Every successful business is built on the basis of strong client connections. When you’ve had a client connection for a long time, it’s easy to fall into what appear to be comfortable routines. However, if you’re not careful, such behaviours might eventually become self-destructive.
1. Conduct a yearly analysis
An annual review meeting, which lasts about 30–45 minutes, is a good way to find out whether the client has any complaints about your work. Mention that you’re doing this with all of your clients to confirm that everything is running well, that they’re satisfied, and that you’re doing everything you can to help.
2. Redraw your lines of authority
Instead of becoming hostile and confrontational, maintain a calm, assertive, and productive demeanour. Rather than saying, “This is how I’ll be running my business from now on,” say, “I’ve looked at what isn’t working, and here’s what I’d like to do to become more efficient.”
3. Draw new limits
Setting new limits or adjusting old ones may be a difficult task. As a freelancer, you don’t want to feel exploited, but you also don’t want your client to feel tricked. As a result, you’ll need to come up with a formula that also caters to their requirements. You might charge a higher payment for “out of hours assistance” or charge a one-time fee to compensate you for the added difficulty.
4.Talk about expectations.
It’s a good idea to moderate your client’s expectations by stating, for example, that you’ll need X number of working days to submit revised work after receiving feedback. Once that’s established, you might be amazed at how unconcerned the client becomes with the length of the project. Give them a clear timescale, and all of those worries will go away.
5. Maintain your follow-up
It’s critical to write down everything you’ve agreed to and send it to them as a reminder, which essentially serves as an unofficial contract renewal between you. Then, if the client makes a request that goes beyond your new limits, politely but firmly push back and direct them back to what you’ve agreed on.
6. Make the most of your free time
Give clients fair warning by giving them reminders that you’ll be gone on certain specific days to safeguard your valuable downtime in every way possible. Set up an out-of-office answer and make it a point to never check business emails after hours.
7. Be ready to lose the client
Are you concerned that if you set these boundaries, the client will find someone else? Then perhaps the answer is simple: do a wonderful job for them the majority of the time, be dedicated to them, and care about them, and they’re unlikely to move anywhere else. There are lots of fantastic clients out there who would love to work with you if you’re brilliant at what you do, so be fearless and reap the benefits!
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