When You Lose a Client

A few weeks ago, one of my longtime editors sent me an email asking me for my phone

number. I was curious, but not overly concerned. I’d written for the two publications she’d edited for about ten years. We had a good working relationship. She knew my skills. I’d taken a considerable number of assignments—often at one time—and with quick turnarounds. I had no reason to be worried, right?

Still, I was curious. In the ten years we’d worked together, I think I called her once. All business was conducted strictly over email.

So what was going on?

Unfortunately, it was bad news. The magazines were folding. So much for our ten years of working together.

I did take the news hard. These assignments were my bread and butter—I could always count on a bumper crop of features six times a year. Though challenging to complete—it was difficult to secure the number of interviews required at times—I always managed to get them done. It was reassuring to know if things were slow, I could always count on these assignments.

I thanked the editor, regrouped a bit, and did what I normally did when I felt things were getting quieter than I would like—I started reaching out to folks. I followed up on “warm” leads that had gone quiet. I reached out to editors I’d stopped writing for to let them know I was available. I got a little more active on LinkedIn. And now I’m creating a blog post about the experience.

I am grateful to have gotten to a place where I have an extensive network of contacts. I am grateful for the referrals that have come my way, and the warm responses I’ve gotten from editors, welcoming me back into the fold. I am confident that I’ll rebound and replace the lost income from this tried-and-true client. I am hoping the income will come from a mix of new projects and the features which have become my staple over the years.

How do you handle losing a client? What is your strategy for bouncing back?