One of the best ways to thrive as a freelancer is to build loyalty in your clients. Repeat work is considered a goldmine because it can lead to both consistency and referrals. To keep your clients returning, take the following steps.
- Interact with your clients in a personable way. Don’t just focus on the results; build your relationships. Get to know your clients, their challenges, and what their goals are. The better the rapport you develop, and the more interest you show in them as a human, the more they’ll remember you — and keep using your services.
- Find out what other projects they might need help with and offer support. If you don’t hear of any follow-up opportunities during your initial stint, take initiative and tell your employer that you’re open to working on more projects in the future.
- Never over-promise and then under-deliver. Delivering great work on time is paramount to building trust. Don’t get yourself into a situation where you can’t follow through on your promises. Build in extra time where you can
- Always get testimonials. Ask for feedback on your work. Not only can you use their compliments to attract new clients but having them articulate what’s made the relationship work will increase the chances they turn to you the next time they need a freelancer.