and a link to your interview, if you’ve got one!) in the comments below.

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