How to be a Great Client

When you finally find a great content creator who understands your business and its needs, you want the partnership to last. The longevity of this connection is not automatic, however. There are some things only you, as the client, can do to maintain a positive business relationship with your freelancer or agency.

Clients don’t always realize what makes them difficult to work with. Without the perspective of the other party, they can unintentionally make the process harder. 

The unfortunate truth is this: if you are unpleasant to work with, your freelancer or agency may deprioritize your content needs, or even drop you as a client altogether.

It’s important to remember that your creative partner is running a business too. They have to manage their time and resources, and difficult clients take up more of these. 

When you are easy to work with, your creative partner will not only surpass your expectations but also take pride in working with you. They will prioritize your content, eagerly respond to your needs, and put even more effort into helping your business succeed. 

Fortunately, being a good client isn’t hard once you know how. Here are three easy ways to make sure you are as great for your freelancer or agency as they are for you. 

Be a Responsive Client

Whether you communicate with your freelancer or agency through email or over the phone, it’s important to respond to them in a reasonable time frame. This helps them complete their work for you faster, and meet the agreed-upon deadlines. 

This is especially prevalent when the relationship is new. If it’s your first time working with this creative partner, they will likely have questions and clarifications for you that will help them meet your needs efficiently and comprehensively. 

When you respond promptly, you’re giving them the tools they need to succeed within the agreed-upon time frame. 

It can be tempting to put an email response at the bottom of your to-do list, but your creative partner may not be able to complete their work until their inquiries are resolved. It is in both of your best interests to quickly and thoroughly respond, and this will be reflected in the quality of the delivered content. 

As the partnership continues, the freelancer or agency will likely have fewer questions about your preferences and specific needs. However, they will still need you to make and approve content edits in a reasonable time frame so the process can continue as scheduled. If you don’t make corrections and authorize the final work before it is slated for publication, it may end up going live later than you planned. 

Additionally, it’s important to meet the agreed-upon payment in both schedule and price. If you told the freelancer or agency you would pay them upon delivery of content, don’t wait a week to send them what they’re owed. 

In the same vein, don’t argue about the cost of the work when you have already accepted their fee. Clients who pay on time, without trying to renegotiate the terms of payment, are the best for any freelancer or agency. 

Be a Respectful Client

When you work with freelancers and agencies, it’s important to remember that they are not your employee. They are your partner and a business owner. This means they operate on their schedule and within their boundaries. 

As such, they will not always immediately be available when you need them. It is not reasonable for anyone to be online all hours of the day. Even the best content creators need time away from the screen, with their families, and by themselves. 

A respectful client doesn’t expect their creative partner to always respond to emails or edits instantly. They understand the freelancer or agency member will be available to help when they can and trust them to do so promptly. 

Additionally, if they have given you their number, don’t call them at any hour without an established meeting or permission to do so. Some freelancers and agencies are okay with being on call for their clients, while others draw a line there. 

That’s why it’s important to openly communicate with your creative partner. Ask them about their work boundaries and share your needs so everything is out in the open from the start. 

For example, if you need to know their schedule so you can plan your own, ask them for more information about their online hours. If you are concerned about being able to reach them, ask them for alternative ways they are comfortable communicating. 

Respecting your creative partner’s boundaries and needs is the core element of being a good client. 

Trust the Process

When you hire a freelancer or agency, you acknowledge they offer a valuable service and have the experience to help your business succeed. You’re putting your trust in them to fulfill your needs in a quality and timely manner. 

If you are new to working with contractors or agencies, you may feel compelled to repeatedly check in and question their decisions. But continually confirming their knowledge and competence won’t make them do a better job. 

You hired them because they know what they’re doing. Lean on them as experts, and trust their proficiency. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you need it, but don’t continuously doubt their abilities. The time they spend reassuring you is a resource they could be putting into making your content something truly special. 

Another major part of trusting the process is following the agreed-upon schedule. Don’t backtrack unless it is absolutely necessary. For example, if you approve content and tell your creative partner that it’s ready to go, don’t go back and make additional edits. This is especially true if the content has already been slated for publication.  

Not only will this interrupt the carefully curated process they have developed, but it will also lead to miscommunication and incorrect content being published on your platform.

As long as you follow these three rules, you will be a great client that freelancers and clients are proud to work with. 

Always In Your Corner, 

The Content Queens