One of the reasons why I enjoy freelancing so much is because I can choose my own clients and work with several if I please.
Freelancing can seem more secure because instead of just having 1 job you work with several different clients. If you lose a client, it’s usually not the end of the world if you have other income coming in from different clients.
On the flip side, it can be difficult to juggle multiple freelance clients especially if they all have different visions, goals, and standards. If you’re looking to better manage your freelance clients, here are some tips to consider to make your daily process run smoother.
Get Everyone Under One Roof
As a freelancer with multiple clients, the common denominator is you. Therefore, it helps to use a task management system that houses all the information for each client in one place.
Asana is the online tool that first comes to mind if you’re trying to accomplish this. You can create different projects in Asana and assign them to a particular client. Then, create tasks within that project (client) so you can stay organized and on track.
Another thing I do is create a separate email folder whenever I gain a new client so I can file away all our correspondence and any other important information. If you are sharing multiple files and documents with certain clients, create a Google Drive folder specifically for them for easier filing or you could even upload files to your project folder in Asana.
Assign Clients to Specific Days and Times
It’s important to set aside enough time to complete work for each of your clients during the week/month. Odds are, some of your clients may require more work from you than others and thus, compensate you more, but you can split up your time and energy by assigning clients specific days and times that you dedicate to working on their projects.
For example, if you have 7 clients, you may do work for one of your larger ones on Mondays, two on Tuesday, two more on Wednesday, and the final one on Thursday. That way you don’t have to procrastinate and no one gets forgotten.
Communicate Clearly
Don’t skimp on clear communication when you interact with clients. Make sure you’re clear on the details of the project, expectations, and the turnaround time.
Realize that your communication may vary with each client and be sure to set those boundaries early on. One client might prefer a weekly meeting or check-in call while the other may email you every now and then.
To eliminate a lot of back and forth correspondence, be crystal clear on your due dates so clients know when to expect the finished product and you can even consider providing weekly updates for clients if it applies.
Know Your Bandwidth
One of the downsides of juggling multiple freelance clients can be ending up with too much on your plate. You want to know your bandwidth before you get to that point and feel too overwhelmed with your commitments.
Be honest about the number of workable hours you can put in each day/week and realistically measure how much time you’d have to dedicate to each client depending on their needs.
Don’t be afraid to increase your rates or say no if you don’t think you’ll have time to take on a particular assignment for a client. If you spread yourself too thin, the quality of your work could easily plummet.
Summary
While freelancing has its many perks, one of the biggest downsides could be taking on too many clients when you only have so much time in the day to dedicate to work. Make sure you’re following these steps to better manage your client load and keep your business running smoothly.
