Better Client Calls

My first client call is permanently etched onto my brain.

It was for a website "About" page.

I remember it vividly. Not so much because of the call itself, but the anxiety and overwhelm associated with it.

I remember my mile-long checklist…

? Questions to ask — check!

? Time zones are right — check!

? Know what to say if they have issues with the price — check...ish!

? And a million other things.

We got on the call. And that meeting went for way over an hour. It didn't need to.

But I blabbed my way nervously through it.

First time-itis, I guess? ??

And even though I said some dumb stuff during the call. What I think saved me, was just kinda being my geeky self.

Not being afraid to laugh at myself. And not making a big deal if things didn't go smoothly.

I got the job. And they were ecstatic with the results! ??

I don't know what your comfort levels are like when meeting a stranger on a Zoom call for the first time?

Maybe it's like water off a duck’s back for you. But I don’t think most of us are quite that chilled. Just because it’s a new thing. And unknowns can stir up fears.

But I've done a few since that first one. And they do get easier.

A few things that helped me along the way…

? Be prepared. Know the who, what, where, why as much as possible. Do you know what your prospective client does? Why? And for whom? And do you know what they're meeting with you about?

? Have an agenda. It doesn't have to be long. Tell them what it is. Ask if there's anything not on it they'd like to add. This helps set you up as being in charge of the meeting.

? Remember the housekeeping bits. The things at the start that need doing. Including recording the call (ideally getting their permission for that beforehand).

? You have to lead the call. (Most important!) Otherwise they will take over. Or, if you don’t do this, you'll both sit there in a very awkward silence.

If it's the first time you're having a call, you can even practice it beforehand.

Do a trial run with a friend. Get them to act the part of the client. Even if it's a bit contrived.

At least you can do a dry run with the technology and check it's behaving. So that can be one less point of anxiety.

You can also check that you've got enough space to express yourself in front of the camera.

I'm a "flailing hands" kind of person. And it's really annoying when I'm using them to help me talk, but the video is only showing my face.

If you're an old pro at this client call stuff, perhaps there's a newer freelancer you could offer to help with a trial run?

Because… better client calls are better for everyone.

The more clients that have great experiences with freelancers... the happier they'll feel about hiring one.

All the best for your next client call! ??

This article was originally published in my Freelance Contours weekly Substack newsletter.

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