It’s imperative that every freelancer must master the art of follow-up to maintain strong professional relationships, secure repeat business, and keep their clients satisfied.
In this article, we’ll share valuable tips and tricks to perfect your freelancer follow-up process and boost your success in the competitive gig economy.
1. Set Clear Expectations From The Start
An essential aspect of a successful freelancer follow-up is setting expectations at the beginning of your working relationship.
Clearly communicate your project timeline, milestones, and deliverables, and set the frequency and mode of communication.
This helps avoid misunderstandings and keeps clients engaged in the project.
2. Provide Regular Project Updates
Regular project updates are crucial for maintaining client communication and building trust.
These updates can be brief, but they should be informative and timely.
Use your preferred communication channels – email or project management tools – to provide progress reports and updates on any challenges or successes you encounter.
One of our favorite tools is Trello which can make keeping your clients updated on their projects a snap!
3. Send a Thank You Note After Project Completion
A thoughtful thank-you note goes a long way in showing appreciation and building long-lasting professional relationships.
After wrapping up a project, take the time to send a personalized email or handwritten note to thank your client for their business and express your enthusiasm for future opportunities.
4. Follow Up With a Portfolio Update
Keep your clients informed about your latest projects, accomplishments, and skills by periodically sending a portfolio update.
This can help you showcase your growth as a freelancer and remind clients of your value, potentially leading to more work opportunities.
5. Offer Additional Services or Support
A proactive approach to follow-up is offering additional services or support based on the client’s needs.
By anticipating their requirements and suggesting ways you can assist, you’ll provide value and reinforce your expertise and reliability.
6. Check in on Completed Projects
Periodically checking in on completed projects shows your commitment to client satisfaction and can lead to further collaboration.
Reach out to your clients to ask how the project is performing, if they have any concerns, or if they require any additional support.
This is an excellent way to fulfill rule number two of client relations: always have a reason to stay in touch with your clients!
7. Don’t Be Afraid to Request Feedback
Asking for feedback can provide valuable insights for improving your services and growing as a professional.
When following up with clients, don’t hesitate to request their thoughts on your performance and areas for improvement.
8. Use a CRM or Follow-Up Tool
To streamline your follow-up process, consider using a customer relationship management (CRM) tool or a dedicated follow-up app.
These platforms can help you stay organized, track client communication, and set reminders for follow-up tasks.
Conclusion
Following up as a freelancer is critical in building and maintaining strong professional relationships with your clients. By incorporating these tips into your freelance business strategy, you’ll be well on your way to securing repeat clients, earning more projects, and growing your freelance career.
