5 ways to make your clients happy

Everybody wants to be happy. Happiness is great. But happiness can also sell. Very well.

If you find the secrets to making your clients happy, you’ll:

1. Get more repeat work
2. Get more word-of-mouth referrals
3. Ultimately get more money

So how do you make people happy?

1. Be there for your clients

Clients love it when they can get in contact with you (via phone, text, email, IM e.t.c) and your there to pick it up, even if its late. Even if your not, they love it when you get back to them quickly, so you can resolve issues and such swiftly. Its re-assuring. Its also brilliant when they hire you in January, and you still help them, offer advice and support in December. It shows a commitment to them, and that your not the type to take their money and run, rather you take time to build a long term relationship.

2. Deliver on time and on budget

Who likes surprises? So if you say your going to do a project by a certain date, for a certain price, do it! Don’t give people unrealistic deadlines, that make you break your back to meet. But always strive to hit deadlines and budgets as close as humanely possible. If you cant, let your client know as early as possible. Good communication also makes them happy Be reasonable, and you get reasonable back.

3. Show interest in them

Freelancers can offer something no other company type can. Would you ever get an agency sales person asking how your business is doing? Possibly. But would that person ask how you are, as well as your business? Probably not. They don’t like to make ‘friends’ of their clients.

As freelancers we get the chance to show a genuine interest in our clients. We get to treat them like real people, because, their not some customer number in a spreadsheet. Personal service makes clients really happy.

4. Listen to them

Have you ever phoned someone, to have a chat with them, and realized their ‘yes-sing’ you to death? Your trying to tell them your car broke down, or your coffee table collapsed and smashed your laptop, and their reply is “Yes sir”. They just don’t listen.

The thing is, people know when your not listening. And its rude. So pay attention to what your clients are telling you. They are important!

5. Take initiative

Clients like a freelancer with a bit of ‘go’ about them. You know, someone who phones them up to tell them their competitors have changed something on their site, or that you think they could improve on something. Its linked to taking interest, but with a more objective outlook. It suggest to a client that you not only care about them, but you look after their business interests too. It also keeps your name in front of their eyes, meaning your not forgotten when it comes round to other projects.

Feel free to comment. Look out for a new podcast episode tommorow (we have a back log) and a competition too!