How to deal with “tricky” freelance clients
Recognize a potential problem before it occurs.
Some people say freelancing is great because you can work from everywhere. You’re sitting on a beach, your thoughts are getting lost somewhere over the horizon while inspiration comes to you naturally because you are finally relaxed.
In reality, freelancing is more about sitting uncomfortably on the couch, typing with one hand, and eating a sandwich with the other because you’re approaching your deadline(s).
But you still love the job because you are addicted to getting the projects closed, making your clients happy and payments released.
I started my freelance writing career on Elance, and then continued my work on Upwork. Over 8 years, I worked with many different clients.
Just like in any other job, some of the people I worked with were great while others were a bit difficult. One thing is sure — I learned a lot from all of them.
Specifically, I learned how to recognize a potential problem before it occurs and how to deal with it without getting frustrated. And now I want to share that experience with you.
- People don’t always know what they want
Just because someone posted elaborate job description, it doesn’t mean they know what they want. Usually, it goes like this: you find a job, it sounds perfect, and you apply. Then the client asks for a video call, or they start a chat.
In 8 years, I learned how to protect my time. I also learned that clients who can’t write what they need in the form of a simple email usually don’t know what they want.
This doesn’t mean they are bad people; it just means they want to do something, but they don’t have a clear vision.
You, on the other hand, as a freelancer, need clarity. You need clear guidelines from your client to do your job well.
How to deal with them: Video chats and calls are great. However, I always suggest you ask your freelance clients to write an email with their specific needs before you have a call. Those who are serious will do it easily, while clients who are not really sure about what they want will immediately give up. It may seem like you lost a potential client, but you actually saved your most valuable asset — your time.
I also learned that clients who can’t write what they need in the form of a simple email usually don’t know what they want.
2. People will try to get more for less
You work for money.
Everyone does, so what’s the big deal? Well, sometimes, freelance clients will try to take advantage of you, even though you have a contract.
In the past, some of the clients I worked with asked me to do more edits for free. They also asked if I could write longer articles for the same price. This can be a serious waste of your time.
How to deal with them: Just like your clients have clear guidelines, you need to be clear about what you offer for a certain price. That includes the number of edits after the work is done, the length of articles, images, etc.
However, you need to know how to balance between protecting your time and being too strict. The last thing you want to do is turn a good client away.
Listen to your gut. If you feel like the client is asking too much, turn them down politely and explain that you will have to charge them for the additional work.
One of the best strategies is to be polite and honest with your clients.
3. People disappear
It can be really frustrating when you work for someone, and they just disappear. Unfortunately, this is one of the downsides of freelancing that you can’t control.
When you have a steady job, your office can’t disappear (at least not in this dimension). You go to meetings, talk to other employees, receive information on a daily basis.
But when you are a freelancer, you usually don’t know what’s happening in your client’s life. While this is not an excuse for getting ignored, you need to show understanding and patience for unexpected situations that can happen to everyone.
And you should never, ever, react aggressively, no matter what happened.
How to deal with them: If a client is not responding, try to contact them via their private email. Ask them if everything is okay and note that you are worried because you haven’t heard from them in a while.
If you are working on a platform like Upwork, always ask a client to deposit the funds into an escrow before you start working for them. This way, you can contact Upwork to release the funds in case the client disappears.
Also, make sure you check their reviews on Upwork (and similar platforms) before you accept the offer. If a client has a history of getting bad reviews from freelancers, it probably means you should pass.
But if you don’t have this type of security, all you can do is to be patient. In 8 years, only a few people stopped responding to my emails, but they eventually came back.
You should never, ever, react aggressively, no matter what happens.
Finally, if you have a bad feeling about the client who keeps disappearing, you can always send them an email and explain politely why you can’t work for them anymore.
Remember that you don’t owe your clients (or your bosses, HR, or any management in this world) anything. If you feel like your work or time are not getting enough respect, wish them luck and close the job like a professional.
