What I don’t want in a client.

After over ten years as a freelancer, here’s what I don’t want in a client.

Sometimes you get early warning signs, and sometimes you don’t find out until the contract is signed.

One of the biggest red flags that I hear is usually… tried that it didn’t work.

Tried content for a couple of weeks, didn’t get any leads - gave up.

(After two weeks).

Invested in social media marketing and branding, didn’t get any new work, gave up.

Or

When they say, can you prove the results you create? How can you guarantee I’ll get this thing (be you’ve heard this designers if you’ve ever talked ROI with a client).

Or they just don’t even bother to respond back to you.

You spend hours on a beautiful proposal and hours on sales meetings and the client just decides ‘oh well, bad timing, too expensive, I just won’t bother emailing back’.

Or they say how long will it take to see a result?

We have to hold our clients to a higher standard and hold them accountable.

Or maybe we just have to spot the warning signs earlier.

Excuses, know it alls, I can do that myselfs.

I already know about branding and marketing, I’ve spent ten years selling ice to Eskimo’s.

As a freelancer, I’ve built up a bit of an idea of what I don’t want in a client over the years, and I hope this list might help you avoid some crummy situations too.

A red flag client blames everyone else and doesn’t take responsibility for themselves.

They ask a lot of questions about your pricing and why they ‘need’ all that stuff.

They try and talk you down on price (which is totally unprofessional and the first warning sign you should look out for).

They will try and tell you how to do your job (even though you’ve been a designer for years and years).

They are skeptical and don’t trust you - and criticise and question everything you say.

They keep you awake all night, worrying about that next text message or next round of changes they want.

This is what we don’t want, because - life is too short.

Your business is your business.

You went out on your own to stop taking crap from others.

Work with good people who believe in you and believe the same things you do.

It’s the only way.