Can you juggle many clients without panicking? When starting a business, your goal is to get one client…any client. As your firm expands, you’ll need to split your time between new customer relationships and existing ones.
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You may even reach the point where you can pick and choose who you work with. Regardless, you’ll need to understand multi-client management. As a freelancer, you want to keep your clients without being overwhelmed or burned out.
Here are some suggestions and tactics for managing several clients.
Prioritize Your Clients Every Week
Depending on how many clients you have, you may need to divide your job to focus on each client separately. In a week with five clients, you may wish to devote a couple of hours per day to each.
Why work Monday through Friday if you have more? Almost certainly, your clients’ needs vary. Others may be more hands-off and assign smaller duties.
Each week, plan your schedule so you know which clients and how much time you’ll need. Larger clients may need to be prioritised earlier in the week. Keep in mind deadlines and create a timetable that works for you and allows you to provide your best to each client.
You can easily do this by using appliance service software.
Manage Client Expectations
Early on, discuss with clients their expectations and how you can meet them. Be honest about your schedule/availability and that you have other clients.
Inform clients if you don’t work weekends. Inform clients when to reach you to discuss projects and other matters. If you prefer to prioritise a client from Monday to Wednesday, let them know. They will likely feel special and valued.
Plan A Meeting Day
If you have many clients who want to meet, consider arranging them all on the same day. This may sound excessive, but it can actually increase your productivity. Regular meetings can slow you down.
Because you have to stop working to attend your meeting, many of your projects will be completed late in the day. Arrange all client meetings on one day. So you don’t have to worry about refocusing on crucial things.
Also, bill clients for meetings that keep you from working or include them in your project rate.
Keep It Simple
You may think you need to multitask since you have multiple clients, but this is untrue. I’ve tried working on multiple projects at once, but it never works. Instead, keep to your timetable and focus. If you start the day feeling overwhelmed, focus on one client project and don’t switch until it’s finished. Schedule breaks or email time, but try to stay focused on the task at hand and finish it before moving on.
Say No Fearlessly
To manage several customers efficiently, you must know your boundaries and be comfortable with no. If 10 clients are too much for you, either employ help or boost your pricing. It’s hard to say no when you feel like you’re wasting money, but remember there will be other opportunities. If you don’t have the time or energy to take on an extra customer or project, don’t do it.
Schedule overload will degrade your quality and attention to detail. This will lead to excessive exhaustion. Instead, realise your limits, employ the necessary help, and schedule time to relax and unwind.
How many clients do you have and how do you handle them all?
