What does a freelancer’s client fear and how to overcome it?

In freelance, establishing good relationships with a client is a key success factor. Successful freelancers know that mutual understanding and trust are the basis for long-term and pleasant cooperation. Julia Bataltseva, marketing director of EasyStaff, the developer of EasyStart service, which helps freelancers to work with clients from other countries, tells us how to communicate effectively with the customer to gain their trust and create productive relationships.

Tip: Provide the customer with relevant information about your experience and previous successful projects to show your proficiency and reliability. Perhaps offer a small test project or start with a small portion of the job so the customer can see your devotion.

You should also point out that all of your experience should not just be put forward in words or leave the customer alone with your experience ("check out my portfolio"). Instead, provide precise links and clarifications, like "Here is the work similar to yours, and here are small projects I’m particularly proud of."

Although the quality of work is very important, the ideal performer delivers quality products consistently on time. Therefore, in addition to describing your skills, tell how you are able to meet deadlines and that your work doesn’t require double-checking.

Tip: Show the client examples of your work so he can evaluate your quality and proficiency. Discuss his expectations and project requirements in detail to have a clear understanding of his expectations. Pay attention to details and offer your ideas to enhance the quality of the project.

However, it is important to remember that the quality of work, i.e. definitions of "good" and "bad," should be noted down and recorded on paper. For example, as a section of a contract or a supplemental agreement. If the requirements are fixed and spelled out in detail, the work will be easier. On the one hand, because the parties will understand exactly what is possible and impossible to do. On the other hand, the client and the contractor will have something to appeal to when discussing results.

Even the moment you apply for a project, it is crucial to show a client that you understand what needs to be done and you know how to do it. So, the offer description should outline how work will be done, thus proving that you the perfect contractor for the task.

Tip: Emphasize your desire for long-term cooperation and problem solving. Be open and communicative in case things don’t go smoothly. Maintain regular communication and proactively discuss potential problems so that the customer can see that you are willing to work on improving and resolving conflicts.

One way to ensure your complete dedication to your client is using an escrow account for payment. An escrow account is a notional account where money is until a project is finished. For example, a freelancer can only get paid when their client decides that the order has been fulfilled. This way, the customer will be assured that the money is still on his side and that such an escrow platform will be an important lever in dealing with the freelancer.

Tip: Explain to the customer the benefits of working with an experienced freelancer and how it can bring them more value. Point out your proficiency, industry knowledge, and ability to solve complex problems. At the same time, show flexibility and willingness to find compromises to satisfy both parties.

Money is a delicate issue. It’s important not to devalue yourself and stick to your chosen price tag. Damping in negotiations for the client can mean only that you are way less expensive than you claim you are. At the same time, if you are really interested in the order, you can discuss the scope of work. For example, for such a cost you are able to build a website but not write blogs for it. Then you could stop only on the site development, and smaller projects can be dedicated to a less expensive contractor.

Tip: Establish transparency and clarity in your work. Make sure the client fully understands the limitations and terms of your collaboration. Protect confidentiality and don’t disclose information that could be harmful to the client’s interests. Trust is built on honesty and reliability, so maintain high standards of ethics in your work.

Just as with the level of quality, an NDA will help in this matter. By signing an NDA, the parties agree not to disclose business information. You can specify how long the contractor is not allowed to work with the client’s competitors in the NDA.

The way you request payment and process it on your end is a major factor in the experience that your client gets with you. The payment terms you offer should be convenient and safe, requiring as little action on behalf of the payer as possible.

You may want to use EasyStart, the freelancer payment service. All you need to do to get money from your client, wherever in the world they may be, is to send them a payment link. On your end, you can request money directly from your clients or receive it straight to your card or bank account.

EasyStart generates closing documents for you so you can send them straight to your client and to officially declare your income. EasyStart makes requesting and receiving payments from all over the world easy and safe, helping you stand out from the rest of remote freelancers.

Here’s a quick recap of the major points made in the article.

• Freelancers don't want to be paid for their work too cheaply or not at all. Likewise, clients don't want to pay more than the work is really worth.
• Clients are afraid that freelancers may leave the project in case of conflicts or work with competitors. To avoid these concerns, performers should be flexible and willing to conclude additional agreements that protect business information.
• In most cases a client is a legal entity for whom closing documents are extremely important. Checks and invoices must comply with his company's cost accounting policies. Therefore, it is important to be flexible and provide such documents.
• EasyStart is a secure way to request and receive payments from any client worldwide. Likewise, it is easy to use for clients themselves. EasyStart can help freelancers to invoice in dollars or euros and get paid from any place in the world.

Last but not least, mutual understanding and trust with your client is essential for successful freelancing. Follow these tips to build a strong communication where your client is confident in your abilities and wants to work with you long-term. Once you are able to build trust in your business relationship, you secure your success for many projects to come.

If you are ready to make your payment processes seamless, join EasyStart now.

https://medium.com/@easystaff/what-does-a-freelancers-client-fear-and-how-to-overcome-it-d67aecc55efc