No matter what unique job, you have picked up to make a freelance living, there is one thread common to every freelancer i.e. how well one handles a client. According to recent research made by Emmy Hayer (Development Head at FSPL) on 100 Client profiles and their feedbacks, most of the clients leave their freelancers due to their inability to understand the project or making false promises for deadlines. That’s why, i compiled this list of 5 things to avoid as a freelancer while interacting with a Client.
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Sarcasm /’sɑ:kæzəm
Your Talent to execute jobs sometimes gives you so much of pride and passion that it quickly turns up sarcastic for clients. One dumb question from client might push you towards techno-coral anxiety, but you must not be raged about it. A client has hired you, just because he wanted to have a work done which he simply can’t do by himself.
The situation can be actually tuned into your own benefit. Once a client asks you a stupid question, you can politely justify your point for an answer that is easily digestible by the Client. This can even account for more money by making suggestions for additional work. In this way, the client will think twice before asking the next question from you.
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Breaking Deadline and thus not showing up:
Most freelancers think that by avoiding old clients or skipping one job, they can easily start with the next client. But breaking a deadline and bidding for new projects will actually hurt your reputation as a freelancer. Instead, be apologetic with your client while giving him the reasons for not being able to keep compliance with deadlines.
Breaking the deadline means that you were unable to complete a work. This means that cleints has a reason to give a small lecture. Toss an Apology followed by a commitment, that if you don’t compete with deadline this time around.
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Sending More Invoices Than Necessary
Sending invoices again and again will not help your cause to retrieve your payment or might work against you. Once you have mailed an invoice after client’s satisfactory nod, make sure he has read the invoice before sending it again. If he isn’t replying, even after 2 mails, wait for few days. Platforms like People per hour, freelancer.com, Upwork, Frisklancer and Elance gives you the leverage to report an issue. Reporting an issue after few days gives an affirmation for recovering most of your payment. There can be two reasons for which client couldn’t pay:
Lack of communication: There can be a scenario, where client was unable to access a suitable connection to talk to you or pay the bills. So you have to be assertive in listening his point of view, but must insist that if he is not able to pay the money in certain time interval, you will have to create s dispute with the administration forcibly. Most clients get ready to pay after certain days to avoid downgrade of their Profile.
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Leaving the Professional Tone:
You should never go out of the formal tone even if you are arguing with your client or making a dialogue due to different perspective on a same topic. Once a Dispute is raised, most freelance jobs platforms check for the conversations happened between client and freelancer. This gives you an advantage over client for keeping you cool in any situation.
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Not giving revisions even if client asks
I know that we are mostly dead sure about the product or service we have provided to the client. But, due to lack of understandability, the client may ask you for improvements. Rather than cutting threads completely from the project once you are paid, join for one revision to see what happened. As no one else knows better than you about own development, you should instruct the client politely. Ask him to do asi say, so that your development will become productive for the client. If he ask for any enhancements, send him a proposal for a paid service for the next enhancement. This will either buy you a long working client or you may simply walk off by taking your money.
Meanwhile, i would get back with my next list of advices, suggestions and resources. Keep a notch on these Things to avoid as a freelancer and making a productive freelancing career.
