How to Deal with Difficult Clients as a Freelance Writer?

Introduction

 The lives of freelance writers are extraordinarily…well…simple. They only need a workstation and a stable internet connection to start working from anywhere they want. Besides, they can endlessly travel, socialize, prioritize their health, and enjoy unmatched flexibility that no 9-5 job can ever offer.

There has to be a downside to this joyous story, don’t you think? After all, it cannot be this good all the time.

You’re right.

The major downside of freelance writing can sometimes be the people you work for. Dealing with demanding clients is one of the most debated topics on the internet, and we are here to share some practical solutions with freelance writers working for difficult clients — strategies that can help make their lives easier.

Let’s get started, shall we?

What is a difficult client?

A difficult customer can’t be defined as the experience freelance writers have with demanding customers differ quite a lot. The experience can differ as you change industries, businesses, and cultures.

However, we can always loosely define a difficult customer by referring to them as clients that are not easy to deal with — ones that require unusually extra effort to complete a project successfully. What’s worse is that there are different types of difficult customers.

Different types of difficult customers freelance writers deal with

That’s right, difficult clients come in all shapes and sizes. Let’s briefly discuss some of the different types of challenging customers freelance writers might have to work with.

1. Demanding client

These are aggressive clients who are quick to anger. They can sometimes be overly critical and arrogant and might communicate rudely. For demanding clients, their needs are to be met first and can go to the extent of verbal abuse to get what they want. To handle such clients, you will need to stay calm and confident.

2. Indecisive client

Indecision in a business transaction can be catastrophic for the parties involved. Clients who just cannot make a decision are often the ones who will have an endless list of questions. Despite answering them patiently, they most probably end up not signing the contract. These clients are ones that are afraid of making mistakes. So make sure you let them know that you are on their side and want them to make a better decision. Gain their trust first. 

3. Know-it-all client

Oh, they know it all. They know what it takes to write good content; they know how much time it takes to finish the project; they have a complete idea of the writing process. These are clients that thrive on showcasing their knowledge, no matter how eclipsed it might be. The worst part is that they’ll try to dominate the conversation with their limited information. Never argue with these clients as it may lead to their ego getting hurt. Pay attention and massage their egos by complimenting them on their knowledge. Then present facts and information in a bid to correct them.

4. Impatient client

The impatient customer is one who wants things to be done NOW. That’s right, it’s now or they’ll head to your competitors. Such impatient clients can’t wrap their heads around the fact that writing content takes time as every freelance writer has a workflow. Impatient clients should be dealt professionally by sharing expectations and boundaries well before the project starts. 

5. Dissatisfied client

Customers complain, and the feedback can be quite constructive. But, customers who complain all the time can be hard to deal with. Dissatisfied clients are the ones who will complain about the pettiest of things and expect you to fall in and satisfy them. Since you cannot satisfy everybody, try to give your best, finish the project, and part ways if the complainin’ ain’t stoppin’.

Best tips for freelancers to deal with difficult clients

Now that we are well-acquainted with what difficult clients can be, it’s time we discuss ways to deal with them as freelance writers. 

1. Know the scope and create a contract

You will never go wrong with a written contract. To prepare one, you will have to rigorously work your way through understanding the entire scope of the project. Ask in-depth questions in case the client presents vague project information. We suggest you create a workflow precisely for retrieving project-related information from the customers.

This will ensure you never miss out on anything important when creating a contract. Moreover, ensure that the project parameters like requirements, your role, deliverables, timeline, and payment terms are clearly mentioned in the contract. You will avoid several risks of working with a difficult client if you rely on a professional contract.

2. Establish strong and open communication

Communication is key to success in the freelance world of writing. Establish strong communication from the get-go. Push customers to jump on a Zoom call to have a more transparent and effective conversation about the project. This shows you are willing to put effort into completely understanding the project’s intricacies and leave no stone unturned. Put the details of the meeting in writing and ensure the client acknowledges and confirms them. 

3. Professionally maintain records and invoices

As a freelance writer, you have to depend on written records to ensure the project goes through smoothly. A paper trail helps you be specific and clear with the project requirements and changes the client may request. More importantly, you should do your best to maintain such records as these can act as evidence for the set expectations. Communicating with a dissatisfied client by referring them to such records can help you make strong arguments.

4. Stay calm and professional

You cannot let your guard down with difficult clients, ever. These clients are always looking for loopholes in your workflow and won’t think twice before giving you a hard time about it. Stay calm and professional in your conversation, even if the client is yelling at you. Reply with an apology for how unwarranted it may be. Keeping the relationship professional at your end is the most you can do to save a crumbling business relationship. If the situation doesn’t improve, you can always call it quits. 

5. Put everything in writing

You will never go wrong with this. Make sure the relationship you have with your clients is strongly based on written communication. Establish from the start that you are more comfortable if the requests and project scope are presented in writing. Reciprocate by creating a written contract and sharing it over a reliable communication channel. Share project-related updates in writing and ensure that the client acknowledges them, in writing.

6. Set the right expectations

Freelance writers can easily overcome difficult clients if they set the right boundaries and expectations. Here’s the deal — a client, difficult as it may be, should realize that you are a professional writer and expect the same professionalism. You can ensure that by setting the work hours, an onboarding process, timelines, and other communication-related expectations. More importantly, make sure the clients acknowledge when you share this information with them.

7. Don’t let red flags go unnoticed

Your client might be working for someone else. They might be accountable to their bosses too, you know. So, always come from the point of empathy when communicating with difficult clients. However, you should be aware of the red flags too. If the client consistently reflects a lack of professionalism and respect, communicates poorly, or presents vague revision requests and project requirements, you should consider finishing work and cutting ties.

8. Always part ways on a good note

Tough clients are…tough. You might do all it takes to work through their projects as smoothly as possible, but you will always find yourself falling short. When this happens, you are left with one option — to part ways. However, you always want to leave on a good note. Finish the project and part ways in a friendly manner. At the same time, let the clients know that it just wasn’t a good fit.

Final thoughts!

As we share some of the tips to handle difficult clients, freelance writers must realize that sometimes the difficult clients can also be the most paying clients. If the tips mentioned above don’t work with them, you’ll have to make a call about what you value more — mental health or remuneration. Remember, your clients aren’t your bosses. So, the final decision to work with them will always stay with you. Make the most of it. Did you find this post useful? Stay tuned as we’ll share more on freelance writing in the upcoming posts.