On the other hand, no one has your back if something goes wrong. There are no team members who can ensure that you are treated fairly or paid for your work. Raise your hand if a customer has ever left town without paying the bill. Yes, we see you!
This also extends to everyday tasks, such as onboarding into your client’s workflow. For example, working with an agency client and ending up in the middle of an unknown website. You don’t always get the benefit of a tour of how everything works.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed, and silence only makes the situation worse. The result is more stress and less money in your bank account. That’s not what freelancing is about.
The reality is that freelancers are usually on their own when it comes to advocacy. Here are some tips for standing up for yourself when things get tough.
Be clear about your policy from the start
The best way to avoid being taken advantage of is to be assertive from the start of your customer relationship. By setting the right boundaries, clients know what is important to you. The desired outcome is a mutual understanding of what is expected.
What types of boundaries should you sketch? You’ll find plenty of little (and not so little) items to interact with, including:
- Payment Policy: This also includes when and how you want to be paid for projects. Also be transparent about any transaction or late fees you charge.
- Lead time for project assets: Some clients have the habit of making project resources available the day before launch. One way to avoid such chaos is to communicate how much lead time you need. Also keep in mind that the project may be delayed if the materials are not delivered on time.
- Office hours: Do you like working 24/7? No, neither do we. Share your opening hours with customers and only respond to messages during this time. Not everything is an emergency.
- Things that cost extra: Every project has a scope within which it must remain. Make sure customers understand that out-of-scope items will incur additional charges.
- Your responsibilities: Modern web projects often require collaboration with third-party providers. Think of web hosting, content delivery networks and plugin developers. Inform customers of what you can and cannot do if there is a problem.
These items can be placed in contracts or even welcome guides. Clear documentation can make a difference. The more customers are informed in advance, the more likely they are to work within your policies.
Speak your mind when necessary
Even the most detailed contracts cannot cover every possible problem. The truth is that several problems can arise when working with clients.
You may not have the necessary resources to do your job. Or you receive conflicting instructions from interested parties. You may also be asked to perform tasks that are outside your expertise or service offering.
Such situations can be uncomfortable and unproductive. However, the more timid among us can try to just ‘get along’ and move on. This is a recipe for disaster. Eventually you’ll have to get things off your chest.
Why wait until then? Nip these problems in the bud by making your voice heard. Bring any concerns to your customer’s attention. Explain what is going on and/or what you need. Offer them actionable advice to solve the problem.
Just sharing your feelings will benefit your mental health. You will feel like the world has been lifted off your shoulders. It also keeps your focus on the task at hand, rather than the stress and anxiety.
We would like to believe that most customers will take your concerns seriously. We are all human and do not always realize the nature of what is happening. Most will want to make things right.
If they don’t listen, it’s a sign they’re not the right fit. All information is useful.
Freelancers have to take care of themselves
Freelance web designers face a special set of challenges, and there is no one to help us. If you’re not careful, you could find yourself in a series of bad customer relationships. From there it’s an uphill climb to maintain your sanity.
Seriously, it can take years to untangle yourself from such messes. In the meantime, you’ll struggle to make ends meet and miss out on better gigs.
That’s why self-defense is so important. We must set our own boundaries to prevent a rogue client from making life difficult. We must also maintain an open line of communication. This helps prevent small problems from becoming big problems.
Sure, it sounds like a heavy burden. On the other hand, it’s all in our hands. The key is finding the courage and decision to take care of ourselves.
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