Are you a new WordPress developer struggling with difficult clients? Are you tired of budget wrangles and last-minute changes? It’s time to make a change. While you can’t always spot problematic clients in advance, there are ways to manage your business better and make breaking ties with difficult clients less painful.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to find and attract ideal clients, manage your developer business, and part ways with nightmare clients. Let’s start by identifying the right people.
Get to Know Your Ideal Client
To attract decent clients, you need to be crystal clear on who you’d ideally like to work with. Ask yourself the following key questions:
– Do I want to work with startups or established companies?
– What are my non-negotiable terms?
– What type of clients are my skills best suited to serve?
Once you’ve established the answers to these initial questions, start thinking about mistakes to avoid. Consider the following questions:
– How do I positively contribute to the overall tone of communication on the project?
– How do I plan to present the finished project?
– Will I transition the client to manage their own account at the close of the project, or not?
Having a dream client in mind and actively thinking about future project-related scenarios makes you far less likely to attract the wrong type of client to begin with. Now let’s turn our attention to less desirable situations.
Identifying and Managing Nightmare Clients
As a new WordPress developer, it’s not always easy to spot a problematic client in advance. However, there are some sure signs of terrible clients. Any of the following issues should be enough to set alarm bells ringing:
– Consistent problems with payment
– Clients who consume too much of your time
– Constant changes or massively shifting project goals
– Aggressive or manipulative clients who string you along with the possibility of future work rather than fair pay now
– Clients who don’t let you do your job and attempt to commandeer your responsibilities
It’s important to objectively notice these behaviors and calmly decide how to address the problems. Basic project organization goes a long way towards putting out fires in advance. Consider employing all of the following techniques:
– Use a client management system like Trello or Basecamp to keep your various ducks in a row
– Create a client manual to help your client transition to managing their own website and spare future pain
– Create a client questionnaire to clarify terms of service and expectations up front
– Edit your client’s administrative menu to make self-management an easier option down the road
– Carefully review and potentially revise your contract
– Constantly hone your client communication skills
If you do feel you’re going to have to endure a difficult client experience until the end of a particular project, keep these cautionary points in mind:
– Set boundaries. Don’t go to great extremes trying to please unreasonable clients. Some people will simply never be satisfied, regardless of what you do. You have every right to preserve your sanity; your long-term success depends on doing so.
– Be straight with yourself. Honestly assess your feelings about a client and, if something feels weird but you can’t pinpoint what it is, trust your gut and start taking steps to disengage. 99 times out of 100, you’ll be right.
– Don’t fear letting go. Plan ahead by marketing your services to your ideal customer as you prepare to fire your current client. Sometimes letting go of a bad client opens the door to several perfect ones.
Firing Clients That Aren’t a Good Match
Even with the best efforts, sometimes you simply have to sever ties with a client sooner than anticipated. When a client-developer relationship breaks down irreparably, it’s time to part ways – no exceptions. Here are key steps to bear in mind:
– Respect and gratitude: Maintain this overall tone, don’t let emotions creep in, and remain calm and respectful.
– Remain neutral but firm: Don’t blame, use factual language, and make it clear that you are severing the relationship.
– Summarize your position: Offer a brief explanation for your actions and set a final date.
– Offer a solution: Suggest other WordPress developers that might be a better fit. If appropriate, offer a full or partial refund.
– Positive send off: Thank the client for the learning experience and wish them well in all future endeavors.
Example Template
Here’s how the above outline might look in email-form:
Dear [Client],
I hope this message finds you well. There’s an important topic that I’d like to bring to your attention.
We’ve worked together for the last six months, and I think it’s necessary for that to change. Since we have different approaches and standards with regard to project completion, I think a WordPress developer who has more time to devote to your endeavors would best serve your company. As of [date], I will no longer be able to provide you with WordPress development services.
To help you with this transition, I’ve compiled a list of developers who might be available to take you on as a new client:
[Suggestions]
You can expect a full refund for the pre-paid project that was due in eight weeks to be credited to your account within 24 hours.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with and learn from you. I wish you all the best going forward.
Best regards.
[Your Name]
Now What?
Are you ready to kiss your nightmare clients goodbye? Let’s recap the steps we suggested:
– Start by determining who you’d like your ideal clients to be.
– Confirm whether you have any current problematic clients.
– Manage problem clients effectively in the short term.
– Manage yourself – there’s no need to take extreme abuse. If an abrupt firing is necessary, do it.
– Gracefully fire clients that aren’t a good match.
We’re curious to hear how you’ve handled similar experiences to the ones discussed above. How do you manage difficult clients? Have you ever had to fire any? Share your experiences in the comments below!
