Freelancers often rely on referrals and repeat clients to stay in business. We don’t have huge marketing budgets to plaster ads all over the internet in the hopes of attracting a few new gigs. Often our best marketing tool is our existing and past clients telling everyone they know about us.
So how do you get your clients to rave about your work and keep coming back for more?
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE!
When you provide a memorable customer experience, people are going to talk about it. They’re going to remember you and they’re going to think of you next time. Providing an amazing customer experience is what will set you apart and make you look like a rock star to everyone you work with.
Here are 4 ways that you can seriously impress your clients.
#1 Treat them like people, not paychecks – You know how you hate being treated like a number by big companies? Everyone hates it! If you are just thinking of your clients as a percentage of your income, you’re going to give them that same icky feeling. Remember their name, their birthday, their upcoming projects and launches. Be friendly, and let them know that their business is important to you.
#2 Send them a welcome package – When you start working with a new client, they are likely going to have a lot of questions. Put them at ease, and save yourself heaps of time, by creating a welcome package for all of your new clients. You can tell them about your office hours, your process, any systems you use, and anything else they need to be aware of to get started. It’s also a great time to send a checklist of things you will need from them.
A welcome package is going to make a client feel confident from the get go. It makes you appear professional and organized, and they gain an understanding of what it’s like to work with you. Creating this up front will save you tons of time with EVERY future client.
#3 Thank them – Clients are what keep us in business so it’s important to thank them for that. I’m not saying that you need to remind them that they put food on your table, but a nice ‘hey, thanks for doing business with me’ every once in a while is always appreciated. Once you’ve wrapped a project be sure to include a sincere thank you in the handoff. Sending a hand written note and small, thoughtful gift are also a really nice touch. They’ll look at that gift fondly for a long time to come and remember how great it was to work with you.
#4 Be organized and on top of things – I know, easier said than done when you’re juggling multiple clients and deadlines. That is why you need to have the right systems and processes in place. Workflows and reminders are a life saver for staying on top of your projects and keeping your clients in the loop on your progress. If you can appear to be organized and professional your clients are going to have more faith in you/think you’re a miracle worker.
Providing a memorable customer experience is your best shot at getting referrals and repeat business. The best way to wow your clients is by having an end-to-end process, from the moment they hit hire me on your website to the follow up once your project is complete.
If you’re reading this and saying “where would I even begin?” don’t worry, I was once there with you. Then I found the Stress Less & Impress course and it changed my entire process. This course walks you through each step of the client process and gives actionable advice on what you can do to improve your process, cut down on back-and-forth emails, and turn your clients into raving fans. Check out everything the course covers:
This course will save you countless hours of figuring out a process on your own. Once you have your process in place, you’ll feel totally confident in bringing on new clients, taking on more projects, and providing a referral-worthy customer experience.
Note: I did not get paid to write this post, but I will receive an affiliate kickback if you register using one of my links (thank you!). I loved this course and I seriously recommend it for anyone who wants to improve their processes, have more time, and grow your business!
Margo says
I’ve been hearing really great things about this course, I am definitely going to put together a welcome package ASAP!
Kayli says
It’s a really great course! A welcome package is such a nice touch.