Comments on: The Freelancer’s Guide To Dealing With Non-Savvy Clients http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/ The Blog For Freelancers And Web-Workers Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:34:01 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Barry Pekin http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-14447 Barry Pekin Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:28:27 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=772#comment-14447 Awesome list! I've been known to vent with the best of them, but then I overhear others venting about customers like this and it feels wrong. So I'd like to add two more. Be Understanding: There are things out there that you don't know and that other people do. Wouldn't you be very appreciative if they took the time to let you know they understand and are willing to help? Be Patient: Sometimes that non-savvy client needs a little time to let things gel. In this situation, I like to let them know that I realize I've given them a lot to digest. I suggest we take a little time and get back together. During that time, I make myself available for informal questions and discussion. Awesome list!

I’ve been known to vent with the best of them, but then I overhear others venting about customers like this and it feels wrong. So I’d like to add two more.

Be Understanding: There are things out there that you don’t know and that other people do. Wouldn’t you be very appreciative if they took the time to let you know they understand and are willing to help?

Be Patient: Sometimes that non-savvy client needs a little time to let things gel. In this situation, I like to let them know that I realize I’ve given them a lot to digest. I suggest we take a little time and get back together. During that time, I make myself available for informal questions and discussion.

]]> By: Justin Lilly http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-14273 Justin Lilly Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:23:47 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=772#comment-14273 Daniel Will-Harris had a very interesting take on this by creating a nicely typeset document he gives to his client. http://www.will-harris.com/design/working-with-designers.html I thought it was an interesting read. Daniel Will-Harris had a very interesting take on this by creating a nicely typeset document he gives to his client.

http://www.will-harris.com/design/working-with-designers.html

I thought it was an interesting read.

]]> By: Andrea >> Become a consultant http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-14237 Andrea >> Become a consultant Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:18:04 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=772#comment-14237 People often look at infuriated clients and figure they're a lost cause. They think they should fire any clients who are upset. But it's easy to forget that the clients who get angry and tell everyone are the same clients who tell people when they're delighted. As you wrote in the article, sometimes those angry clients are the ones who are the most appreciative when their problems are solved. So, where it seems feasible, look to solve problems for your clients -- and encourage them to tell positive stories. People who get involved with you and your brand can often do a lot to build your business...even if they start off angry. People often look at infuriated clients and figure they’re a lost cause. They think they should fire any clients who are upset. But it’s easy to forget that the clients who get angry and tell everyone are the same clients who tell people when they’re delighted. As you wrote in the article, sometimes those angry clients are the ones who are the most appreciative when their problems are solved. So, where it seems feasible, look to solve problems for your clients — and encourage them to tell positive stories. People who get involved with you and your brand can often do a lot to build your business…even if they start off angry.

]]> By: 07/17/2008 Writing Jobs and Links : PoeWar.com Writer’s Resource Center http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-14134 07/17/2008 Writing Jobs and Links : PoeWar.com Writer’s Resource Center Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:02:40 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=772#comment-14134 [...] The Freelancer’s Guide To Dealing With Non-Savvy Clients by Abhijeet Mukherjee: Be Upfront, Communicate, Go The Extra Mile, Avoid The Technical Jargon [...] [...] The Freelancer’s Guide To Dealing With Non-Savvy Clients by Abhijeet Mukherjee: Be Upfront, Communicate, Go The Extra Mile, Avoid The Technical Jargon [...]

]]> By: Aaron Stannard http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-14076 Aaron Stannard Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:26:52 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=772#comment-14076 When I worked as a programming freelancer I found that giving my customers a literal picture of my ideas worked best. Seriously a good flowchart or graphic practically explains itself. How come you didn't add "give them a picture" this to your list of things to dealing with non-savvy clients? ;p When I worked as a programming freelancer I found that giving my customers a literal picture of my ideas worked best. Seriously a good flowchart or graphic practically explains itself. How come you didn’t add “give them a picture” this to your list of things to dealing with non-savvy clients? ;p

]]> By: Melek http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-14074 Melek Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:03:07 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=772#comment-14074 yep, the comments are dead on too. i guess it's all about patience. i just try to think of the really non-technical clients as my grandparents. Would i yell at Grandma or Grandpa? of course not...I'd explain it to them. That works well with really slow drivers too :) yep, the comments are dead on too. i guess it’s all about patience. i just try to think of the really non-technical clients as my grandparents. Would i yell at Grandma or Grandpa? of course not…I’d explain it to them. That works well with really slow drivers too :)

]]> By: alex awesome http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-14072 alex awesome Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:39:36 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=772#comment-14072 I've found that taking the time to explain things in layman's terms, and making sure the client is an essential and important part of the process (and that they know that) has earned me a pretty devoted and loyal following. It's my job to know all the jargon and tech stuff, not theirs. It literally pays to remember that :) Great tips, thank you! I’ve found that taking the time to explain things in layman’s terms, and making sure the client is an essential and important part of the process (and that they know that) has earned me a pretty devoted and loyal following. It’s my job to know all the jargon and tech stuff, not theirs. It literally pays to remember that :)

Great tips, thank you!

]]> By: Abhijeet Mukherjee http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-14064 Abhijeet Mukherjee Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:18:58 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=772#comment-14064 That's right Liam and Jon. Trust and reassurance are important ingredients for a good and meaningful communication with your clients. That’s right Liam and Jon. Trust and reassurance are important ingredients for a good and meaningful communication with your clients.

]]> By: Jon Phillips http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-14062 Jon Phillips Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:07:57 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=772#comment-14062 I agree with Liam! There are some clients that really fit this: http://makemylogobiggercream.com/ But we still love them :) When I get the '<em>I really like what this other designer did, can you do exactly that?</em>' or the '<em>can you make the text blue-ish and the black background a touch darker?</em>' I can't help but wonder why they hired me (not complaining though :) ). Usually everything goes real fine (even with those clients), it's just a matter of making sure we're on the same page. (ok, sometimes there's lots of pages hehe) I agree with Liam! There are some clients that really fit this: http://makemylogobiggercream.com/

But we still love them :)

When I get the ‘I really like what this other designer did, can you do exactly that?‘ or the ‘can you make the text blue-ish and the black background a touch darker?‘ I can’t help but wonder why they hired me (not complaining though :) ). Usually everything goes real fine (even with those clients), it’s just a matter of making sure we’re on the same page. (ok, sometimes there’s lots of pages hehe)

]]> By: liam http://freelancefolder.com/the-freelancers-guide-to-dealing-with-non-savvy-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-14061 liam Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:55:18 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=772#comment-14061 Very well put together tips & points. For me, I never really let it annoy me, it's only when they start preaching to you the best way to do things; because they've seen it on one of their competitors site. No matter how much you try to explain why animated .gif text won't make them look more "professional." A lot of these clients are too scared to let you do your own thing, and have very old fashioned views about what they want to see. I think you need to build trust and reassure them that you know what will look good, and as long as you can explain yourself and your reasons behind your decisions then you'll probably find it a little easier. Very well put together tips & points. For me, I never really let it annoy me, it’s only when they start preaching to you the best way to do things; because they’ve seen it on one of their competitors site. No matter how much you try to explain why animated .gif text won’t make them look more “professional.”

A lot of these clients are too scared to let you do your own thing, and have very old fashioned views about what they want to see. I think you need to build trust and reassure them that you know what will look good, and as long as you can explain yourself and your reasons behind your decisions then you’ll probably find it a little easier.

]]>