Anytime you come across a successful freelancer, they always have great organizational skills. I was never good at it when I first started. In fact, it always felt like I was being pulled in 20 different directions. It wasn’t until I was in a conversation with another online freelancer that I realized what disorganization was doing to my career.
There are several different ways a freelancer can manage his or her clients. I want to give you my own personal layout. As usual, it’s going to be based around my SEO career, so make the necessary changes if need be.
Buy a Calendar or Use one Online
I’m a little old school when it comes to organization. I have a calendar hanging in front of me with client’s names and requests all over it. There are also time slots when I will start any project. This has been one of the most beneficial tools I have used in my freelancing career.
There will be times when it needs to be readjusted due to oversights, but it’s a lot better than not using one at all. If you don’t want to take the 1980s approach like I do, there are plenty of online calendars (Google calendar) you can use. Then again; some freelancers take advantage of the calendar on their cell phone. Any of them will work.
Sign Up for PayPal
If you don’t have an account with PayPal, you will definitely need one as a freelancer. I understand the constant debate about fees, but you can always add these into your prices. The best part about PayPal is making both parties accountable. Clients must provide payment after work is completed, and freelancers must provide the work.
When either side defaults, a claim can be issued. I have had to use this in past, and eventually you will probably have to as well. It’s one of the many reasons why my personal policy is to have the payment upfront. It keeps you from potentially losing money throughout the work week.
PayPal also offers you the ability to invoice clients. This can help keep all the financial records in one spot. The invoices can also be saved so they can be resent to repeat customers. Even if the price needs to be changed, there is an editing area available. It’s a more efficient way to make and receive payments.
Client Relations Management Applications
I like to consider myself as having a great memory. I listen to my clients, even if they’re talking about personal stuff in their life. It’s just something I take pride in, but some people have a difficult time just remembering names. Either way, a client relations management application is advised.
After about 3 months of using it, I realized I didn’t remember everything, so it definitely comes in handy. When you start building a client base, it’s always smart to provide that personal, yet professional approach.
A CRM also allows you to leave notes about a client. This can help you gain repeat business. Whenever the work period is slow, don’t be afraid to reach out to past clients and see how their business is doing. Sometimes it will turn into additional work and revenue.
The notes can also provide insight on how the client likes his or her work. In my case, some clients need content for article directories, while others are looking for website content. These are two different areas, and if I don’t get it right, revisions will have to be made.
Other Effective Tools
Presenting clients (even potential ones) with Skype, Gtalk, or Yahoo Messenger IDs is also important. You never want to make a client wait when they are considering hiring you. It’s said that if a potential client doesn’t hear from you within 12 to 24 hours, they will most likely hire someone else.
Sometimes clients will even pass chat message IDs onto their friends who need work done. In the end, it’s an open line of communication for everyone. Clients will enjoy easy accessibility to you. It’s also a quick way to provide updates or ask any questions about the project.
Conclusion and Upcoming Information
Using tools to manage clients can provide better organization for your freelancing career. I consider each one of the tools I use to be a necessity. A freelance position is all about continuing to grow your business. If it takes a calendar, PayPal, at least one CRM, and chat messengers to do make it happen; they should be a part of your business repertoire.
Next time I want to discuss the differences between personal and corporate branding. I’ll give you my opinion on which is better, and how you can implement it into your web presence.