How did my classified ads work?

Some weeks ago I put two classified ads in the papers to see what would happen. It was my first time doing this.

In response to the ad above, I got one call from a man who said he was a photographer and he wanted to work for me. He sounded earnest, saying he had just "come back" from abroad and was looking for photography jobs. I told him the ad was for my services. He continued trying to sell himself by saying that he was into photographing all kinds of things. Realising that he was intent on being hired and would hear nothing else, I said: "Sorry, we're not hiring at this point." He told me to keep him in mind. I put down the phone thinking "Well, at least he's proactive in looking for employment avenues and trying to sell himself."

My second ad (above) got three responses, none of which were about proofreading. Either they didn't know what "proofreading" meant or they just read the 'Get your writing right' part.

The first caller was a woman who told me that she wrote short stories and was wondering if I could publish them for her. I told her that I wasn't a publisher, but I could proofread and edit her material. We chatted for a while and she said she still had work to do on the pieces and would get back to me. I somehow don't think she will ... but you never know.

The second was a man who called and asked if I write letters. When I asked him what kind, he said "Business Letters." An 'astute' business person looking to make money off of any opportunity would probably say with enthusiasm (even if they don't do this): "Yes! I write business letters!" Then, they would get someone to write the letters for them and mark up the price so that they make "a little something" off of it. Well, that's not my strategy, so I just told him: "The ad is for proofreading services."

The third was a woman who called and said "I saw the ad for getting your writing right." She wanted to know if I could help her 8 year old daughter who needs help with her handwriting. I explained to her what proofreading is and she apologised. As I put down the phone, my heart went out to her. I thought of how earnest she had sounded as a mother - as though they had tried many avenues to help the little girl, none had been successful and they were reaching out to this ad that promised she could "get her writing right". The part of me that feels sorry for people in certain situations wanted to call her back and offer to try ... but I didn't bother. At the end of the day I don't know how to begin helping a little girl to improve her handwriting and "business" isn't about feeling sorry for people.

The 'old me' would have gone and tried to help them in some way and probably would have ended up having an interesting experience as a result of it. But ... I guess I'm changing.

Anyway, that was my classified ad-venture. Four interested people calling in one month isn't bad. At least it shows that people do read the ads and respond ... even if they're calling for something else.

Let's see what happens

The only time I've ever used the classified ads in the newspapers is whenever I was looking for apartments - either for myself and/or someone else. But recently, while flipping through the papers, I stopped on the classified ads page and started reading them, to see what was there. As I read the Business Services in particular, it struck me ... how come I have never put an ad in the classifieds ... and what would happen if I did? Might as well. Nothing to lose ... only to gain (new clients, extra money).

I checked out the prices and it's really affordable to place classads.

I called and booked two ads to run for a month. The process is simple. You write your words, you email them to Classads and then they call and tell you the price and you pay it. Your ads appear the next day in the papers and also on the internet for free.

As with most of the other classads, mine say the bare minimum necessary. The more you say, the more you pay.

I also remembered that years ago an organisation had hired me to do proofreading of some of their documents. I got paid quite a bit per page and, as I'm good at spotting errors and making corrections to written English, it was quite a good way of making extra money. So I put an ad for that too.

Let's see what happens.

Now noticing the nature of the business below my proofreading ad

Silence isn't always golden

Girl taking a late afternoon walk in Charlotteville, Tobago - one of the communities involved in the research project
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In 2009 I started work as a documentary photographer with a team from the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at U.W.I.

The project on which we are working is aptly named Break the Silence. It "focuses on breaking the silence that has surrounded incest and other forms of child sexual abuse in Trinidad and Tobago. Its aim is generating knowledge and understanding on child sexual abuse/incest and the implications for HIV; empowering women, girls, men and boys to address these issues; and influencing service providers to strengthen their response to child sexual abuse and to understand the linkages between child sexual abuse/incest and HIV."

This article, from which the above extract is taken, explains more.

Clients who pay vs Clients who don't

I just feel like having this image of the labyrinth up today.
It's not consciously related to the below post.

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The other day, I was talking to a friend on the phone. Being a 'freelancer', she was grousing about what most if not all 'freelancers' grouse about ... clients who want their work "yesterday!" ... yet when it's time to pay, are nowhere to be found and suddenly don't answer phones or e-mails. Most, if not all 'freelancers' will echo those stories ... of 'chasing after clients' and calling them repeatedly to get payment for work done by the deadline.

To anyone who falls into this category, I suggest changing that label 'FREElancer' immediately if you apply it to yourself. I don't use it anymore. The word 'free' makes it sound like we do things for free. There was a time when I used to do many things 'for free', thinking I was 'helping' ... but now I don't ... unless it's something that I'm really moved to do for free from my heart - in which case I know the Divine is paying me (more than humans could ever pay me, might I add). You know, many Trinis do not appreciate or respect 'free ting' (like free open air concerts and free seminars). Only 'freeness' (as in bachanaal, fêtes, free rum and roti at political rallies and shameless copyright infringement).

While listening to my friend on the phone, my eye fell on the bright yellow plastic call card of a client I had done some work for recently. It was the first time I had ever done work for her. Not only had she paid the requested 50% down payment ('mobilisation fee') without question or hesitation before the job had even been started ... but, once the job was completed and handed to her, I received the balance within four days (two of those days being weekend days, so they don't really count). I did not have to call her repeatedly or send her e-mails to remind her to pay me. "What a rarity," I realised ...

So, as soon as I put down the phone, I called the client and, in essence, said to her: "Hi, it's Elspeth. I'm calling to thank you for respecting me and the creative process by paying on time and without fuss - both the down payment and the balance. Not all clients do that and I really appreciate how you were with me/us." (In the earlier stage of the job there was an artist who also got paid on time).

I suppose it was unexpected. She sounded surprised and touched. Maybe for her it was also a new experience ... someone calling to thank her for her work ethic.

On the other side of the coin ... I once wrote a letter of 'termination of working relationship' to a client who repeatedly disrespected the payment process. Perhaps he didn't 'know any better' and that was his work ethic. And perhaps I should have spoken up sooner. I always got paid eventually, but it was the process of calling repeatedly, without having calls returned that eventually added up. In the end it boils down to ... even if they don't respect you/the process, you have to respect your self.

No client is worth it - having to call repeatedly (we are not beggars) to get our due. It felt great to write that letter. I was losing nothing. The funny thing is, I posted the letter ... and once it had slipped into the mailbox, he called on my cellular to tell me: "The cheque is ready. You can come and collect it."

However, the deed had been done and I didn't regret it. I was free and I had chosen self worth above money.

This is what pays most in the long run.