Is it normal to lose a few clients because they are not happy with my work ?

Question

Well, I'm a freelance web designer and I've worked with about 20-30 clients over the past 5 years and well, I'm not perfect and consistant. I have clients that are not happy with my service and they don't ask me to do work for them anymore. But I also have clients that are very happy with my service. Sometimes I never finish their work at all because I'm too busy. So, I'm wondering is it normal to have a small percentage of unhappy customers, or should I deliver the best service posible to each client ? I just feel bad that I didn't do a good job last time. But my business is ok and I still have work coming in.

Answer 1

Normal? when you don't finish the work that you've been assigned, people will be dissatisfied....yes it is "normal." In fact, I would encourage them to discontinue their demand from you.

What YOU have to do is stop endeavoring yourself with work that you cannot complete just to maximize profit. Profit is guaranteed , as well as a clientele built, by you satisfying your customers.

What I am trying to say is....don't be greedy. When a customer calls, and you already have pending work to be done, kindly decline to be their agent and let some other co-worker get that responsibility. You can even tell them the truth and let them know that you have other projects that you're working on and give them a roundabout time frame that you're expecting to finish the work in. Also let them know that you like spending time on projects because you like perfection. If they share your value, then they wouldn't mind the wait which is better for you. If not, then the worst they can do is go somewhere else, that way, your profile and reliability isn't affected. When you DO take your time, finish the work, and get back to your customer (no doubt they'll be impressed), you will definitely build a good clientele which is beneficent to you since they'll keep coming back and even recommend you to others. Hope this helps. Cheers

ps Still having incoming demands is testament to your diligence in the projects that you chose to do well (recommendations, probably, from others that you've satisfied). If you were an all around slack, I doubt you'd still be employed.

Answer 2

You must learn to take on only what you are able to manage to finals---this is extremely important in a successful business !!

Business is far more than knowing the work that you are engaged in--- actually the actual work within the art of what you do is only about a third OF the business----------There is another third in the accounting and paperwork end of things and then another third in the promotion and solicitation of new business
BUT INCLUDED IN THE THIRD THAT ENTAILS YOUR ACTUAL WORK IS THE PART OF CUSTOMER SERVICE and that my little friend is a good part of the future that you either have or don't have in the business world------

I have been doing photography work for almost thirty years and have built a superb reputation for the quality of the work I produce--- there are times that I am swamped with work offers and there was a time that I tried to accomodate each and every one of them----no more-- and not for some time---when I hit a certain level of work responsiblity I call the thing done -- close the schedule to new business and get cracking on what I have on the books--- because--- I have learned that to be too busy is going to create havoc for me in the short run--- each of the customers that I am trying to please will have less and less of the time that they are paying for--- and -- the time I do have to spend on any given client will be shortened and under a certain amount of limited attention that they should be getting on a higher level ---- all in all--- they get less--- and because of it--- I am producing sub standard work for them and that equates to more unhappy clients and could easily relate into less business from them and others in the future !!!
Hope this helps !!!

Answer 3

WQ: Not really.. Sheamus is actually a pretty good wrestler and WWE has turned him into a generic cowardly heel. If they would have let him continue to be a dominant heel like he was before he became the World Champion, I think he would have made a much better and much more believable main eventer. I don't mind that a newer superstar is the champion, I just don't think WWE is doing a good job of booking him. (Very Short) Promo: Last night was the premiere show of YWSA and I was lucky enough to be involved in the Woman's Championship match along with Sandy and Jamie RKO. Unfortunately I didn't accomplish what I had set out do and that was capture the championship and have the honor of calling myself the first ever YWSA Woman's Champion. But, I'm not going to sit here and whine and complain about not getting what I wanted. Instead, I plan to dominate every one of my matches over these next few weeks in order to prove that I deserve to be the number one contender. So Sandy, congratulations on your little victory last night, but know this: your first YWSA title reign is going to be a very short one, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Answer 4

First, you need to set higher standards for business. A "so-so" philosophy is unacceptable.

Second, run your business like your life depended on it. Find ways to make your clients happy, one client at a time. You only have to do it right once, and then repeat it for each client.

Third, Damage control. Do whatever you can to either get those customers back, or, at least let them know your quality of work and attitude have changed.

Good Luck

Answer 5

you are honest enough to accept that your clients are leaving you because you did not give them proper service. This is a good thing but at the same time you should not develop an inferiority complex that you are not per fact. It is not good to have dissatisfied clients as they send / spread negative opinion about you. so leave them agreeing with them that you failed to their expectations, and concentrate on few / less clients with more attention and devotion. always keep track of others / client's expectations and try your best to give justice to the work on hand. I think you lack concentrated efforts. You have to organise your work as per your capacity and needs. You also have to devote some time for up gradation of your knowledge. so org anise your work. BUT IT IS NEVER GOOD TO HAVE DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER.

Answer 6

Yeah. I used to freelance a couple of years ago myself. You can never reach 100 percent satisfaction. Some customers will be unhappy no matter what you do. Others want you to bend over backwards so far they're not worth the business. Don't lose any sleep over it.

Answer 7

with a business? i think u shuldNT take it as normal, cuz ul get complacent.

always strive to improve, and satisfy every single customer, u'll never know who would u encounter and make u lucky ! u know what i mean.. and besides all customers deserve the best. nobody wants a haphazard work.

continuous improvement and customer satisfaction must be one of your greatest objectives.

ur work determines the Trust of your customers, add to it >establishing a good relationship, because having this promises commitment, it's the trust and commitment of your customers that would keep them coming back, and that would keep ur business up and running !

=) goodluck ma'am.

GOD bless!

Answer 8

Well, you are very honest.. of course it is normal to lose a % of clients. however, why dont you try to avoid that by not acceping a lot of jobs at the same time. Probably your biggest problem is time managmet. Good luck

Answer 9

You need to delight your customer, I believe that it is all because of time management. If you can't cope to handle the job, do not accept it. It will ruin your reputation.

If you want to save time, u can use this link to get the website for your client http://www.website.ws/myfamilybiz . It will make your job fast. I am not a designer like you but i managed to create my website here http://www.silverroad.ws

regards,
jemie http://website.ws/myfamilybiz.

Answer 10

I think you need to learn from your mistakes before you loose anyone else. You need to set realistic timelines instead of "when you feel like it" and be sure to "go to work" every day. As a small business, word will get around about you, and you need to improve if you're going to stay in. As for not being perfect, always strive for better and make fewer excuses.