Clients is an important term in our freelancing career. First of all we need to know what is client? Client are those who provide us work and gives us a bunch of instruction and change their mind in several times! First section "provide work" means they are the owner/buyer of our work and they will open a way to earn money by work for them.

Secondly, " Give a bunch of work" refers, they will provide you a list of tasks and some sort of instruction how to reach their demand. I'm not saying all clients do that so! Some clients are really good on their requirements and they know how to instruct their worker/contractors to reach their desired goal. This type of client called decent clients and they are really a good one who can motivate your work and improve your freelancing career.

In another hand, some clients are really "unaware/frustrated" on their demand. They change their mind several times on project session and try to experiment their ideas through you and your times. Such type of clients really bad for us and I would like to say just stay out of them. They will make your life hell!

I'm not trying to disappoint you or hurt any client. Client have right to change their minds and working plan. But as a freelancer you don't forget about your time value. Some clients really insist you to do their changes free of costs! That's really pathetic and unprofessional attitude. If you face issue like this, then you must notify your client and asked to pay for your extra working hours.  Believe me , It's not illegal. Some freelancer think that, if he/she ask money for his extra work then client will be angry with them and revoke their jobs!

Ha ha...... If you want to be a professional then you must do it. Because, when you doing any work for your clients, then you invest your talent, powers and valuable instruments like Laptop/printer/mobile etc. So, never underestimate your resources :) As well as you should keep in mind that, you never ask any thing to your client in unprofessional way.

Hopefully now you got a short idea about clients, their type and how to behave with your clients. Lets move for the details.

1. You should present your ideas and work smartly:

That's the primary key of your project success. Lets share an example with your. Suppose you are in a restaurant and you have ordered some delicious foods. When service boy  serve food in-front of you what should you notice first? Try to remember.... Ummm.. I think it must be the look and feel of dish presentation. Am I right buddy? Great. What happen - human psychology told that, "people pick those things too fast, which look attractive and gorgeous".

As a developer/designer you should keep this term in your mind, when you get any kind of project like design or development, first of all you should analyze your client requirements/demands, then you present your own ideas in smart way like present a wonderful dish in-front you customer with awesome look and feel. If you do that, then you client must appropriate your attitude of your work. I this time, you also remember , if you are working with some non-technical guys then you try to explain all sort of your ideas in General way. Don't use to much technical terms with them when you share you ideas.

2. Be clear about client requirements:

Second key term is "working scope awareness". Before starting any kind of job in real world, you should know each and every single point of working scope in your project. If you do so, then you can avoid thousands of problem in project session. It's true that, Clients are bound to answer your questions . But keep in mind "asking too much question is bad for your impression". It means, You will never ask any question that relate with basic concepts of your project work. Keep them posted about critical parts and try to pick information how will like they implement their ideas. After getting information from them you can share your own ideas.

It would be the best, if you can make a contract sheet (NDA) and write all your working scope in them. It will help you when client demand extra any thing that's not listed in your contract work lists.  Most of the times designer have faced such type of issues and they really fall in a false position. So, Make sure you are clear all requirement from your clients.

3. Portfolio should represent yourself and your business:

As a freelancer like designer/programmer , you should have a portfolio website. There are lots of template/demos around internet and from them you can learn how to make your portfolio website. Portfolio means , you should gather all information about your self and your working skill in a single place. As a result client can get an overview about your self , your business and your working skill. Personally, I'm a full time web developer and part time designer.

That's why it's very much important for me to create an portfolio website, when i feel that, I'd created a nice and simple portfolio website and send links to my honorable clients. You can't imagine it help me a lot to get my job quickly in oDesk.com. I want to mean , client love to see a portfolio website before assign a job. So, don't take lightly "portfolio website" term. If you are a developer or designer than don't get late to create a portfolio website. You can check following links for get an idea how to develop a portfolio website.

• Get 21 free portfolio templates psd

• Improve your portfolio site with 18 jQuery scripts

4. Keep patience when you are working with non-tech clients:

Most of the times designer have face such type of clients. When you get non-tech client you should keep patience and try to explain them properly. They really have not much more idea how to implement or move project properly. That's why you should advice or share your ideas in a decent way just like you teach a children. In the project session, there are a lot of situation arises when we should keep your mind cool and try to convince client. In my last post I'd shared some of my working experience.

Today I'm going to share my idea with my client when i was worked as a designer. I'd got a foreign client who search a designer. I'm not too much geek in design but have sound knowledge in Photoshop. I'd started my work and you don't believe that he gave me  lot's of pain in working session :( But at the end of the work i realize that I'd learn a lot from my last project and also earned money.  What my tricks, I'd just keep my patience and always try to hear his ideas. At the end of the I was rewarded for my patience. So, Don't forget about "patience in work".

5. Don't Run for the money , work for quality:

Clients love to get quality work . When you provide them quality work then you never think about your payment/reward. Some people in freelancing think that, they can work for money! After few day's they feel their weakness. When you only work for the money then you loose you concentration from work quality. As a result , your client get a lot of fault from your work and can't feel interest to release your payment.

When you start any work only for few seconds ,just think  like a client.  If you act like a client then you can evaluate your project personally and it will help you to provide quality work. Ya, it's true that, we all work for money. But if you run behind the money then it will disappoint you very soon. So, you should put more emphasis in your work quality.

That's all for today. I hope my tips will help you to avoid disastrous situation with your clients. Don't forget to put your valuable comments in comments area.

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