One of the reasons you struck out on your own as a freelancer was to avoid being micromanaged to death by a boss. So the last thing you want are problem clients.
That’s not to say you don’t mind doing whatever it takes to keep a client happy. And deliver a final project you’re both happy with. But there’s a big difference between “working with” a client and “being controlled by” one, right?
We’ve all heard the stories about these kinds of clients. Ones who ask you to revise a 500-word blog post five times. Ones who demand daily meetings on projects that really only need a weekly check-in.
That’s a lot of stress and aggravation you just don’t need in your freelance business. Taken individually, these red flags are okay to deal with. However, if you notice a few of them piling up in your conversations with a prospect, they may signal a client who will be difficult to work with. Proceed with caution.
Red Flag #1: They show intense impatience
Yes, you should respond to prospect and client communication in a timely manner; nevertheless, if they send you five emails in an hour demanding a response, perhaps they’re not the client for you. Especially if you haven’t even signed a work agreement or contract yet.
If the client is like this before work starts, what will it be like on deadline day? I’ve declined a few prospective clients for this type of behavior, as I figured things would get much worse as we started to work together.
Red Flag #2: They complain about other freelancers
Use caution if a prospect complains that other freelancers they worked with just didn’t “get it.” Some clients think others around them don’t get it and become frustrated with them.
In this case, the previous freelancer probably did get it, but the work process didn’t mesh with the client’s. The client already had an idea as to the project direction, yet the freelancer took his or her own path to accomplish the end goal. Which is fine, except the client didn’t like it. The client also may be a perfectionist and felt it necessary to do the work personally for it to be done “right.”
Red Flag #3: They’ve got the solution and “just” need you
In my past life as a full-time manager, I tried banning the word just. That’s because anytime a request came through outside of our regular work process, it contained the word just:
- “We just need the resource for a day.” (Turned out to be a month-long project.)
- “Can you just take a quick look at this document and edit it for grammar?” (Turned into a complete rewrite of a 10-page document.)
The same thing happens with overly controlling prospects. They know exactly what they need for the project, how to achieve it, and “just” need someone to write/edit/whatever it.
Chances are your prospect is looking for someone to simply execute a project with no creativity or consultation. If that’s what you’re looking for, then you’re in luck. But if you’re looking for a project that will let you use your creativity, flexibility, and dynamic nature, look elsewhere.
Red Flag #4: They challenge every single decision you make
For some projects, prospects hire you precisely because you can do more than simply write. You’re a consultant, not just a writer. And they appreciate that you look at them and the project with a broader perspective.
However, if they start to challenge every single decision you make on the project, you may want to run in the other direction. That’s not to say that all clients who behave this way are problems. It’s possible they simply had a bad experience with a previous freelancer who didn’t follow the project specs and delivered something they weren’t expecting. It’s also possible a prospect is simply a contrarian who likes to argue with everyone.
Clients who challenge every single decision and then advise you to do it “their way” aren’t ready to work with a freelancer. They’re not ready to relinquish control of their project enough so that it gets done. Run away, my fellow freelancer. And run fast.
Red Flag #5: They love you, but don’t want to pay for the expertise
Some prospects may love you, your work, and your skill set; yet they don’t want to pay for it. They’ll criticize you (or use backhanded compliments) in an attempt to lower your rate. They understand creative people like you and your processes; however, they’re too cheap to pay full price.
They’ll say things like, “I really like what you’ve done on the project overall, but I’m unsure about a couple of things,” or “You may not have gotten exactly what we’re looking for, but you’re really close.”
Their schemes may have worked once or twice in the past, so they’ll continue to use them, hoping to save every last dollar.
Now you’re ready for them
We want our freelance business to be filled by easy-to-work-with clients who value us and our work, pay when they say they’ll pay, and generally make life easier for everyone, right? So use these five red flags and steer clear of problem clients to ensure calmer waters for your business.
Your turn. What red flags would you add to this list? Hit the comments and let me know.
