Comments on: 5 Mistakes That Will Cost You Your Client (and How to Avoid Them) http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/ Freelance Advice and Freelance Jobs Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:09:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Freelancedom » Blog Archive » Link Love: May 8 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-38433 Freelancedom » Blog Archive » Link Love: May 8 Fri, 08 May 2009 17:26:31 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1000#comment-38433 [...] FreelanceSwitch’s 5 Mistakes That Will Cost You Your Client [...] [...] FreelanceSwitch’s 5 Mistakes That Will Cost You Your Client [...]

]]> By: Anne http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-38106 Anne Sun, 03 May 2009 16:04:42 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1000#comment-38106 Great advice! Especially learning how to be objective about issues without compromising your own integrity while still attending to the client in an efficient and professional fashion. Clients want good results, that is what they're paying for. Great advice! Especially learning how to be objective about issues without compromising your own integrity while still attending to the client in an efficient and professional fashion. Clients want good results, that is what they’re paying for.

]]> By: Kristin Andrews http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-38103 Kristin Andrews Sun, 03 May 2009 15:04:09 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1000#comment-38103 This post couldn't have come at a better time. I recently had to terminate a client relationship due to them implementing a more aggressive deadline than we originally agreed upon. I had to remind myself to not let my emotions get involved and that this is strictly business, so it was the right decision. Thanks for these tips. This post couldn’t have come at a better time. I recently had to terminate a client relationship due to them implementing a more aggressive deadline than we originally agreed upon. I had to remind myself to not let my emotions get involved and that this is strictly business, so it was the right decision. Thanks for these tips.

]]> By: Gyorfi Szilard http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-38097 Gyorfi Szilard Sun, 03 May 2009 12:10:27 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1000#comment-38097 For me the best way to communicate with clients is via emails . I did use IM too but now I rarely use it, because I spend time chatting with the client and this way I don`t advance with the actual work. I might also loos some of the messages that I have received. Only use Email with clients, especially when they tell you the specs of a project. 1-2 phone calls/skype a week are ok but not more. Also for safety reasons I start the work when they pay 50% in advance. Ever worked on a project that you had 40% finished and the client made up his mind about needing the project? I did, so no mater how cool/polite they seem use the payment in advance method , if they mean serious business than they will pay it. If they don`t than you would have wasted your time with theme. For me the best way to communicate with clients is via emails .

I did use IM too but now I rarely use it, because I spend time chatting with the client and this way I don`t advance with the actual work.

I might also loos some of the messages that I have received.

Only use Email with clients, especially when they tell you the specs of a project. 1-2 phone calls/skype a week are ok but not more.

Also for safety reasons I start the work when they pay 50% in advance.

Ever worked on a project that you had 40% finished and the client made up his mind about needing the project?

I did, so no mater how cool/polite they seem use the payment in advance method , if they mean serious business than they will pay it. If they don`t than you would have wasted your time with theme.

]]> By: ravi http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-38096 ravi Sun, 03 May 2009 11:03:37 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1000#comment-38096 Points 1 and 2 are very useful. This whole website is a must-see resource for freelancers. Thank you. Points 1 and 2 are very useful. This whole website is a must-see resource for freelancers. Thank you.

]]> By: zeerebel http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-36200 zeerebel Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:28:54 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1000#comment-36200 Just busted my ass for a client. Made mistake # 2, 3. The web site was amazing, but he was so concern with all the little stuff. I should have trust my gut instinct and drop my client a day before. I decide to refund his money, and just walked away. Just busted my ass for a client. Made mistake # 2, 3. The web site was amazing, but he was so concern with all the little stuff. I should have trust my gut instinct and drop my client a day before.

I decide to refund his money, and just walked away.

]]> By: KIKI DAVIES http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-33838 KIKI DAVIES Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:26:36 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1000#comment-33838 Thanks alot This is really great and i'll be back to re read cos i have learnt alot from it. Thanks alot
This is really great and i’ll be back to re read cos i have learnt alot from it.

]]> By: Ishbir Singh http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-29470 Ishbir Singh Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:42:50 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1000#comment-29470 This is an excellent and well written article. This is an excellent and well written article.

]]> By: Steven http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-29448 Steven Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:54:01 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1000#comment-29448 Availability. Good point. I struggled for some time to kill the idea that the customer is always right. If that were true, they wouldn't need me! The customer is wrong and they pay me for corrections (I teach martial arts). But I must orchestrate tact. Good post. Availability. Good point. I struggled for some time to kill the idea that the customer is always right. If that were true, they wouldn’t need me! The customer is wrong and they pay me for corrections (I teach martial arts). But I must orchestrate tact.

Good post.

]]> By: Scott Clark http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/10-mistakes-that-will-cost-you-your-client-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-29441 Scott Clark Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:24:48 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1000#comment-29441 Um, what about agreements? Working without a signed agreement is hugely risky. But this is a show-stopper for many deals (inexplicably.) I think it's a serious litmus test for client qualification. If they act surprised when you ask them to sign an agreement, there will be problems later. Um, what about agreements? Working without a signed agreement is hugely risky. But this is a show-stopper for many deals (inexplicably.) I think it’s a serious litmus test for client qualification. If they act surprised when you ask them to sign an agreement, there will be problems later.

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