Unsub Sweetness, Good Quote, Lessons Learned, Non Paying Ghostwriting Customers, Honey Being Cute as Usual
September 1st, 2011 | 
Author: Hi y’all! Just popping in with some “stuff” today. I’m still working on that ghostwriting stuff – finished all but one last project now. Yep, I’m behind. As always. LOL!
Unsub sweetness
Ever since I have mentioned how some unsubs make me sad, I’ve gotten a couple of very sweet ones. Like today. Someone said something like, “I know you worry about unsubs but this is only temporary. I have to complete a book project in 6 months so I can’t follow along but I’ll be back, and you keep helping people with your banter!”
LOL! I love it when they consider my feelings. THAT is the kind of relationship I have with my people. I think it’s lovely. Some people (like me), hate to be on lists, period. They prefer to bookmark and check in on their own time. That’s fine, too!
Good quote
Saw this on G+ today: “If you wait to do everything until you’re sure it’s right, you’ll probably never do much of anything.” – Win Borden. Love it! I see way too many of you saying, “Well I wanted to get XYZ up before I go live.” Why? I don’t get it. Launch, then tweak and perfect.
Lessons Learned
Nicole Cooper, who I mentioned here the other day as someone running an MLM PLR store, got some feedback from another reader, Paul about her pop-up strategy. Well Nicole didn’t just respond rudely or anything – she listened to Paul, made some tweaks, and got some amazing results which she tracked and shared with others!
Read her post: A Valuable Lesson Learned About List Building & PopUps On Your Lead Capture Page
What I love about this community is that it’s a helpful one. Paul was kind in his feedback. Nicole valued it, and not only implemented the changes, but shared her results for others. For her competitors even! How awesome is that? What other industry do you see businesses who compete with one another really sharing their results? Not many (if any).
Don’t be afraid to speak up on blogs and let people know your preferences. I know I implement some suggestions. Some I don’t, but that’s okay too – I still appreciate the comments.
Non-Paying Ghostwriting Customers
Now I got an email this morning from someone who didn’t get paid on a ghostwriting gig. But my own Mom hadn’t gotten paid on something recently and I had to yank her inner Honey Badger out of hiding (which worked – she got paid), but it was very uncomfortable for her.
In Mom’s case, it was just page overage. The guy never paid. She sent a PP reminder. No payment. I told her to email him every day until he paid. First with a reminder, then with an email saying she sent the reminder. He paid.
With this other person, I’m not sure why they weren’t given at LEAST 50% upfront, (I got 100% upfront), but let’s say the product was delivered and client didn’t pay.
Here’s what you do:
- Remind the customer that the product has been delivered and you need payment. Be kind.
- If still no payment, politely, yet sternly let the customer know that the content cannot be used by them until your payment has been received. You own the copyright until they buy it officially.
- If still no payment, unleash the Honey Badger in you and let them know you’re going to initiate an investigation with the FBI’s Internet Fraud Complaint Center (it’s real, Google it). This will usually result in a payment within 5 minutes.
- If STILL no payment, and the client is belligerent about it, consider the fact that this client is a dumbass and drag his or her name through the mud like there’s no tomorrow – like a Honey Badger gone on a deadly snake hunt – you don’t care and you don’t give a shit! Let them know you’ll follow them around online making sure everyone knows they’re a thief.
Honey Acting Like She's Napping But Really Wants… by TiffanyDow
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Posted in Career
If this IM thing doesn’t work out for you, you could get a job in collections! I love those tips.
Oh Tiff,
Re: “You own the copyright until they buy it officially.”
I’m so glad you confirmed this. My payment terms are 50% retainer to start the project; payment in full upon delivery. Not two days later, not a week later. In full upon delivery. I had a situation recently where I reminded a client that until I was paid in full, I would own the copyright and upon payment, the copyright would revert to the client, but not until then.
I’ve been wanting to ask if this is, in fact, true. lol. So thank you for bringing the subject up today.
Cynthea
Well I’m no legal advisor but maybe I’d tell them they can have exactly 50% of the content until the other 50% is paid.
I tell em in my bid, “the content is yours, once you pay for it”… only had trouble one time, and I suggested that if they weren’t going to pay for it, I was going to use it as a sample, and submit it to ezine – who now suggests you put a “landing” (read: squeeze) page link in your resource box – or risk getting rejected. Within hours, I got a reply back that said I would be in conflict of interest if I did that – to which I replied, since it was the first time I’d written for them, it wouldn’t be conflict of interest – since it was still my content. I’d merely be using what I had written, in its proper context.
Got an email they’d paid the escrow within four hours LOL.
Until they pay for it, it’s yours – attended a webinar a couple of months ago that covered it. (good webinar too – I attended it because it addressed the changing rules for public domain property in the US).
Hi Tiff…
Love that quote too… that is soooooooooo me… being a perfectionist can be such a handicap! I’m gonna print that one out and post it on top of my monitor… =}
In reference to “non-paying” clients… another tactic to use which is very successful is if after repeated emails with info such as yours fails, is to send an email saying something to the effect…
“once again I am contacting you about your delinquent payment. Up to this point I have been very patient but unless you make payment within 3 days or contact me with payment intentions, you leave me with no alternative but to contact my lawyer and have legal collection services initiated.”
This always works for me…
Linda =}
Hi Tiffany. I just subscribed to you today and I already like the cut of your jib! That is excellent advice for all of us writers to ensure we get our hard-earned dosh.
When I was new to ghostwriting, I had an unfortunate experience with a client who didn’t pay for a 2000-word authority article that had taken me a very long time to research and write. After chasing him for a week, I threatened to sell the article on Constant Content. Lo and behold, he coughed up.
Yes, I was green and fell for the promise of residual work. But the lesson was learned. I won’t begin a project unless I’ve been paid 100% upfront.
New clients will sometimes balk, but this is a hurdle usually overcome through good communication and over-delivery.
Thanks again. I’m looking forward to wading through your archives!
Welcome Danielle!
Hi Tiffany,
I am a little bit behind the times re: Google+. I have read that it is hard to get into. What are the advantages of belonging to the new Google thing?
Thanks,
Lisa
I just love getting to know more people there
I don’t really use it for business yet.
Hi Tiffany -
I look forward to all your emails. Sometimes I’m busy and can’t read it all but I keep them. I get others but yours is different sorta like a family email. I think your fellow Texan Zig Ziglar had a similar quote to Win Bordens that went like this: “If you wait til all the lights are green before you start you will never start”.
I took that to heart yesterday and finally started writing my own PLR wondering how I could write a 5 articles pack without personal stories & make them interesting informative & worth the buyers $$. So far the word count on the first artcle is 2160. I got started and can’t quit to make it shorter so will make it a report instead. Thank you young lady for all your tips, help, patience and brass.
Hi Tiff,
I love the part about unsub sweetness. Nice people will be nice no matter what they do. It does show that people sometimes have other reasons for unsubbing. Nice to know.
Can we just send the negative ones to an island where they can all hang out together….
Pat
Hahah, that’s quite a considerate unsub message ever. You don’t see those often in today’s world!
And I so love that quote!! I remember your recent blog post on why and how one should get to just start doing stuff. This quote pretty much summarizes it all in one sentence.
Tiffany,
Just another reason I hang out here…I find other like-minded people open to feedback without being offended!
I had clicked on the link to Nicole’s site on your other post and closed it just as fast because of the sudden popup (not sure the site had even fully loaded). Today, I had a chance to start reading her post…and I subscribed because now I want to see what else she had to offer!
LOVE the Honey video…Phil musta made his flight!
Debi J
“An amicable JV.” Bwahahaha! Ok, scrolling back up to read – that was just too cute!!
Tiff, I love this quote! Thanks for sharing it with us today. It just got a permanent spot on my monitor to constantly remind me not to be a perfectionista
As for the Non-Paying Cusomers…really not a plesant thing to deal with. Some just don’t get it, no matter how polite and later legal threatening you are at asking for them to fulfill their part of the deal. I have one case at the Court now and it really taught me a lesson to ask for a payment upfront.
And you are never getting a unsub from me. Your emails have the most “important” and “get back to it later” tags of all emails I receive. Sometimes things just get too busy, but with a good info, tip, or just funny stuff in each of your emails, they are always fun to get back to
Kudos to Nicole for taking the feedback on the chin, acting on it and seeing a positive outcome from the change she put in place :_)
Amateurs react with disdain or hostility when given feedback. Professionals react thoughtfully, seeking to determine what can be done to rectify whatever the problem is. The same is true for any writer. I have seen professional writers take on some abusive comments and make their writing better using the insights gained, and amateurs who resented goodhearted, kindly offered feedback. We all need to realize that feedback is offered about our work, now ourselves. If we don’t take it personally, we can learn from it and be better for it. Nicole demonstrated the correct way to deal with feedback or criticism. And her site is better, now.
Oops! I meant NOT ourselves.
Sorry about that!
Hello Tiff et al,
Well I’ve had enough pokes from you (perfectionist at heart, you know), and I have launched my ghostwriting site.
I need testimonials for it, but I’ve done it. I will be tweeking it, but it is there and I am going to start advertising it.
Thank you for the pokes.
Angel cuddles,
Sarah
P.S. I have even put a video on it, which I don’t like due to being a perfectionist, but I have left it there!
Awww it’s wonderful girl! I loved it! Shows you’re a sweetheart. Glad you went the extra mile
Sarah – great job on your video! You go girl! Love your accent! I’m way too camera shy to do video, but realize I’ll have to succumb to it sooner rather than later.
Well, thank you kind people.
You made me blush!
I’m never satisfied with what I do and I realize that I have got to get over that, to speed myself up and be more productive.
Angel cuddles,
Sarah
It’s good when one can be humble enough to consider the opinions of someone else and rewarding when they can implement changes based on those opinions and it works out in their favor.
Good tips for one who hasn’t received payment and Honey is too cute
OMG! Cracking up here, as soon as I started the video my cat jumped on the table and gave me her “what the heck is that” chirp. She rarely checks the computer when I’m working but Honey must have been sending out secret messages because my Jurnee watched the whole minute of it (that’s a long time for a cat), then chirped one last time and sauntered away. CATS!
Well, I’ve been remiss in commenting for a few days but I have been reading – just working like crazy- unfortunately when disaster strikes I have overtime…but I digress.
You are a great inspiration and a thoughtful teacher and that’s the reason I keep coming back and listening to what you have to say. You are not going to please everyone but rest assured, those of us that follow you do so because you DO provide great information and come across as genuine.
Constructive criticism is important for a writer – something we need in order to grow and if someone is willing to take the time to read my writing and provide feedback – I’m all for it. Some people just don’t understand that when a writer or a professional takes time out of their life to help [you] it is a gift and not an insult.
Thank you for sharing and keeping me interested, I know you don’t have to care what happens to the people that read your blog or buy your products – but you keep showing up on my email and I keep coming back. Remember – don’t sweat the small stuff!
P.S. It’s all small stuff!
~B~
Hi Tiffany,
First off – “obstacle
schmobstacle” – LOVED that line! I need to stick this one on my screen!
My day seems incomplete now without an email or blog post from you. Lately (or maybe because I am new to your site) your posts have been SUPER-DUPER MOTIVATIONAL….literally dripping with inspiration.
If this doesn’t get us all moving, then I don’t think anything will!
So happy for Sarah’s launch and CJ’s success.
Reading stuff like this invigorates me and propels me to action towards my own IM goals.
As usual, you rock.
Shazi
P.S. I knew instantly what you meant yesterday when you said Honey made your heart stop….coz my own cat does that to me at least once every week!
My neighborhood dogs’ favorite leisure activity seems to be tearing apart cats!!!
So glad Honey’s safe.
I love the Honey videos, but it breaks my heart at the same time.
We lost our beloved Cocker of 15 years, Rusty, a month ago, and I miss him so much. He was the best friend in the world and we loved him dearly – just as he did us.
Jo Ann
Oh so sorry Jo Ann
Lovely video of Honey, she’s such a cutie. And good advice about the payments as well! I tried to join Google+ but wasn’t allowed – they said that they were “full” at the moment so how do you actually join up??
Email me and I have a way.
I really like the how to get paid thing. Normally i send them reminder emails about not getting my money. I also remind them that i am never late on their projects so i do not appreciate them being late with my money.
One thing though the FBI’s Internet Fraud Complaint Center do they cater to non-Americans? I am not American and usually i believe that even though laws exist to protect service providers (and even suppliers) that only Americans are covered.
*Sorry for my generalization*
It is global is my understanding. The FBI often works in conjunction with other countries’ legal entities.