How to Be a Dream Client
If you are a client, chances are you have a list of what makes a good freelancer. You must know that freelancers do have a list too and it is worthy asking yourself if you make that list. Why is it important to be a dream client? Simple. You can get the best results from your freelance worker. If you’re clueless to this secret list many freelancers keep, it is now time to take a peek.
What Makes You a Dream Client?
1. Get Real
Not only should you communicate your expectations clearly, but you should make these real and achievable. Many clients don’t know what they need or how long it will take for the job to be done. You can always ask.
2. Pay It Fair
Read any freelancer’s forum and you’ll see endless rants on getting peanuts for hard work. No one complains about cutting costs, so long as you know how to pay the rate someone really deserves. Are you paying way too low from the usual market rate? Think of it this way, someone who is paid low will get more work that makes him/her lose focus on your project. As the saying goes, you’ll get what you paid for.
3. Be On Time
Keep in mind that you don’t own all of a freelancer’s time, as he/she may be busy with multiple projects. Don’t be late on meetings and always communicate in any way possible. Being on time also means paying on time. If you have bills to pay, same goes with a freelancer. Nothing can be more frustrating than waiting ( to talk to you, to get paid, etc. ).
4. Give Credit
A dream client knows when to give credit, where it is due. Although it is not always possible to give authorship to your freelancer, even a simple note of appreciation goes a long way.
5. Respect Time
You may have something urgent for your worker who lives thousands of miles away from you and you give him a call at midnight in his time zone. Respect your freelancer’s time for work and play; they are humans, not robots.
6. Listen and Trust
Freelancers work well when trusted to do their jobs well. This is a fact. You need to listen to their suggestions, as they know what works best and what doesn’t. Never commit the grave sin of asking for shortcuts. Freelancers take pride in their work and they want to give you quality results.
7. Give Constructive Feedback
No one can please you all the time and if you’re not satisfied with the work, give a constructive criticism and be detailed about it. This will make the job easier, where freelancers understand what you really need.
8. Create a Bond
This has nothing to do with written contracts, but building a lasting relationship with your freelancers. The next time you have something new, you don’t have to look for someone else to do the work.
When experts say that the trend of outsourcing is all about getting added value, being a dream client means just getting that.
Do you have what it takes to be a dream client? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
The Vendor Client Relationship – in Real World Situations
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