🔥 Disrespectful Clients

Do you push through? Or fire them? [View & share this email from your browser]( Hey again! Have you ever had a client who just doesn't respect you? If so, you may want to listen to this: [Disrespectful Clients]( The real question is: when clients disrespect you should you [fire them]( or [power through]( I would love to hear your opinion [here](. 🔥 Also in this email: - 7 Types of Difficult Clients (& How to Avoid Them) [[LINK]( - 8 Quick tips to Improve Client Relationships Overnight [[LINK]( - 8 Tips for Setting Boundaries With Clients Respectfully [[LINK]( Preston & the Millo Team PS. Want to know why six-figure freelancers love [Moxie]( (formerly Hectic)? $20/month gets you everything you need to thrive as a freelancer. From contracts and proposals to client management and a ton more. [Start with a free trial](. [Moxie]( - Want to know why serious freelancers love Moxie? $20/month gets you everything you need to thrive as a freelancer. Contracts, proposals, project and client management, invoicing, time tracking, branded client portal, and a ton more. [Start your free trial now.]( 7 Types of Difficult Clients (& How to Avoid Them) As you build your freelance business, keep an eye out for these red-flag new clients: - Hagglers: Clients who constantly negotiate for lower prices or added work. Solution: Set realistic quotes and gently communicate that your prices are fixed. Charge what you're worth. - Undeciders: Clients who frequently request major revisions even after initial deliveries. Solution: Guide the client towards clear objectives, but consider charging for additional revisions if necessary. - Daydreamers: Clients with unrealistic expectations or demands that don't align with reality. Solution: Be upfront about what you can and cannot achieve. Avoid attempting the impossible and communicate limitations. - Gifters: Clients who believe you should provide a substantial discount due to the perceived value of their project. Solution: While it may make sense to temporarily lower rates for exciting opportunities, be cautious with clients who constantly expect discounts. - Ghosters: Clients who become unresponsive, causing delays in the project. Solution: Establish clear communication and set boundaries. Consider whether the relationship is worth continuing if the client can't adhere to reasonable schedules. - Controllers: Clients who micromanage every aspect of the project, often to the point of taking over. Solution: Manage their expectations and assert your expertise politely. Maintain control over the project to ensure your skills are utilized effectively. - Dodgers: Clients who evade payment or make excuses for delayed payments. Solution: Implement a payment schedule with a down payment to avoid payment issues. Be proactive in addressing payment concerns. For a deeper dive on each one of these, read [7 Types of Difficult Clients (& How to Avoid Them)]( "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning." —Bill Gates 8 Quick tips to Improve Client Relationships Overnight Freelancers who find and keep the best clients are the ones that know a thing or two about client relationships. Here are 8 tips that'll help you improve your client relations fast: - Use "We" Language: Instead of using singular pronouns like "you" or "I," use inclusive language such as "we" to foster a sense of collaboration and teamwork with clients. - Acknowledge Client Communications: Even if you can't immediately address a client's request, send a quick acknowledgment to let them know you received their message and will attend to it as soon as possible. - Learn Personal Details: Build personal connections with clients by learning and occasionally asking about their personal lives and interests. This strengthens your relationship and creates a more personalized experience. - Announce Vacations in Advance: Notify your active clients about upcoming vacations well in advance, allowing them to plan accordingly and preventing last-minute disruptions to your availability. - Avoid Blame in Confrontations: When facing misunderstandings or mistakes, avoid using accusatory language like "you." Instead, focus on resolving the issue collaboratively without assigning blame. - Treat Staff Well: Show respect and courtesy to all individuals involved in a project, including support staff and assistants. Treating everyone with respect reflects positively on your professionalism. - Listen Actively: Practice active listening when interacting with clients. Encourage them to share their thoughts, and make an effort to remember and refer to important details they've shared in previous conversations. - Smile When Answering the Phone: Maintain a friendly and positive demeanor when answering phone calls from clients. A simple smile can be heard in your voice and can make clients feel valued and important. For even more advice, read this: [8 Tips to Improve Client Relationships Overnight]( [SolidGigs](. Get freelance leads on autopilot. Expert gig-hunters match you with the top 1% of freelance jobs from dozens of premium sources. [Try Free](. 8 Tips for Setting Boundaries With Clients Respectfully - Ask questions before committing to a contract: Discuss all aspects of the contract, including guidelines and client expectations, before signing it to avoid future issues. - Use official channels of communication: Establish clear communication channels such as email, Zoom, Skype, or Slack and stick to them consistently. - Be prepared to walk away: Don't hesitate to decline projects that don't align with your goals and boundaries, but do so politely and respectfully. - Understand your priorities: Identify your personal and professional priorities to help you recognize client demands that may not align with your goals. - Enforce your boundaries consistently: Maintain consistency in enforcing your boundaries to gain respect and avoid confusion. - Respect your clients’ boundaries: Show respect for your clients' boundaries, just as you expect them to respect yours. - Understand that your boundaries will be challenged: Be prepared to address breaches in boundaries promptly to maintain a professional relationship. - Consider social media connections carefully: Decide whether to connect with clients on social media based on how you use your social pages and the potential benefits or drawbacks it may bring to your professional relationship. There's more to it which you can find here: [8 Tips for Setting Boundaries With Clients Respectfully]( Action Item: - Keep an eye out for bad-client red flags! - Have the courage to address difficult or disrespectful clients using the tactics in this email. You've got this! Whew! If you made it this far—thanks for sticking with us. See you in next week’s issue of 🔥 Freelance Fire. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( [YouTube]( [LinkedIn]( Copyright © 2023 Millo, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this newsletter at Millo.co (previously GraphicDesignBlender.com). Thanks for subscribing. Our mailing address is: Millo 265 N Main Street Ste. D #229Kaysville, UT 84037 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.