6 Client Red Flags To Watch Out For On Upwork

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Have you ever had a bad feeling about a client?

Because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked with a prospect and thought…

“Something about this guy doesn’t feel right, but I can’t put my finger on it…”

Or, even worse – you sign on the client and start to think…

“I don’t like how this collab is going, but I’m not sure if this is how it’s supposed to be…”

After taking 100+ sales calls and working with 20+ clients from Upwork (and counting ??), I've had my share of terrible clients…

But I’ve also had some awesome clients as well!

I get so many questions and concerns from Upwork freelancers about what it’s like to work with clients – and how to prevent the bad experiences from happening.

What’s normal? What’s not? How do I know if I’m being taken advantage of? Etc.

Well, I want to demystify that today by sharing 6 common red flags and what the green flags look like.

?? 1. They ask for discounts or try to bargain.?

I want to make one thing perfectly clear.

Just because Upwork is a marketplace environment doesn’t mean your services are a common commodity.?

Many freelancers decide to lower their rates by client request or to outbid another freelancer.

But that doesn’t mean that you have to do that too.

There’s a well-known saying…?

“If I do a job in 30 minutes, it’s because I spent 10 years learning how to do that in 30 minutes. You owe me for the years – not the minutes.”?

? Good clients understand they’re paying for a skill you invested time and resources into perfecting.?

They will show you respect by honoring your rates.

However, if you’re really vibing with a client you want to work with, but they “can’t afford” your offer…?

You can reduce the scope by offering fewer deliverables or services instead.

This allows you to still work with them without lowering your price.

I usually tell my coaching clients to offer 3 packages when they follow up on the initial Discovery Call.

This gives your good prospects options to choose a package within their budget.

?? 2. They expect you to work entirely within their schedule.?

This is only acceptable when you’re an employee of the company.?

If you’re open to full-time employment opportunities on Upwork, go for it! (Full-time, meaning you won’t take on any other clients.)

But when you’re a freelancer...

Clients should be working with YOUR schedule and respect the boundaries you’ve set in place for your life and business.

You don’t owe them anything regarding working on their schedule – that’s why we freelance.

? Good clients understand that, as a freelancer, you provide specialized services for multiple clients.?

They will respect and adhere to your process for streamlining your workload in a timely fashion.

Because here’s the thing…

We’re not hourly employees that receive healthcare, sick time, retirement plan, and other benefits.?

If a client wants more of your availability, they’ll have to compensate you accordingly based on your rates.

?? 3. They’re rude to you and treat you like an inferior.

Always remember that clients need you more than you need them.?

They wouldn’t have gotten on Upwork to hire a freelancer if they didn’t. ??

Because, unlike employees, freelancers are regarded as specialists in their field.

? Good clients will treat you with respect, ask good questions, and value your input.?

Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself when a client treats you poorly.

Obviously, you should still be professional, but you don’t have to take verbal abuse from them.

To take one common example, if you get on a call with a prospect and they start the call saying something like…

“Look, I don’t have time for this call, and I already have a feeling you’re going to waste my time…”

Don’t hesitate to stop them and say something like…

“With all due respect, I’m not here to waste anyone’s time. And I don’t want anyone wasting mine either. With that being said, I don’t feel this is a good fit, so I’m going to end this call. All the best with your endeavors!”

Set a precedent by establishing your boundaries with your clients early on.?

?? 4. They expect you to have all the answers, complete work at fast turnaround times, and “save” their business.?

As good as it may feel to have a client count on you to this extent, it also sets an unnecessary expectation on you.

Because you’ll be the first person to blame the moment the job doesn’t go as planned.

? Good clients understand that the job is a collaborative effort.?

They make sure you have everything you need to do the job efficiently.?

They’re also patient because they understand that the best results take time to develop.

?? 5. They micromanage your every move.?

You’ll encounter this a lot with clients who are new to hiring.

They do it out of fear, thinking their business won’t function correctly if things aren’t done a certain way.

? Good clients don’t have this insecurity—they can keep an open mind and trust your process.?

?? 6. They take your work for granted.?

Be wary of clients who think that your work is “easy” or “anyone can do it”.?

Because here's the thing...?

While the lifestyle of a freelancer may be fun and easy, the skills that you've honed are not.

You've learned a valuable high-income skill that they need.?

These prospects wouldn't be looking for a specialist if they didn't already know that.

That said, don’t let them devalue your work.

? Good clients recognize outstanding work and reward you for it however they can.?

Whether that’s by giving you a raise, a bonus, referring you to other clients, or simply giving you a testimonial.

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Now that you know what a good client looks like, here’s what you should do with this information…

When you get a response from a proposal, you need to vet the prospect just as much as they vet you.?

Get the prospect on a call and ask good questions to determine if they would be a good fit for you.

If they don’t fit your criteria, let them know your decision and decline their offer if they present one.

If you’re working with a client right now and feel like the collab isn’t going well, you have a right to fire the client in a professional manner.

I'm telling you from experience – don't stick around for a client if the collab isn't going well.

It’s not worth sacrificing your sanity and well-being for the money.

I know this might be hard to believe right now…?

But the truth is that there are many clients out there who'll appreciate what you have to offer.

So, to make room for these ideal clients, you must let go of the bad ones ASAP.

Because remember this...

?? On Upwork, you're just another proposal away from getting a replacement client.

?? Your other clients still need you. Don’t let one bad client drain the energy you need to produce good work for your best clients.

So, always make decisions based on what's good for you and your freelance business.

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