Being a freelancer is a great way to make a living, working on your own terms and being able to choose projects to work on. However it can quickly turn into a pile of projects and become overwhelming. A quiet freelancer after being awarded a project is not perceived the best by clients. Here’s how to manage things to be able to stay responsive as a freelancer when faced with multiple projects.
- Communicate
Clients appreciate transparency when it comes to communicating. Communicate availability and the expected timelines after being awarded the project, let them know when they should expect updates about the project. It is better to over-communicate than to leave clients wondering what happened to the freelancer that they have awarded the project. You can’t disappear after being awarded the project and reappear after 3 days.
Being proactive with communication not only builds trust but also reduces unnecessary follow-ups from clients.
- Organize and prioritize projects
To be responsive as a freelancer you need to be knowing what you are working on. If projects are not prioritized and organized you are deemed to miss projects you should be communicating on. You have to prioritize tasks based on deadlines, project size and importance. This helps in being able to know what needs to be done.
- Avoid over committing
It’s tempting to send proposals for every project that best matches your expertise, but this can easily lead to having multiple projects at once. Also saying “yes” to repeated work from previous clients can be tempting, while it helps build repeated clients it is not a good idea when having multiple projects, it is likely to lead to uncompleted projects and negative feedback.
Know your limits and agree to a number of projects you can work on at a time. For repeated clients, you have to communicate availability, timelines and set realistic expectations. With repeated clients you have to your advantage to communicate that you have other projects you are already working on and when you can tackle their projects.
- Collaborate when needed
When the projects are overwhelming to handle, it is best to consider collaboration on smaller tasks with other freelancers. Things such as data entry that might be needed for the project can be outsourced to other freelancers. This can free up your time and you will be able to focus on core responsibilities while ensuring that everything gets done on time.
Conclusion
Being responsive as a freelancer will ensure that clients give you repeated projects, ensure quality work and great feedback from clients. When the above four tips are done properly, you are likely to thrive in your freelancing journey and build trust with clients.
How are you responsive to your clients after being awarded the projects? Share your ways in the comments. You just need to create a free profile to get full access to the resources that will make your freelancing career thrive.