The second Outlaw Design Podcast is upon us with your truly as the host. I tried to listen to some of the suggestions from readers and listeners of the last post, so hopefully the paid off. If you guys think I did ok than I may be the regular host! Wooo!
Show Notes
Guest Panelist: Niki Brown from Design O Blog
Overview:
In this episode I would like to talk about that variety of “bad” clients one comes in contact with and how to deal with them. These “bad” clients can include those who push for free/spec work, ask for more than what is included in the original scope, those who get upset when they don’t like the outcome of a project, and those who are just plain mean. Lets talk about these sorts of clients and what are the most professional ways to handle them.
Questions and topics that were covered:
-Whats your worst client story involving a “bad” client?
-How do you respond to clients who ask for more than you originally agreed on?
-What methods do you take to ensure you and your client are always on the same page?
-How do handle clients who just continually don’t like what you produce?
-What do you do when a client wants there money back because they are unhappy working with you?
-How do you hand clients who don’t pay?
Suggested Resources:
Danny - Things App
Andrew - Mozy Backup
Niki - WuFoo Form Builder
Listen to the Podcast
Podcast: Play on page | Download (Duration: 50:02 — 32.9MB)
16 Comments
Nice, definitely going to listen to this tomorrow on the ride to work. Too bad I don’t have any pushy clients yet…
Hey Outlaws! Good job on the podcast. I don’t have any pushy clients at the moment, but in the past I handled the situation two-fold. One I’d get 100% if the job was less then $500 and I had a half down and staggered payment system for larger jobs. Also, if a client really sucks, just fire them! I look forward to the next podcast. Thx.
I have run into this problem and one thing that I learned in design school is to stand your ground about being a designer and not a short order cook, so to speak. Meaning that you shouldn’t be there to make what they order, but to design what they might have in mind.
At the end of a horrible week with one certain client, I finally said, “I work for myself, so that I don’t have to deal with clients such as yourselves and I think it would be best for me and you to recommend someone more suited to your needs.” Of course, I wouldn’t have wished them on my worst enemy and they finally decided on one of the first designs I had done for them.
Great topic, keep them coming. Thanks, Camxso
Love it, and a great meaty topic to talk about. Keep them coming.
I’m going to check this out. You should make your podcast available to subscribe from iTunes. That way I can manage it with my other podcasts.
It is on itunes…I think anyways.
Try this link…
event:http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=312856416&uo=4&v0=WWW-NAUS-ITUWEEKLY-IPOD%2BITUNES
Danny, when you talk it sounds like you’re going to forget what you’re saying mid-sentence.
LOL. Yeah, its mostly nerves. The whole hosting thing is a lot harder than you think it is. Hopefully I’ll get better as the podcasts progress.
Some really great tips in this podcast, thanks a lot for sharing your experiences guys and gals. Having just created small projects here and there I haven’t dealt with this sort of thing, but it might come in handy preparing myself for future opportunities. Also, I like that you switch up who hosts, but that all three of you have a chance to share your story or suggestions.
One thing i noticed though, someone likes to fidget with things
Kind of makes distracting sounds near the end. (I do this a lot also so I completely understand haha)
I think it might have been someones dog
It certainly was not my cat 
Really excellent podcast. Not usually a fan of podcasts or video posts, but this was accessible and enlightening.
Appreciate you taking the time to focus on my question - and pretty much got your interpretation of what I meant spot on. Take the point about “if you’re doing so much work for one client, are you a freelancer?”
I guess the best way to explain the situation is that I made the decision to move into freelancing not long ago, so I’m pretty early on in terms of trying to build a client base. I was lucky enough that very early on in the process I got a pretty meaty contract that is great for long term development of my portfolio and is a big project over which I have pretty extensive creative control. So I enjoy working on it, it’s well paid, but it’s also time consuming and I don’t (as was pointed out in the podcast) want to be overly reliant on that client.
I’m early enough in the freelancing gig, though, that I haven’t had an opportunity to build up a wider client network. I find myself in the situation where I’m receiving good money for a long term project I enjoy, but am equally aware of a) being over reliant on a single client and b) the need to extend my client base in the long term.
What a great topic. I think too many of us have had to experience this. I hate clients who have absolutely no idea how difficult our job is, yet they think they have the pricing structure figured out.
like me to write a note to send to old clients who haven’t been here in awhile… this? I don’t want to seem too pushy or just look like we need money or something… What kind of business? If you’re say, a hairdresser, I would send out cards that are als
thank you guys .. i like it
Excellent! The next edition of the podcast is here! Now where’s my country-rock guitar? …
That was a great conversation. Keep up the podcasts!