SiteYou Ask, We Answer: Do I need to be available after hours?
David writes: How much difference does it make to be available by phone (and/or email?) at times that are hours beyond the usual 9-5 in my time zone when trying to get work from potential clients or publications in an earlier time zone?
It’s recently been confirmed to me that writers I look up to do this regularly. Do I have to extend my availability well into the evening each night (and let folks know this) to get more clients and perhaps bigger wages from these other time zones? Are there alternative measures I can take to help these folks feel I am available to them?
Here’s the thing that makes freelancing so great: You set your own hours. Of course you want to be available enough to your clients and potential clients that they don’t ditch you and look for another writer, but you don’t have to be sitting by your phone at 3 am in case a potential client calls from Japan.
When you’re calling a typical 9-5 business and they’re outside your time zone, you usually don’t get frustrated and search for a competing business in your own time zone instead — you know that their hours will be different from yours and plan accordingly. For example, if you’re on the East Coast, you know not to call a West Coast business at 9 am ET, and vice versa. The same applies to you and your clients, though clients are less likely to know what time zone you are in.
To give potential clients a heads-up about your time zone and availability, you might want to include your time zone or state in your contact info. For example, in your sig line and other marketing materials you can have:
David D. Riter
401-555-2345
Providence, RI
This is a little mental jog that reminds clients that you may be located in a different time zone. If that’s too subtle for you, why not include your hours of operation like other businesses?
David D. Riter
401-555-2345
Hours: 9 am - 5 pm ET
No shirt, no shoes, no service.
(Okay, I’m kidding about that last line, though I would probably put it there because it amuses me!)
If you are one of those writers whose clients are mostly in a different time zone due to the topics you cover, it may be a good idea to make yourself available to them after hours as necessary — but this doesn’t mean you have to be chained to your desk. Use technology to be in touch no matter where you are. For example, the free service Grand Central (which is now by invite only) will give you a phone number in your area code that rings to any phones you like, such as your office phone and your cell. You can pick up voicemails to this number via e-mail. Give your Grand Central number to your editors, and you can go wherever you want as long as you have your cell phone and/or e-mail access.
In any case, if someone calls or e-mails and you don’t answer, it’s not the end of your career. If you call/e-mail back during the business hours you set, the assignment/problem/question will likely still be there for you.
Got a question for the Renegade Writers? Send it to us at questions [at] therenegadewriter [dot] com. [lf]
4 Responses to “You Ask, We Answer: Do I need to be available after hours?”
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Tom Chandler
Said this on July 11th, 2007 at 11:11am:Earlier in my career I made myself available to clients in the evenings and on weekends. Most didn’t take advantage, but several did — to the point where I never got a break from the job.
I’d be very, very careful when training clients to call at odd hours. In some cases it might offer a competitive advantage, but it’s also a prescription for burnout.
cal
Said this on July 11th, 2007 at 1:52pm:My tag says: “local time in Springfield” with a shortened URL to an online clock. That way, they don’t have to figure out what 5 pm my time is. I also try to tell clients to use my cell phone — telling them that if it’s on I’m available.
LindaFormichelli
Said this on July 12th, 2007 at 12:48pm:Tom, so true — it’s hard to draw a line when you’re getting more and more paying work. I’d guess that when you’re at that point, you can start making yourself less available again, and enjoy the benefits of lots of work and a convenient schedule!
Cal, that’s a great idea.
Justin
Said this on July 12th, 2007 at 7:17pm:Funny how things like this depend so much on your financial situation (and how desperately you want to put the kibosh on that Ramen noodle diet…).
When I worked for my previous corporate overlords, I used to interview people for horrible phone tech support gigs. Some were so desperate for a foot in the IT door that they’d agree to just about anything, regardless of how hideous I made the job sound… “I can’t wait to have customers yell at me and insult my family while being flogged and dipped in vats of salty lemon juice! That sounds like a great opportunity!”