Freelacers: 3 Ways to Communicate Capacity without Sounding Desperate

You know that time when an agency or company client hasn’t come back to you for a while?

When it seems somehow strange that a client hasn’t touched base with you for a couple of months, even after those last few projects you completed for them went out so well, and they paid on time and everything?

You want to work with them again, but... How do you communicate you have capacity without sounding desperate?

Let’s assume that, ideally, you are not desperate. Let’s assume you’ve done your homework and been marketing to potential clients weekly, if not daily.

In this article, I'll attempt to answer one of the questions I get asked a lot by my translator colleagues and other fellow freelancers:

How do I communicate I have capacity without sounding desperate, Delfina?

??WHAT MOST FREELANCERS DO MAY BE A “DON'T”

○?You could reach out to your client with a short and simple phrase like “I am available” in your next email. But... I wouldn’t go for that one.

While the “I am available” phrase is an all-time favourite among freelancers, most people using it haven't got a clue about what to say otherwise, so they go for this phrase, but... it's such a cliché!

Everyone uses it all the time. In fact, it’s so commonplace that it will fail to differentiate you from hundreds of other freelancers emailing your client with the exact same message—no personal touch, no further ado, just “This is to let you know I am available and happy to work with you again” or “We're here to help.” About 90% of freelancers use these phrases...

An email like that may never even get your client to email you back, or if they do, they'll probably put in as much effort in the message as you, and say: “We love working with you, we'll stay in touch, thank you.” And that it'll be it. The PM will go grab lunch or switch off for the day and hardly remember your message the next business day.

Short and simple is welcome, but cliché email marketing is not. Why? Because it won't create a long-lasting positive impression on your client. Sure, you can still use it if you like, but be aware of its potential lack of effectiveness in the long run.

○?You could get more active on social media (i.e., post an article, a video, or share specific content on LinkedIn) and tag your client on a public post…?but are you sure that won’t hurt?

What if that looks like a desperate “S.O.S call” or, worse, unexpected, unwelcome intrusive conduct? What if they feel like you are interrupting their feed activity rather than trying to professionally reconnect with them? Besides, your client may not even see your post (i.e., they may not be that active on LinkedIn?)? If you are going to use social media to call your existing clients' attention, I'd recommend that you share your new, valuable (for them) content through a private message with your client. And please, please ensure your content is relevant to your recipient or don’t bother sharing at all. No one wants to feel treated like just another potential “groupie.”

○?You could send a warm email…?so as to remind them of how you can still help them achieve their goals.

If your previous work relationship was a success and you are sorry it has come to what looks like an unexpected end...

If you are certain this client matches the description of your ideal client or buyer persona...

You need to take action. Now. The moment you finish reading this article, which will be in about five minutes.

So brace yourself, for you're about to step out of your comfy Waiting Zone Couch into The Realm of Making Things Happen For Me.

You see, according to me, waiting with your arms folded—or even wide open—won’t get you any real opportunities with this client.

Drifting in a wind of “perhaps, perhaps, perhaps” won't get you anywhere. If you can't make your mind up, we'll never get started...

Yeh, “Perhaps their own work flow has diminished.”

“Perhaps they are too busy to remember I exist.”

“Perhaps they think I am sooo busy that I couldn’t handle more work from them, just because I declined a few jobs in the past five months... But that was when I had to babysit for Mary!”

Forget about your own conjectures. You need facts.

First, you need to take action.

You need to remind them how well you guys did last time you worked together. Wasn’t it fun despite the super tight deadlines? Wasn’t it interesting as well as challenging?

You need to remind your client that you are here to help them again if they need you, but you need to invest time in crafting a message that will stand out.

This client, whether big or small, is likely to get tons of emails, messages, voice messages, and phone calls from several different people directly or indirectly flashing the same old card at them: “We're available.” If they operate overseas, you can multiply those tons and add a few hundreds.

You can’t expect your client to remember who you are and how you helped them in the past in detail if all you always do is send them the usual “I am available” message.

So how do you suggest I do it, Delfina? How CAN I stand out while keeping it sweet and simple? After all, I don't want to sound pushy or desperate...

I feel you. I've been there, too.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOUR EMAIL BE?

I’d say you go for a warm email of about 100-150 words.?

WHAT SHOULD YOU COMMUNICATE?

?? Option 1:?That you are busy, but still squeezed some time to reach out because you care for them??

Again, odds are that if marketing is something you’ve been doing on a consistent basis, you will not be reaching this long-lost client from months ago because you desperately need them back to make ends meet. You will be contacting them because you’d LOVE to have them back.

So, let them know you are busy in a tactful way: “... I am dropping you a line/writing to know whether I should consider booking some time to work with you/your team in the coming weeks. By the way, I'd be happy to do so, as I am sure we can keep delivering awesome results to [Account Name] as we did in [Specific Month(s) you worked together for Account Name].

If the answer is “Yes, we actually have something you'd be a great fit for now that I think about it” or “Possibly, I'll give you a headsup for an upcoming project next month,” you can grin with delight and know you’ve succeeded in resuming the conversatio, which is the first step toward resuming the work relationship.

If the answer is no or radio silence, at least you’ve had no loss, and may consider doing some follow up within 15 days or a month, while you keep working with your regular clients and actively looking for new ones.

?? Option 2:?Any interesting news about you and your business that could be relevant to your target client??

Have you completed any useful training lately? I mean, useful to deliver even better results to your client?

Are you about to launch a new service they could use or recommend?

Are you attending any industry conference or event soon?

Have you formed any particular partnerships with a special colleague or started a side project, like a podcast in your specialty field or a hobbie that could make you better, more creative or just more unique as a freelance service provider?

If any of your new endeavours are adding or could add value to your services, your client will be happy to know and hear from you again in connection with them. Stop hiding under the covers, you active freelancer! Adding value to your services can take the form of anything that makes you better at serving your clients, so don't shy away from telling them about your new projects, provided these could be relevant or interesting to your client's eyes.

?? Option 3:?Send them a link to your schedule or capacity in Calendly, with a note highlighting they may want to book you now, so you can all plan in?advance.?

Are you already booked by a few clients but still would love to hear back from this one in particular? Did you enjoy working with them so much that you would be ready to make their needs a priority?

Letting your client know is a great first step. You could simply say something like “Because I value the refreshing experience drawn from the XXXXX and YYYY projects that brought us together a few days/months ago, and since I would like to be ready to serve you in the best possible way, I meant to touch base with you to know if you might need me to help with any [Service Type] services in the next few weeks.”

SMALL STEPS, GREAT IDEAS, BIG RESULTS

When would it be best to use these prompts in order to get results? I'd say, any time! But, ideally, by the end of the current month, or over the course of the first few days of next month. This would probably make more sense.

YOU HAVE THE PROMPTS, HERE'S YOUR CHALLENGE

Now you've got something different to use in your next warm email for that client you miss working with, I challenge you, I dare you, to create a shiny but not corny subject line. Remember, you want your client to open that email.

Still hesitating? Look, if Steve Jobs had lingered in Hesitationland for too long, he might have missed creating Apple. Right??

Just do it! What have you got to lose if not five minutes?

Good luck, you daring freelancer!??

ABOUT THE WRITER

I'm here to help brands and freelance business owners shine through their marketing and communication strategy. I'm here to inspire action for change and growth.

Want to engage with your audience and expand your reach in English and in Spanish?

To learn more about my Creative Language and Marketing Consultancy Services, please visit?www.orangepowerdmh.com?or drop me a line [email protected]

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A NOTE ABOUT THIS ARTICLE

This article was supposed to be a 1,300-word LinkedIn post. But I just couldn’t help myself and kept writing. I hope it’s been worthy of your time.

I know my translator colleague Carol did find it useful. It was she who encouraged me to share this article here on LinkedIn.

??If you've found these tips useful, please comment and share with other freelancers??

What other communication tactics would you recommend in order to win a client back into our portfolio?