Lame client?
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- bainbridge
I have a person who gives me only the smallest and lamest work. Sometimes she needs help making a .pdf and most times she wants to make some changes to her blog site.
I only hear from her every couple of months, but it's never anything worthwhile.
She's a friend of an old co-worker, so I don't know her, but I'd feel like a dick if I quit. What do you do with clients like this?
- animatedgif0
Keep upping your prices till she fucks off
- timeless0
I keep them. I ask them for referrals. Learn from her – learn how to work well with clients like her. So when you get a very well paying client that is just as lame as her it won't be an issue.
She keeps coming back = you're doing something right. In my opinion, no such thing as a lame client. I'd rather be doing any work for a lame client than working at a department store or restaurant.
- mostly this. sometimes clients really are worth walking away from.
but not often.exador1 - Not all clients understand what you do. A referral might be more of the same.bainbridge
- not all clients understand what you do? who's fault is that?timeless
- mostly this. sometimes clients really are worth walking away from.
- freedom0
How much can you charge for making a .pdf?
- i_monk0
Ask her for bigger projects. She trusts you with the small stuff already, treat that as a foot in the door.
- How do you know she has bigger projects to give?bainbridge
- You ask?i_monk
- ETM0
After 14 years I have never seen one of these types of clients convert to anything of value. They always ask for small things and have a knack of always needing something right when you are in the middle of your busiest time.
- omg0
Unless you're bound by a contract, quit and tell her to find someone else.
- capn_ron0
Why not pass her along to a designer friend who may need that kind of work (whether they are a rookie or just in need of work). I'm sure if you passed them on and they got work they could give you 10-15% for the finders fee.
- iCanHazQBN0
Fuck her in her ass.
- ohhhhhsnap0
Why don't you hand her off to me.
- breadlegz0
You need to ask yourself "while i'm spending hours, what else could I be doing with my life".
If this answer isn't compelling ... carry on.
- bainbridge0
Good replies thanks folks.
- rabbit0
My hourly rate is double my daily rate / 8
- fate0
"I keep them. I ask them for referrals. Learn from her – learn how to work well with clients like her. So when you get a very well paying client that is just as lame as her it won't be an issue.
She keeps coming back = you're doing something right. In my opinion, no such thing as a lame client. I'd rather be doing any work for a lame client than working at a department store or restaurant."
This is exactly the type of advice that will keep you miserable and waste your time.
ETM hit the nail on the head, this client is not worth your time.
- formed0
I've yet to see a client that is "not worth my time" (or my companies time). What do you bill at? If it is reasonable, it should be "worth your time". Now, if you don't want or don't need the money, that's another thing, but business wise, if she's paying what you are asking, it is "worth your time".
Imho, anyone that says otherwise wants to continue to be a one person shop or freelancer, and that's fine, but that is different than a business.
If you feel you aren't getting what you put in, then you should be charging more. Even two hours, of easy work, can be decent money.
Find a someone else to do it, add a fee for your management and getting the work, and viola, you have a "business" and are no longer just a freelancer. The best part is you make money doing nothing AND you keep a client happy.You just need to determine which you want to be.
[the only exception I'd see is if you are just so amazing that you can dictate what you get paid and only take projects you truly want....I've met one or two people that had that luxury, ever]
- fate0
"Imho, anyone that says otherwise wants to continue to be a one person shop or freelancer, and that's fine, but that is different than a business."
Again, this is exactly the type of advice that fucks up production schedules and pisses the important accounts off. This "every client is important and special" attitude is nonsense.
If you want to grow, you have to cut the time suckers off and focus on what brings the most value to you.
- cannonball19780
Tell them you are in the midst of strategizing for some growth and that you are reviewing all your client accounts.
- formed0
To clarify...if you are charging $20/hr, you'll probably get people asking for PDFs, if you charge $200/hr you probably won't.
My point being, you charge what makes it worthwhile to do. If they stick around, then it is worth it to you, if they don't then your problem is solved.
Example...my lawyer answers the phone when I call, even for a 30 minute conversation...and I get charged what makes it worth his while.
- omahadesigns0
How much do you charge?