What to Do When a Client Hates Your Work
“I’m not happy.”
“This is not what we discussed.”
“I expected this to look different.”
“Let’s talk.”
If you’re lucky, you probably don’t see those responses often. But every now and then, even the hardest-working freelancer gets a negative response – particularly on first drafts. So what do you do when you’ve tried your best and they HATE it with the fire of a burning sun?
1. Have a revision policy in place before they ever see a draft
The best way to deal with potential client dissatisfaction is to deal with revision policies up front, when you’re negotiating your contract. That way everyone knows what the rules are.
Policies motivate clients to give concise, clear feedback and ensure you’re not stuck in endless “editing purgatory”. Or if you are, you’ll be compensated accordingly.
Revision policies draw clear boundaries and assuage client fears. They may not prevent unhappiness but they protect you from potential abuse.
2. Try not to take it personally
Unless you are working with some truly sadistic, unreasonable creeps (and if you are, look for other clients! It’s not worth being miserable!), you and your client are both working towards the same goal. You both want a finished product that they’re happy with and that you’re not completely ashamed of.
Try not to take criticism personally. Odds are that they don’t really mean to devalue your work. They just want to express their feelings and opinions and some people are better at critiquing than others.
All of this assumes that the feedback is not nasty or personal. If it is, don’t work with this client again. Even consider cutting your losses and fleeing. Big red flag! Don’t work with jerks!
So you didn’t get it perfect the first time? You’re not psychic! How could you know exactly what to do? Forgive yourself and try to let criticism roll off your back. It’s not about you or your worth. It’s just about trying to refine and finish this one little project.
3. Focus on the solution
Remain cheerful and calm. If you can communicate to your client that revision is a normal part of working together, they should calm down pretty quickly. You may apologise for their dissatisfaction but don’t dwell on the apology. You don’t want to act as if you’re ashamed of your work.
Focus on the fact that you’re willing to collaborate with them to ensure their happiness. Nobody can object to that. Most unhappy clients just want to feel like they’re being heard and respected. Some want to be talked through your process.
Identify the chief decision maker on your project – hopefully you know who that is – but make sure that you’re not missing out on some feedback. Listen carefully to what it is they like (or don’t like) and try to get as many specifics out of them as possible. Do all of this in writing, if you can. That way you won’t forget anything and you can politely refer them back to those directions later.
Again, stay solution oriented. Your message to them is: “No worries! I can do that for you! Everything is under control!”
4. Try again and keep in mind that it’s their money
You may have made edits that you considered unwise or obtuse. You may have, on client request, turned perfectly lovely pieces into boring, flat articles full of buzzwords and jargon. As long as it isn’t under your byline, you do these things because these projects were ultimately about the client’s preferences, not yours. That’s why they are paying you.
You might (if you think that client’s revisions defeat their own objectives) give your opinion and push back. But ultimately, if the client makes choices that you feel weaken a piece, it’s their money, so you’ll do it. You may not put it in my portfolio but you’ll adjust the work to meet most of their specifications.
A client telling you that they’re not happy isn’t pleasant but it’s not the end of the world either. Stay friendly and calm. Have clear policies in place and you’ll emerge unscathed, one draft at a time!
SOURCE: Freelancers Union
