In order to make a good first impression on your clients, you need to think about the way that you present yourself. Luckily there are many simple things that can be done to seem more professional and enhance your credibility as a freelancer. In this article, we will go over some of these easy but important things for managing a professional relationship with your client.
Be Punctual
Clients don’t want to wait around forever waiting for you or anyone else who is supposed to show up at a meeting. Make sure that when an appointment is set with you, it’s made clear what time the meeting should start and end, and then stick to it! Your punctuality says volumes about how reliable (or not!) you are in the eyes of the client. And if you’re running late due to “unforeseen circumstances,” just call your client and let them know that you will be there soon.
Keep in mind that arriving too early for an appointment can sometimes be just as bad. On the other hand, being punctual shows that you are respectful of your client’s time and do not want to waste any!
Be Honest
This principle applies far beyond just your relationship with your client – it’s a good rule to live by in all aspects of life – but honesty with your clients is absolutely essential. Be honest about the time it will take to complete a job, be honest about what you can (and cannot) do for them, and be honest when things don’t go according to plan! If there are problems in the way of completing your client’s project, they should not be surprised when you are honest about it and tell them what needs to be done.
Always deliver more than your client expects.
Make sure your correspondence is professional
Your written correspondence with your clients should always be clear, concise, and professional! Remember that you are ultimately working for them and they will judge the quality of your work based on both the content and the form of what you send them. You want to make sure that your written communication is clear and grammatically correct, but also professional and to the point. If your emails get too long or don’t get straight to the point, your client might see that as unprofessional.
When you are asking for information from a client – such as what they think about a project you made – it is wise to send them a questionnaire of some sort so they know what you need. Be professional about asking for input and feedback – do not just start firing questions at them or assume that they will always remember exactly what they told you on the phone last week. If you need to ask them for payment, use a simple invoice email template and make sure you follow up on it if your payment is slow. You can find these templates online for free, just search for “pay invoice template” and you should have a ton of great options!
Follow Through Consistently
Your clients should never feel like they can’t trust you to keep up with your word and follow through on the job! That means making deadlines, following up, and communicating clearly and consistently. If a client tells you that something needs to be done by a certain time, it is up to you to make sure that it’s done. The same goes for your responsibilities as a freelancer – if the client says that they want daily reports on the progress of the project, keep them updated! On top of being consistent with deadlines, communication, and progress reports – your client should be able to expect that you will treat them with respect. Don’t miss deadlines or communicate poorly!
When You’re Meeting With a Client
First impressions can go a long way towards determining whether or not a client will want to work with you, so think about how you are representing yourself when you are meeting with them face-to-face.
When you meet, be sure to dress nicely and professionally. Also, remember that it’s not just what you say but how you say things that can affect your client’s impression of you! Be positive about your client’s ideas and always work to build a relationship with them. If you come off as cold or not excited about your client, they may assume the same thing about your work!
As a general rule, when meeting with clients it is best not to discuss personal or controversial topics that have nothing to do with the project at hand. Not only is it potentially uncomfortable, but it can open the door to future disagreements.
Respect Your Client’s Opinions
Remember that even though the client may not always make sense, they are paying you to do a job for them! And if you take a step back and look at a project from a business perspective, a lot of the time the client’s opinions make sense after all – because they want to get their money’s worth out of you. This doesn’t mean that every change that your clients ask for is logical, but try not to be stubborn or dismissive of your client’s opinions without taking the time to consider why they might be suggesting something.
Be a Specialist
If the client wants to work with you, be sure that they know why working with you is beneficial for them – because you are a specialist in your field! Some ways to express yourself as a specialist include being able to guarantee a high-quality product to your client and making sure that you really understand the project and the process. If you are trying to convince a skeptical client about why they should choose you, tell them how long you have been doing this work and what sets you apart from other freelancers. Never assume that your clients will automatically know why working with you is a good idea.
Meeting with a client can be nerve-wracking, but following these simple tips will help you make a great first impression. Dress nicely, be positive and respectful, and avoid discussing personal topics. Make sure your written communication is clear and professional, and always take the time to consider your client’s opinions. By being a specialist in your field, you can set yourself apart from other freelancers and show why working with you is beneficial for the client.
