If there’s anything ugly that can happen to a freelancer, it’s getting stuck in a position where you think you’re providing one service and the client’s
thinking they’re getting something else.
Case in point.
Just yesterday, I was about to sign with a client to create a case study. We settled
on a price…then it hit me that we were on Upwork. All my little notes about design being extra were listed on my website…the one this prospect probably hadn’t taken on look at.
So I shot him an email “Hey, just so you know, design is extra.”
That could have gotten real ugly, real fast. Case study design can run from a couple hundred to thousands. It’s also something I can’t do myself, so I could have eaten up my $1000 copy creation fee just with one little mistake…and it would’ve been my fault.
Sure, prospects should ask, but as freelancers, it’s our job first to communicate clearly and manage expectations on the front end.
Setting Service Expectations
You probably already know what I’m going to say…work with a contract. That’s a given.
When it comes to expectation management though, talking helps too. Even when a proposal and contract spells out everything to the last detail, I still make sure to head off any ugly surprises during our normal conversations.
People are busy and you just never know what they might miss. That means…
- Be open on your site and in your sales materials
- Talk to them before hand
- Tell them in your contract
- Verify if you get any hint that there’s been miscommunication
Remember that you’re building relationships, so proactive communication is key. It also builds the trust that sets you apart from other freelancers and keeps your clients coming back to you for that career-solidifying repeat work.
Megan
Here are the Academy resources that you’ll want to check out this month…