Between freelance graphic designers and brand managers who like to call the shots on anything from art direction to product launch – we sometimes get the odd client whose business doesn’t really brand well.
From our years in the trenches of social media marketing, we’ve seen our fair share of these clients, these businesses that aren’t only difficult to sell, but even more difficult to conceptualize for their ideal target markets.
This post is about dealing with sorts of clients. Granted, I’m writing from my years of experience with social media marketing but the advice I’ve put together here still rings true for graphic designers, web developers and the creative design industry in general.
Refuse the client.
It takes a massive amount of chutzpah and tact to turn down a client (albeit politely). It makes almost no sense at all to refuse business especially when money is tight and the rent’s due in a week or so.
All of these niggling doubts and quibbles tend to disappear once you stop thinking of your (competent) content writing, web designing, app developing or graphic designing skills as a gig, a racket; and start thinking of these valuable assets as a business.
You’ve every right to refuse entry to your premises. After all, you own the business. You call the shots; you run the show.
Shut your eyes, and pull the trigger.
When we happen to find ourselves in a fix with a client who desperately needs a social media marketing strategy, and he or she can pay well over our prices – we stop and think how much his or her brand lends itself to good branding.
If we can wing it, we’ll wing it. For those times we do, we close our eyes and hope everything sticks. The only time you should refuse an un-brandable business that’s willing to fork over your fees is when you can’t see yourself putting in the hours and the quality that people have come to love you for in your work.
Remember, in our line of work, we trade in the currency of our reputations. We’re only as good as our last project. Our greatness is only bound by the ambition we all share.
Send them over to others.
The web design industry is a relatively tight-knit bunch. Designers and developers generally try to stay in touch. This isn’t only useful for flagging down the inevitable clients from hell but these connections come in handy for outsourcing some of your work.
The idea here is take a project you aren’t likely to enjoy and send it over to someone you can trust to get the job done. Skim a little off the top. Rinse and repeat.
What do you do when you’re asked to come up with an advert for a funeral parlor? How do you manage the online reputation for a particularly sleazy personal injury lawyer?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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About the Author: Between planning weddings and chasing pavement, Shandi Tan is a Community Manager for Pulyetos, LLC. the premiere hub for online reputation management and social media marketing in the Philippines.
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