19 June 2009
It's better to create ongoing clients as apposed to one time clients.

For a number of reasons it's good to build ongoing clients and business relationships:

More Business. More Money.

Of course an obvious reason to build ongoing clients is that more business = more money. If you become the go-to guy/gal for updates and any future projects you're of course securing future money.

The Road is Traveled More Easily When the Bridges Haven't Burned Down

We all know the quote:
"You can please all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot please all the people all the time."
- Abraham Lincoln

If you have had 100+ clients, then it is safe to say that you've had at least one or two clients that weren't 100% satisfied, not even that it was because you lacked skill or effort or because you didn't complete a task, it's just human nature and it's absolutely unavoidable. You certainly want to treat your clients right so that you don't gain a negative reputation or bad reviews.

And it's certainly helpful to still be in contact with your clients so that you can ask for a review such as a WWDC review. Again, even if you are doing things 100% right and 9/10 would agree, you can't avoid that 1/10 that just doesn't agree. Don't beat yourself up, everyone and the most reputable companies in the world receive bad reviews. But, if you're doing the right things you'll still come out on top.

Future Endeavors

Clients are more than clients, they're business connections. If you're loyal to them and help them out any time you can they will return the favor. Say, for instance that you come out with a new service or business idea and you know a client in a similar field, they may be able to help or refer you to someone who can, or partner up with you themselves.

Treat Your Clients Right and The Rest Will Fall in Place

Treating a client right is more than providing a quality service, it's about actually caring about them and their success. Here's a list I follow:

Proper Client Treatment

Always remain professional and cordial, and personable when appropriate

Always be honest, don't be like a shady mechanic who recommends services that are of no benefit to the client, only to your wallet

Give deals, be willing to come down on price and be flexible when it comes to payment options and budgets

Listen to their ideas, but interject when you think something could hurt them; for example if they want a Flash intro to their website don't say no, but educate them as to why that can hurt their website and then let them decide

Don't be too strict when it comes to revisions and updates, if you're designing a simple 5-page website and then they decide: "Hey, do you think that you could add another page about me with just one pic and two paragraphs about me?" just accommodate them, don't be a penny pincher

If nothing else, remember that were all people just trying to make a living whether you're a freelancer like myself or a large corporation.

Thanks, Bryan