21/08/2023
Building a Good Client-Freelancer Relationship.
As a freelancer, it's essential to take into account certain factors in order to have a successful career in freelancing. However, I'd like to focus on discussing the process of cultivating a robust freelancer-client relationship.
I often see digital marketers placing a strong emphasis on customer acquisition, while frequently neglecting to address the significance of customer retention.
One thing I find common amongst the majority of freelancers I have seen in the digital space is that they fail to realize that client retention is very much more important than client acquisition.
Ever since I became a freelancer, I have learned by experience that it is very important to build a good freelancer-client relationship, and I will tell you how.
Once, due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn't meet an agreement with a client. But I apologized. Fast forward 6 months later, I applied at a tech startup where I had a friend on the board responsible for worker appointments. He informed me that one of the board members said they shouldn't hire me because she believed I wasn't competent enough for the job. Interestingly, when I tried to find out who this person was, it turned out to be the woman I had worked with earlier.
One thing you, as a freelancer, should always keep in the forefront of your mind is that every client is a potential influencer for your freelance business. And when I say 'Every client is a potential influencer for your freelance business,' it applies to both the positive and negative aspects of it.
Do a good job and you'll see that person bringing everyone they know who wants a service in line with what you do to you. I would love to say it in the Nigerian way: 'Give Emeka, give Emeka; he sabi do the job well well, I trust am.' Similarly, do a bad job and they will block potential customers from coming to you. 'That guy no sabi do anything; him go fail you ooo.
Another thing I'd like to address is this: You are a freelancer, and your phone is always on 'do not disturb' mode. So, how do you manage to communicate with your active clients or potential clients? Do you turn off your data after posting because you want to conserve it and make it last? How do they even reach you online? Keep in mind that not everyone is a fan of chatting; some of them prefer hopping on a call with you.
You get clients once, and after that, they don't come back. You wonder why? it's definitely because you didn't provide them with the best level of service.
Lastly, always bear in mind that 'As a freelancer, you don't have a business when ten people patronize you once, you have a business when one person patronizes you ten times.' They keep coming back because you offer value and they trust you.
And how do you get to this level? By being reliable, honest (which is integrity), delivering quality whenever you're called upon by a client, maintaining good communication with your clients, and treating them nicely.