Maintaining Client Relationships

Working as a freelancer or independent contractor in your field requires a different approach than working as an employee. As a freelancer, you are responsible for not only attracting clients, but also ensuring that the clients you do attract are so satisfied with your work that they’ll want to come directly to you with new projects. As a freelancer, you’re the only one responsible for maintaining relationships with clients over time and encouraging them to re-use your services. When you’re moving from working for an employer, this might be a difficult transition. The following tips can help you to ensure that your client relationships flourish.

Plan Every Project

For every project that you do, you should offer up a concise outline of the work you will be doing. This will depend on the project; in some cases, your client may provide you will highly specific guidelines or expectations for a project. Whatever the situation, ensure that the outline you draw up includes the deliverables, objectives, and end product that you will create for your client. You can then add a timeline and a due date for the project, which may, at this point, only be a rough estimate. The planning stage is also when you’ll offer your client a quote and determine how and when you’ll be paid so that all parties are clear.

Allow Open Communication

Maintaining an open exchange of communication is important when you’re doing work for a client. Instead of relying solely on email, you may also want to try using an instant messaging or video conferencing software in order to discuss issues or items as they happen. Make yourself available online, whether through Skype or email, as you’re completing the project so that your client doesn’t feel you’ve disappeared. It’s important to keep your client abreast of your progress. You can also respond promptly to any questions the client may have and ask your own questions in return.

Network

Working with a client is a good opportunity to network. If you have any leads on independent contractors in complementary fields, share them with your client.

For instance, if you’re a graphic designer and you happen to know a great web designer, your client might be interested to take his or her contact information. If you are able to help your client find other skilled independent contractors, your value to the client will increase. In addition, you’ll have made a referral for a colleague who will then be more likely to do the same for you.

Keep in Touch

Don’t take it personally when and if a project finishes and a client no longer needs your services. That is the nature of freelance work: it often operates on a project-to-project basis and the client isn’t going to keep you around when there’s nothing for you to do. Instead, keep in touch. An email or card now and then to remind the client that you’re still available is a good idea. Don’t go overboard contacting a previous client, as that will come off as desperate. Remember that if you do good work, you shouldn’t need to offer a constant reminder; the client will remember you by virtue of the quality work you’ve already produced.