To your own client isn’t easy. Why the need to recommend? Well, I could inform the client of the busy schedule I’m currently facing and suggest a time when only I might be free in handling his/her project. However, sometimes a client needs to have a project done badly and what do you do? Well, I won’t take on more than I can chew because it’ll be an empty promise to a client later.
So the only other option I have is recommend another freelancer to the client. But wait, it isn’t just as easy as passing the project on to your next best friend. To me, the next person I pass the project needs to be someone who understands the handling of themselves and a client. Having a client suffer a bad experience not only will leave your reputation in jeapordy but it would also leave a mark on the freelancer too. However, if the client is happy with the job then he/she will either approach the other freelancer or me again. :)
How should a freelancer handle themselves?
Well, other than being confident of themselves, I think freelancers need to be more honest and more explanatory in projects. I also feel they shouldn’t just quote the price per page without first evaluating the amount of work needed to be done on a project. I think this is fair in concern when a client only wants a project like a 5-page HTML website developed without any necessary additions of Flash or other functions. Freelancers also need to not be intimidated by the client all the time in lowering the price. Reason for this is because even before I pass on the project, I’ll try informing the freelancer of the client’s rough budget.
How should a freelancer handle the client?
I can’t really answer that question because every freelancer has their own methods of working. However, I feel all freelancers need to maintain good communication with clients in emails and during changes in the project. If you can’t perform a certain task, be honest and don’t lie to the client. Another important skill freelancers need is people skills. Isn’t it the same as good communication? Well, not entirely because to me, people skills are used more when negotiating with clients and maintaining that good communication.
I won’t blame those who think otherwise of my ideologies. These are just some of the processes and working methods I believe would work with freelancers and clients. All this I’ve learned and picked up by myself ever since taking more interest in the business side of things.
Because a reminder to all freelancers, you are the project manager, the marketing person and the designer/developer. Just because you only design/program, it doesn’t mean you aren’t involve with each other. Hence, that’s another article I might blog about later. Cheers.