The Friday Freelancer #019: How to spot client 'red flags'.

I'm sure most freelancers have had the "I?should have known this" moment during a project.?

Or at the end, you said:?"I?knew I?felt something wasn't right"

These are not fictitious feelings; they?are what we call?"Red flags".

Red flags are things to be aware of and if you notice any early it can save you time and peace of mind or both.

In today's issue, I'm?going to discuss some of the most common red flags, what they are, and how to handle them.

(Thank you to Sreepriya R?- one of our readers - who requested this topic)

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There are a couple of ways to approach red flags and it all depends on when they occur.

In my own experience, I see them occurring in either:

1. initial meeting and/or discovery phase
2. once the contract has been signed and/or during a project

At the initial meeting if you see any of the following red flags you do have a choice.

Either decide to work with them or not. Easy.

If on the other hand, you find red flags after they have signed the contract then don't panic.

You have just been given an opportunity to dig deeper and to see if you can?reframe why that is not a good starting point.

OK let's get to the most common "red flags".

"It's not a lot of work. Just a few tweaks. It should only take 5 minutes!"

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Why is it a red flag?

Clients who try to minimise the amount of design work usually regard design work as 'practical.' They see your skill set as one that will benefit them in the long run. They are usually thought to be better judges of what needs to happen.

How to deal with it?

The most important aspect is persuading the client that you are more than just a "pixel pusher".

That you are developing a valuable solution.

You can also explain that there is never 'just' a tweak because that is not solving the problem. Questions or answers to consider:

• Do you believe this "minor tweak" will solve your problem?
• What is the 'business' issue you want to solve?
• What if your idea/sketch isn't the best solution? Do we need to make a new budget?

"I'll leave it to you. You're the expert! Just go and work your magic"

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Why is it a red flag??

It's wonderful to have someone's trust.

However, it is another thing to treat you like a God when they have just met you.

You are not a magician; rather, you are honing your craft, and building a brand is a process.

How to deal with it?

Don't spoil the fun; it's nice to see a client happy.

Make sure to mention that every project you've worked on was a great team effort between you and a client. So you would also appreciate their input and collaboration.

"I want a brand like Apple!"

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Why is it a red flag???

Not only is it setting the bar impossibly high, but comparing the project to any brand is a bad idea unless you can really start defining what it is that they like about it.

How to deal with it?

If you get this comment from a client, kindly tell them that <insert multi-billion dollar brand> took millions of dollars and decades to create.

It also gives you an opportunity to dig deeper into the client's vision.

Try not to avoid the issue; instead, address it and use it to provide value and insight.

Or just laugh it off!

To delve deeper,?just keep asking why.

For instance, the client could say,?"I like how they are a premium product."?Then?you can ask why you believe they are premium.

"I know it when I see it"

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Why is it a red flag???

This is probably a creative's worst nightmare. But we get paid to be mind-readers don't we??

It implies they don't really understand their own brand which means they have not done any research at all.

How to deal with it??

This can and should be used as a blessing in disguise.

Again this is an opportunity to dig deeper. Ask more meaningful questions to get your client to understand their likes and dislikes; styles; fonts; colours etc

This is an ideal time to introduce a detailed brief to gather the information accurately.

"There will be more work after this."

Why is it a red flag???

It's not a problem if some projects look great in your portfolio or if you'll have more work after this project.

It is because it is used to reduce the price.

I've noticed that whenever this argument arises, it's an excuse to say: we don't have the money to pay you right now...so be wary of this one.

How to deal with it?

A couple of things to think about if there is a promise of "more work" afterward:

• How does this 'more work' promise benefit me if we don't like working together in some way?
• Why not try this first project to see how we get along?
• Would you be willing to put this in writing if we like working together, and if so, how much work and for what budget?

?If the answer is no, you know they're just using it to lower the price; if the answer is yes, it could be interesting to work out a retainer contract.

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That's it for this week.

If you'd like to request a topic for the newsletter you can do that by clicking here.

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Whenever you're ready, there are?3 ways I can help you.

1. Grab the?Freelance Starter Kit?(just $19)??here

2. Get fast actionable coaching with my 1:1 coaching packages?here.

3. Build a profitable, more efficient freelance design business?here.

Have a fun weekend!

Huw