Becoming a work-from-home mom opens up a whole new world to you. Depending on your previous work experience, you may already have a decent grasp of how to deal with clients in a professional way. However, there's a very good chance that you've never really had to do anything like this in the past. Even if you dabbled in customer service in your previous lines of work, there's something unique about being a freelancer. In order to move up in the world, you're going to have to learn how to deal effectively with clients; the following advice is bound to help.
Cool Off before You Respond
The vast majority of the communication that you're going to do with clients will probably be via email. As a result, there is never any excuse for "blowing up" or being rude to a client. Even on the phone, you should be able to refrain from getting too hot under the collar; if you do get angry, you should be able to control it. With all of that said, the key thing to do when you receive an email that angers you is to walk away for a few minutes. Do not respond immediately. Take the time to cool down first.
Consider the Client's Point of View
If a client is upset with you, it's natural to get on the defensive. After all, it's hard not to take things personally. A great way to develop a thicker skin is by learning to see thing from the client's point of view. How would you like it if someone promised you one thing and delivered you something different? If you are late with an assignment, you should be able to see why it upsets your client. Keep cool and remember to put yourself in their shoes.
Accept Constructive Criticism
There's a huge difference between rude, unnecessary comments and constructive criticism. In the beginning, though, many work-from-home moms have a hard time telling the two apart. Clients are paying you to do specific things for them. If your work isn't up to par, or if there are ways that you could improve it, they are in the right to let you know. In fact, you should be happy when a client offers constructive criticism; it probably means that he plans to work with you over the long haul!
Protect Yourself and Get Paid
A huge pitfall that you absolutely must avoid is not getting paid for the work that you do. The great thing about working through a site like Textbroker is that you are automatically protected. If you decide to work with clients directly, though, you need to set up a system that will minimize your risk. It's not unusual at all to ask for half of the money upfront. If you are completing an especially high-paying assignment, you might even want to look into an escrow-style service. Don't assume that everyone will make good on their promises, because it's not easy to get the money when someone doesn't want to pay it.
Maintain a Professional Demeanor
There is nothing wrong with being a laid-back person. In fact, many clients may like that personality trait. However, you really should make sure to maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Clients feel more confident about a freelancer's abilities when they seem professional and courteous. Resist the urge to be too goofy or silly; never add clients as friends on social networking sites like Facebook, either, where you could accidentally offend them. As far as your clients are concerned, you should be a professional and capable person.
Go the Extra Mile
You definitely don't want to give away your hard work for free. At the same time, though, you should be willing to accommodate clients in some cases. If you miss the ball and completely goof up an assignment, for instance, you should be willing to rectify the situation without charge. Don't offer freebies, but be willing to go the extra mile to make things better. Walking away from a mess that you have created is the worst thing that you can do. An unhappy client will probably spread the word about their experience, so be careful.
Always Provide Top-Notch Work
It's sometimes tempting to reserve your best work for the clients who pay the most. That can backfire, though, and can keep you from moving up in the world. You should always give 110 percent, whether you are working on a huge, high-paying assignment or a once-off, low-paying job. You never know when a seemingly small-time client will turn around and reward you with a ton of high-paying work. It's smart to never burn any bridges; returning mediocre work definitely qualifies as bridge burning, so always do your absolute best.
Keep in Touch
You know how busy you are? Most of your clients are extremely busy, too. It's all too easy for them to forget about you in a week or two. That's why it pays to send occasional emails to them to remind them about you. You don't have to straight-up ask them for work, but there's nothing really wrong with that. You could just send quick, friendly reminders that you are available to help. Many times, though quick notes result in a deluge of really great, steady work. Either way, the minimal amount of effort that's required is more than worth it.
Just as you are working from home to make a living, your clients are trying to run their own businesses, too. They want everything to go smoothly. The smoother that you make things go the happier you will make your clients. Building up a solid base of great clients takes time; keeping them happy takes dedication and commitment. The rewards for all of those efforts, though, can be absolutely fantastic. From time to time, reread the preceding advice so that it stays fresh in your memory. After a while, it will all come naturally to you and you'll be on your way to a truly amazing work-from-home career!