How to Deal with Difficult Customers - A Guide for Freelancers
By Christy Tanner

No matter where you work you always have customers or clients who are difficult, making the job you need to do even more challenging. In this article, we will discuss the different ways that these clients pose problems for you. Also we will discuss the best ways to handle these clients with ease. Because the truth is that you can't just avoid these customers, you must take them on and handle the job at hand, otherwise you will end up not having any clients.

A difficult client can be noticed by any or all of the following characteristics:

- A difficult customer will continually change the project specs.

- A difficult customer trusts you, but not without doubts. They will make sure that they tell you this every chance that they get.

- A difficult customer will constantly bug you with e-mails, even though there is no problem and the e-mails are not needed.

- A difficult customer may continually ask you for updates even though your original schedule was for the updates to be done every 5 days.

- A difficult customer may constantly complain about your fee and tell you that they should have hired someone else for the project

- A difficult customer may constantly point out things that you have done correctly, but could have done better.

- A difficult customer may continually say that they are looking for another freelancer to take over the project, restating their lack of trust in you.

- A difficult customer always seems to be too busy when you ask for needed information.

- A difficult customer wants to control the entire project even though you are the real expert.

So what do you do to handle a client like this?

- Write down every interaction you have with the client, dating and putting specific interactions and decisions that came about due to the meeting.
- Develop a specific way you handle every customer and always stick to it. Don't change any part of this protocol ... no matter what.

- Transform your self-image into one of an authority figure. You are the boss, and the one who is in charge. Always come across this way to your customers.

- It isn't possible to take on every single customer that comes your way. If you have enough work to pay all of your bills, then turn down customers who seem as if they are going to be difficult. Be strong, and refuse these projects as a difficult client can turn your entire world inside out.

With these steps you should be able to handle the most difficult customer that you come across. Also keep in mind that you may have more rules to add to the list after you increase your experience with customers. Also when you deal with these nasty clients, keep in mind that they may be difficult, but they also are the ones who are indeed paying the bill if you have accepted their proposal. Think of it this way, if you do a good job and show them that you are above their behavior, then you may indeed get more projects from them, and possibly a good word to other possible clients. However, you can also decide to turn down any future projects from this customer.

You also might want to keep in mind there are some people who are just unhappy, miserable people. These people like to make others as upset as they are. It's best to treat these people with a careful eye. You need to be forceful enough to get your point across, but yet not too forceful that the client decides that they don't want to deal with you anymore.

Remember that you control your own destiny, and be sure that you follow the path that will lead you to the most wealth and happiness. Once in a while you will have to deal with a difficult person, but you can do it!

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