Comments on: You vs. The Design Firms: How to Win Every Time http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/ Freelance Advice and Freelance Jobs Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:12:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jeffrey Way » Not Reliable, Not Hireable http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/#comment-45545 Jeffrey Way » Not Reliable, Not Hireable Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:41:42 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1033#comment-45545 [...] Freelance Switch [...] [...] Freelance Switch [...]

]]> By: Jeffrey Way » Not Reliable, Not Hireable http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/#comment-45544 Jeffrey Way » Not Reliable, Not Hireable Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:41:37 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1033#comment-45544 [...] Freelance Switch [...] [...] Freelance Switch [...]

]]> By: JW » Not Reliable, Not Hireable http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/#comment-38544 JW » Not Reliable, Not Hireable Mon, 11 May 2009 18:04:51 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1033#comment-38544 [...] Freelance Switch [...] [...] Freelance Switch [...]

]]> By: Dax http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/#comment-25365 Dax Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:23:47 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1033#comment-25365 Hi, this is my first comment in this website :D First of all, excuse my poor English. There's a lot of discussion about the 24/7 service. Jeffrey just wanted to offer an example of a better customer service. Maybe it is a good idea or maybe not. For me, to write down that you will be available 24/7 is not healthy, because someone may take it literally...even worst if it's written in a contract. My question is: What happens if a client actually calls you at 4 a.m. or every time he or she has a new "design idea"? How do you deal with this kind of annoying client? Is there an article regarding this subject? Thanks for the article, Jeffrey! Hi, this is my first comment in this website :D

First of all, excuse my poor English.

There’s a lot of discussion about the 24/7 service. Jeffrey just wanted to offer an example of a better customer service. Maybe it is a good idea or maybe not. For me, to write down that you will be available 24/7 is not healthy, because someone may take it literally…even worst if it’s written in a contract.

My question is: What happens if a client actually calls you at 4 a.m. or every time he or she has a new “design idea”? How do you deal with this kind of annoying client? Is there an article regarding this subject?

Thanks for the article, Jeffrey!

]]> By: Yacoroca@gmail.com http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/#comment-23769 Yacoroca@gmail.com Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:21:40 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1033#comment-23769 I think Dixyt and Vernon have got it. Being there alll the time, as a freelancer, also shows how much in need of a job you are. and when you promise 2+ clients this, calls can get simultaneous and hence you will have lied to someone. Also, you should not throw the phone down on your spouse, mother, friend, etc. whenever a client may or may not be calling. That's just rude. I'm guessing they won't always call from a number you recognize, hence every call means cutting whomever off.....even a potential new client during a meeting! The recent post "8 things you should include in your terms of service agreement" goes into this. I'm all for different approaches, but seriously, the 24/7 part of this post seems clearly optimistic, rather than informed. It should, in contrast, present the possible and obvious setbacks of that approach, and hence point out a real scenario, not just the good bits, so as to pomote an informed decision, not a biased one. http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/8-things-you-should-include-in-your-terms-of-service-agreement/ Other than that, I did like the read, very much, as it does point out one of our major issues (and good solutions) and objectives, "reeling in th big ones". I think Dixyt and Vernon have got it. Being there alll the time, as a freelancer, also shows how much in need of a job you are. and when you promise 2+ clients this, calls can get simultaneous and hence you will have lied to someone. Also, you should not throw the phone down on your spouse, mother, friend, etc. whenever a client may or may not be calling. That’s just rude. I’m guessing they won’t always call from a number you recognize, hence every call means cutting whomever off…..even a potential new client during a meeting!

The recent post “8 things you should include in your terms of service agreement” goes into this. I’m all for different approaches, but seriously, the 24/7 part of this post seems clearly optimistic, rather than informed. It should, in contrast, present the possible and obvious setbacks of that approach, and hence point out a real scenario, not just the good bits, so as to pomote an informed decision, not a biased one.

http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/8-things-you-should-include-in-your-terms-of-service-agreement/

Other than that, I did like the read, very much, as it does point out one of our major issues (and good solutions) and objectives, “reeling in th big ones”.

]]> By: Kevin http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/#comment-23764 Kevin Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:46:48 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1033#comment-23764 Just landed my first corporate client, and here's what the project manager told me was his #1 Priority "Communication. If you can't meet a suggested deadline on a new assignment, no sweat. Just talk to me and let me know so I can assign it to someone who can get it done" He asked for responses within 24hours, and a 24 hr turn around on tiny little tasks. It's very apparent that the management likes having a pool of freelancers that can give them very speedy and high quality customer service, rather than dishing out $ for full time employees or dealing with a sluggish agency. Just landed my first corporate client, and here’s what the project manager told me was his #1 Priority

“Communication. If you can’t meet a suggested deadline on a new assignment, no sweat. Just talk to me and let me know so I can assign it to someone who can get it done”

He asked for responses within 24hours, and a 24 hr turn around on tiny little tasks. It’s very apparent that the management likes having a pool of freelancers that can give them very speedy and high quality customer service, rather than dishing out $ for full time employees or dealing with a sluggish agency.

]]> By: jasfy.com http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/#comment-23445 jasfy.com Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:44:27 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1033#comment-23445 Listen to them and tell the boss that their ideas sucks:) Listen to them and tell the boss that their ideas sucks:)

]]> By: Jeffrey Way http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/#comment-23359 Jeffrey Way Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:52:26 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1033#comment-23359 @mcnuggets and @banago - Thanks...I agree completely. The fact is, you could be the best designer in the world....but if you're customer service skills suck (not returning emails/calls, etc), they won't work with you. @mcnuggets and @banago – Thanks…I agree completely. The fact is, you could be the best designer in the world….but if you’re customer service skills suck (not returning emails/calls, etc), they won’t work with you.

]]> By: BANAGO http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/#comment-23355 BANAGO Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:58:17 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1033#comment-23355 Customer Service, very good point. Thanks! Customer Service, very good point. Thanks!

]]> By: Jeffrey Way http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/you-vs-the-design-firms-how-to-win-every-time/#comment-23320 Jeffrey Way Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:11:59 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=1033#comment-23320 @Benek - I agree with you. ..And as we said in earlier comments, accepting phone calls in the middle of the night is more of a concept than a reality. The reason that I focused on the customer service aspect more than quality of the work is because, large and expensive design firms do exquisite work. It would be hard to gain an edge over them in at respect. But obviously, customer service is just one tool to work with. There are many ways to stand out. @Benek – I agree with you. ..And as we said in earlier comments, accepting phone calls in the middle of the night is more of a concept than a reality.

The reason that I focused on the customer service aspect more than quality of the work is because, large and expensive design firms do exquisite work. It would be hard to gain an edge over them in at respect.

But obviously, customer service is just one tool to work with. There are many ways to stand out.

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