When you’re just starting out, it’s only natural to feel like taking every work at home job or client that comes your way. You need to make money, so the more work the merrier, right? While this makes sense, but taking on work you find tedious or taking on too much work can lead to failure. These tips will help you to recognize your own priorities, and will help you to select the projects and clients in the future.
Syed Irfan Ajmal
We have come up with the avatar of our ideal customer based on the buyer persona of our existing customer base. Using the data we have of our best clients, we have created a description (the avatar) of what this client looks like (in terms of size, revenue, number of employees, challenges etc).
This is what helps us to evaluate new customers. if they don’t fit the description of our avatar, we don’t work with them. And prospects who do become our customers, tend to stay longer.
Nate Masterson
You need to ask yourself what the client collaboration will bring. Will it further your brand? Will it be revolutionary? Is there a market need? You need to have at least two of these three questions answered before collaborating. If a high profile potential client approaches you it can be enticing to say yes immediately, for brand recognition. But you need to consider the collaboration itself, is there a need or is it something new for you? If you answered no, you’re committing to an inferior project which will be the lasting impression in the long term. When choosing a client make sure that you share a vision and the same level enthusiasm.
Melissa Caldwell
Communication is key. If you are not able to “vibe” with your potential client, then you won’t have a very good working relationship with them. Understanding completely what they want and alternately them understanding what you can do for them, is how to set up a solid foundation for a long term contract.
Another thing, if you can’t work up some enthusiasm for the project/client then it won’t be a good fit. If the client’s business is in something you don’t personally love or have any excitement for, then definitely give it a pass. Do what you love and try to only take projects and clients on that you can fully and completely support, and you’ll find work to be more of a pleasure than chore.
Note from Leslie
Do you ever put off housework because it’s no fun? Taking on a project or a client that gives you that same feeling as housework can make work not only not fun, but lead you to do poorer work, procrastinate, and/or loathe the job. I know this first hand because when I started my work-at-home journey, I took any work I could do, and much of it I hated making my life stressful and unhappy.
While you’re not going to love everything about every job, you do need to have some interest in it.
Working with clients also requires the ability to understand, and agree with, what the client is asking. Some clients aren’t the best at explaining what they want or need, which can make it harder for you, especially if you’re having to redo stuff. Learning to ask the right questions for clarity can help. But clients who continue to be unclear, or who are difficult, rude, or take advantage of you, should be let go.
