FREELANCER: Score and Evaluate Your Clients
Who’s a good client— who’s naughty and who’s nice?
Santa has it tough, but it will be much easier for you. Good clients and great clients do exists — the majority of your clientele probably. A book I read recently related the idea of evaluating your clients. While I feel that the only bad client would be one who is constantly letting you know that you are on the brink of being fired, many people feel that refreshing their idea of who their great clients are is very helpful.
Give 10 points to each point your client satisfies
Give 5 point if they are almost there
Give 0 points if they fail miserably
1. Pays on time, all the time
2. Is objective and consistent in terms of criticism, comments and concerns
3. Is appreciative of your talent, understands the time and effort your putting in
4. Provides adequate deadlines or is prepared to compensate for tighter deadlines
5. Demands the best from you, and knows when it is produced
6. Has projects with well defined objectives and a comprehensible brief
7. Does not ask for spec work
8. Gives you room to exercise a degree of creative flair
9. Actively refers you to other potential clients
10. Doesn’t waste time in unproductive meetings/ web chats and is organised / prompt with content
Add the score up!
* A score above 90 – send them a card…and maybe a gift just to be on the safe side.
* A score above 70 represents your bread and butter clients – keep them happy.
* A score above 50, send the occasional follow up e-mail with a website of interest, e-book, and maybe a lunch one every few months.
* A score above 30, if they never talk to you again… you may be able to get by. Consider sending them promotional material.
* A score below 30 – Consider a heart-to-heart talk with this client or manager. It may be time to make everyone aware of the situation. Any client is still a client.
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