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Reverse Scope Creep: How to Break Up With Your Ever-Shrinking Freelance Gig

Reverse Scope Creep: How to Break Up With Your Ever-Shrinking Freelance Gig

He’s cheating on you.

You’re doing everything you used to do for him — all those things he said he loved — but he’s pulling away. Oh, sure, he says you’re still the tops and that he never wants to end his relationship with you, but it’s just not the same as it used to be.

But you know he needs what you’d been giving him. Really needs it. So, if he’s not getting it from you, he must be getting it somewhere else…

Sounds like you’re dealing with reverse scope creep!

Reverse scope creep is killing your relationship

“Reverse scope creep” was a term we came up with in the (free!) Be A Freelance Blogger forum to describe a client condition that’s the opposite of the dreaded “scope creep.” Let me show you what I mean:

Scope creep = When a project slowly gets out of control by becoming much, much larger than what you initially agreed to in your contract. Basically when a client continues to ask you to do “just one more thing” and you do, because you’re too nice for your own good.

Reverse scope creep = When your contract promised you a ton of work but now you’re barely doing anything. For instance, you were told you’d be writing (and getting paid for) 3-4 blog posts per month… but now you’re lucky if you get assigned/paid for one blog post every two months. But your client still “really loves” your work and wants you to continue working with them.

It’s an odd situation to find yourself in as a freelance blogger. There’s a chance you haven’t even come across this problem in your career yet. However, there are four main reasons why reverse scope creep crops up… 

1. You were too amazing. Yes, that can happen.

You blew your client out of the water and he just doesn’t know what to do with you. Things were finished much sooner than he expected and now he’s feeling flustered. You were too good and he doesn’t know what to do next. Good for you! Let him gather his wits — hopefully in a timely manner — and try to pace yourself next time. 😉

2. You were terrible

He likes you, but the blogging you did for him was sub-par and he doesn’t know how to break it off with you… So, to paraphrase the words of Diana Ross and the Supremes: He’s keeping you “hangin’ on.” This doesn’t seem likely, as BAFB readers almost always turn in amazing work (we love youuuuu), but it’s a possibility.

3. There isn’t any work. Really!

Sometimes a client thinks they’re going to have a lot of blogging work for you and then they just… don’t. It happens! Sadly, there isn’t a “little blue pill” to spark up a client’s desire for blog posts. You’ll either have to wait until they work through this issue on their own, or bag yourself some more active clients.

4. They’re getting it elsewhere

It’s not your fault. Likely, your client decided to get quick — cheap! — action from some other blogger rather than keep getting the quality blog lovin’ they’ve been getting from you. Ugh. Terrible! The worst part? They want to keep you around “just in case” they end up needing that quality blogging you’re known for after all. Nothing like fixing someone else’s mistakes, am I right?

This is the most common reason for reverse scope creep, in my experience. Don’t worry. You’re still the better blogger. (And probably better-looking! Just saying.)

How to escape from a reverse scope creep relationship

Most relationships, professional or otherwise, have to be renegotiated from time-to-time. It’s nothing to be afraid of.

The first step is realizing that reverse scope creep is happening. Depending on how observant you are, and how extreme the waning of activity is, you may not notice it at first. Once you do, take the following steps:

1. Ask your client about it

Your client may not have realized that anything’s changed. Or they may have forgotten the terms of your initial contract — and how things weren’t supposed to change. Talk to them about it. There’s a chance you might be able to get your relationship back to where it was originally. If not, try the next step.

2. Renegotiate

The last time I was in a reverse scope creep situation, I confronted the client and renegotiated my contract. We ended up with a much, much looser agreement — wherein, if I was “available” and “wanted to” I’d write up an article for him every 2 or 3 months on more of a “one-off” basis (rather than an ongoing locked-in contract). This worked out well because I was then able to fill their original spot on my client roster with someone else.

It was incredibly frustrating being a “staff” writer and being forced to save a spot on my weekly schedule “just in case” that happened to be the week he actually needed me. It didn’t make sense to keep turning away work because I “might” have an article to write that week.

In my case, I was dealing with a fledgling editor who was still learning the ropes, including how to handle the freelance bloggers working for him. For me, being honest about my confusion and frustration was key. And we were able to come to a new agreement that worked for both of us.

3. Say goodbye

Sometimes a project just doesn’t work out. Sometimes you and your client love each other, but you both want entirely different things. If that’s the case, then it’s time to say “goodbye.”

Turn in your two weeks’ notice, just as you would at a traditional job, and use those last two weeks to rock your client’s world. Make him miss you once you’re gone!

…and don’t forget to get a testimonial for your freelance blogger website while your client’s still glowing with appreciation. 😉

Have you ever had to deal with reverse scope creep? How did you handle it? Let us know in the comments!

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Comments

  1. A timely post for me. I had a three-figure client who went on a crash diet – for my wallet – and now, although the rate is great the work is no longer going steady with me. I offered to block out time for the client and they were totally upfront about their business model changing, along with their need for content. So now they contact me and if I’m free I write for them. Just one of those things.

  2. Very interesting, Lauren! 😀

    I once wrote for a client who promised regular work. She was ecstatic about my piece, but then got busy with life.

    She referred someone else to me, but I am afraid the other person wasn’t that ‘into’ me and so she went in ‘another direction’ (I HATE that term :P)

    I am afraid to ask my original client whether she still has work for me…oh, and I haven’t been paid yet! (and I SUCK at asking for payments…none of my clients have paid me yet..oh dear…time to grow a spine 🙁 )

    Thanks again Lauren 🙂
    Kitto

  3. I was supposed to do 20 blog posts for a client who adores me. I know she does because she keeps writing to me, wants to visit me, etc. and we have become involved somewhat in each other’s lives. Then I started doing other things for her after I did 2 blog posts. She had me go in this other direction, and I did those things for her. When I asked her about the remaining blog posts, she said that, because she can write, she’s going to finish them. It was about her wanting to write and saving $. But she adores me, yada yada. I think I”ll contact her again and see if she needs help because we haven’t emailed each other in about 2 weeks, but I am lucky that I have other work. Many clients think they can write. She actually can, but I haven’t seen whether it’s any good or not. Most clients, IMHO, can’t write their names.

  4. Thanks for this one, Lauren. I’ve actually found myself wondering a little about this in the early stages of my own career. I’ll file these bits of info away as I move forward!

  5. Lauren,

    This just happened to me also. I think in the summer a lot of clients and businesses re-evaluate their content marketing strategy.

    I had a steady blogging gig and I was recently told they are taking a break. There was nothing I could do, except now wait.

    It sucks, but it just means you can’t be complacent with your current client list. You gotta keep on pitching and landing more and more clients!

  6. I just had this EXACT thing happen to me–twice. BOTH of my regular clients have recently fizzled out on me with work. I had very frank discussions with both of them, asking if there were any issues at all with my work or with working with me, and they both seemed to appreciate me asking and gave me some honest, useful feedback–but the general consensus was “we love you!!” Which is why I don’t understand why both contracts seemed to just evaporate overnight. One client went from a lucrative monthly retainer agreement to “I’ll call you when I need you.” The other client quartered my hours to a measly weekly sum. I suspect that two things are happening–the budget is running out, and that my expertise and the ability to “pick my brain” occasionally and call me in for last-minute emergencies has become more valuable to them than my regular labor. I think my next step is to replace them both with new regular clients, and relegate their projects to a lower priority. If I’m not their priority anymore, why should I guarantee them hours each week? I also think I need to implement a bigger rush fee to my regular hourly rate, and maybe come up with a new way to charge for all those brainstorming meetings and feedback emails that’s helping them run their businesses. That way, they’re paying for what they find most valuable, and I’m being compensated fairly.

    • It sounds like you’ve got your priorities figured out, Nicole. I’m sure you’ll get through this and that better opportunities will come along. 🙂

      Side note: I’ve never liked retainer agreements. I’m actually writing a post about them for The Write Life. Keep an eye out for it!

  7. Reverse scope creep happened to me recently. I worked with a certain client for 15 months. Later months he wanted to reduce his budget though we had an amazing working relationship so he was afraid of loosing me as well as hurting. He wound promise a job that is not forthcoming. I confronted him where I learnt he is out of budget. We parted our ways though we still communicate.