As a freelancer, your success hinges not only on the quality of work you produce but also on the strength of your client relationships. Maintaining strong connections with clients can help secure future business, and it also fosters trust, loyalty, and mutual growth.

Here are three proven strategies to keep your clients coming back:  

1. Make Communication a Priority

Establishing open lines of communication right from the start will set the stage for transparency and understanding.  

Elements of effective communication include:  

• Aligning on expectations: Clearly stating expectations from both sides—especially related to timing and deliverables—at the beginning of a project will help keep it on track.
• Respecting each other’s time: Be sure to respond to inquiries or requests promptly.
• Keeping clients updated: If you see any potential delay during the progress of your projects, inform your client ASAP!  

Tip: After the project ends, send a personalized message expressing gratitude and thanking the client for the opportunity. A simple “thank you” can go a long way!  

2. Seek Feedback

Creating an environment where clients feel comfortable sharing their feedback with you will foster a space for effective collaboration. Encourage feedback by asking insightful questions that dive deeper and demonstrate your interest in addressing their concerns. A good practice is to schedule regular check-ins to provide opportunities to touch base and discuss the project.  

In addition to seeking feedback, active listening is important to make clients feel that they are heard and that their comments are considered.  

3. Cultivate Trust and Professionalism

According to our 2024 Wripple Team Up Report [link to blog when live], 30% of companies thought maintaining standards and professionalism were top areas for improvement when working with freelancers. This went both ways in the research and highlights an overall need for more trust, confidence, and respect throughout all aspects of the relationship.

Consistently demonstrating your professionalism and reliability can strengthen trust.  

Here are some essential steps you can take:  

• Be on time: Adhere to agreed-upon deadlines and when it comes to meetings, be punctual.  
• Be engaged during video meetings: This can mean turning your camera on if others are also on camera. When the camera’s on, avoid distracting behaviors like eating or checking your phone. If you have pets (or humans) who might disrupt the meeting, try to arrange a quieter place to be for the call, if possible.  
• Be flexible: Be open to changes and address issues with a solutions-oriented approach.  
• Deliver quality work: In addition to providing work that is complete, always review for typos and accuracy in deliverables and be sure any documents are well-organized and titled. When a presentation is involved, practice it beforehand, connect with your audience, and don’t just read the slides!

Becoming a company’s “go-to freelancer” involves not only delivering great work but also investing in meaningful connections and showing that you’re reliable. On your next project, keep these tips in mind to ensure you leave a positive lasting impression for future opportunities.  

Looking for other freelancing tips? Check out these articles:

5 Ways to Market Your Freelance Business  

Talent Tips to Getting Work on the Wripple Platform

How to Ace Your Next Freelance Project Interview

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