10 Ways Reliable Freelancers Keep Their Clients Happy

To maintain a profitable career as a freelancer, you need regular contracts. One of the pitfalls of freelancing is sporadic work. Another is losing clients.

To avoid either situation you need to be able to demonstrate you are trustworthy and reliable. Here’s how successful freelancers do just that…

**1. They hit their deadlines**. One sure way to lose work and get a reputation for being unreliable is to miss deadlines. There really is no excuse. As a freelancer, you’re there to provide solutions for your clients; missing deadlines means you’re creating problems. If you can’t deliver work on time then it’s a sign you’re just not cut out for a freelance career, and your customers won’t hesitate to let you know by voting with their feet.

**2. They focus on quality**. Take pride in your work. As a freelancer, a reputation for reliability depends on high levels of quality and consistency. It might be tempting to rush through a tiresome job, especially if there’s something less laborious or more lucrative to move on to, but remember that present and future clients will judge you by the work you do. Don’t let your standards slip.

**3. They stick to the brief**. Remember, the customer is always right. That means doing what they want, not what you think they need. By all means use your initiative, but don’t stray from the original brief without getting approval from the client.

**4. They stay available**. You need to be there for your clients when they need you, so return their phone calls and reply to their emails as promptly as possible. Instant messaging and screen-sharing apps can also help with communication.

**5. They’re accommodating**. The last thing your clients want to hear from you is “no can do”. Try to be as flexible as possible. You’ll win more contracts if customers know they can rely on you to carry out jobs at short notice or work under tight deadlines.

**6. They’re proactive**. Contact your customers with ideas for solving problems. If you see something is wrong, offer to fix it. If you see gaps, offer to fill them. Take ownership of the projects you work on and liaise with your clients to make them as successful as possible.

**7. They’re low maintenance**. Make sure you know what the job involves and what you’ll need to carry it out before you start. If you’re unsure of anything, make sure you raise your queries when you’re getting the brief. Inevitably, you will have questions along the way, but your client won’t appreciate it if you’re always pestering them instead of working on your own initiative.

**8. They make sure they’re worth the fee**. You have to offer your customers good value. You have every right to quote fees commensurate with your skills and experience, but if you are charging more than competitors, then you have to deliver more than they can.

**9. They ask for feedback and take it on board**. When you’ve completed a job, talk to your clients to gauge their level of satisfaction. Don’t be too proud to ask if there’s anything you could have done better. But also ask if there’s anything they’re especially happy with. You can then use their feedback to raise your levels of quality, reliability and consistency.

**10. They go the extra mile**. Once you’ve delivered on the contract, you don’t have to leave it there. There might be aspects of the project that need adjusting or maintaining periodically. Making yourself available to take care of these tasks and to answer any queries that might arise will strengthen your reputation and credentials among your client base.