Being a freelancer comes with many perks. You can work the hours you want, make your schedule, and choose the type of clients to work with. But like any other career path, freelancing also has a downside. Overcoming challenges as a freelancer is never easy, but for most people, it is worth it. Although there are several flexibilities in freelancing, the toughest challenge is to meet different clients’ expectations.

Your buyers are the salvation of your company, so it’s crucial to make them happy with your work. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for keeping your clients satisfied with your service. However, it is 19 times easier to keep an existing client than to find a new one, so let’s focus on making this a priority. In this blog, we will cover some tips for keeping your freelancing clients happy:

1. Ask for Feedback

Don’t hesitate to ask your client for feedback through a review or short survey of your work. When asking, let them know that getting feedback will help you improve your services so you can better serve them. Doing so will make them more inclined to give you an honest review of your services.

If you have multiple clients, you can use automation tools to help you optimize your time and gather feedback without putting in additional effort. Something as simple as a Google Survey can get you the feedback you need to continue to keep your client happy. The very process of just sending the survey shows your clients that you care.

2. Always Meet Your Deadlines

It should work without telling that once you promise a client that you will complete your tasks on a specific date, you should prepare yourself to deliver them on or before the deadline. Sticking to your promise is a thing of respect. If you will not honor the deadlines you’ve set, how will your clients feel? It will make them feel unimportant, and probably make them want to end their contract with you.

Even if you have several clients, always make each client feel like they are your top client. Meeting their deadline is one of the easiest ways to show them your appreciation of their business. It means that you are a reliable partner, and clients will trust you to do their future projects.

3. Go the Extra Mile

In some instances, a client who’s happy with your services will offer to expand the scope of your work. If you do not own the skills required to do the additional task, that’s okay. You can ask your client to give you time and resources to develop your talent.

If you do not own the credit for an extra workload, suggest to your client to hire another freelancer who is adept at doing the job. If you can pull this off, you won’t have to wonder how to make money freelancing.

Your buyer will enjoy your honesty and your initiative to solve the problem for them. Going the extra mile helps retain your client for a long time. However, be careful not to overpromise the client by taking work that you can’t do. It can lead to burnout, and eventually, force your client to terminate the contract if you fail to keep your promises.

4. Set Client Expectations

A freelancer’s working hours are quite unsteady compared to the schedule of full-time employees. For many freelancers, this flexibility in time is ideal; however, it also comes with the responsibility of setting your client’s expectations on your schedule of work and days off.

Keep in mind that if your clients work during regular office hours, they will expect you to be available within this time frame. This situation is real for those who work as virtual assistants to company CEOs and entrepreneurs. Most CEOs want their remote assistants to have the same working time as them to make communication faster.

If you’re not willing to work during their office hours, don’t commit to the job and find another client who’s okay with a flexible schedule.

There are times when a client contacts you in the wee hours of the night or during weekends and holidays. If you don’t work during these days and times, kindly inform your clients ahead and reply to their messages immediately once you get back. Letting your clients understand when you are available and unavailable to work shows that you respect their time, and they will also do the same to you.

5. Update Your Client Regularly

During the early stages of your project, you might have discussed your communication plan with your client. It should give you an idea of when or how often you need to update your client on the progress of your work.

It nevermore damages to be extra diligent in keeping clients posted about what you’re doing. Many companies are skeptical when hiring freelancers because of the lack of commitment as compared to in-house employees. Thus, showing them that you’re engaged in their project and keeping them updated eliminates this pain point.

6. Make Your Clients Happy Now!

Working off-site has a lot of perks, but you have the responsibility to put your 100% best to serve your clients. Treat them the way you want them to treat you. If you’re going to earn their trust, take note of the following: don’t miss deadlines, upgrade your skills, and keep your communication lines open.