Freelance Friday

Tips to make working with customers easier so that your freelance business can run smoothly

Choose your customers wisely-There are just some customers that aren’t worth your time. They may have great jobs and great opportunities but if the stress they cause you is unbearable, it’s not worth it. Don’t be so picky that you don’t have any customers but be okay with sometimes admitting that a certain customer isn’t right for you. It

Let the customer be right-Even when the customer is wrong, the customer is right. This doesn’t mean that you let him or her walk all over you but that you’re polite and understanding. A bad reputation can do more damage to your freelance career than you can imagine so you want to make it easy for the customer to like you.

Set appropriate boundaries-The customer might be right but that doesn’t mean they get to control you. Set certain work hours for email and answering phone calls and let your customers know that you’ll be working with them only during those times.

Be creative-Often what causes difficulties in relating with customer is the fact that many people are stuck in the same old model of customer-contractor relations. Break out of the mold, be yourself and be genuinely interested in forming creative relationships.

Get to know your customers-You don’t need to mix business and pleasure but knowing a little bit about your customers can help you to feel more comfortable interacting with them. You’ll like your job more and they’ll like you more.

http://www.allfreelance.com/freelancing_blog/2007/07/02/working-with-customers-as-a-freelancer/