Jawaban langsung
Letting go of your client is one of the hardest things to do; but sometimes, it’s important. Continue reading below to know the signs when it’s time to let your client go.
Panduan ini menjelaskan konteks praktis untuk keputusan bisnis di Indonesia, tanpa janji peringkat, trafik, atau hasil dalam waktu tetap.
If your differences are too obvious
Remember how these words excite you after each presentation? It’s as if the entire universe is applauding you for doing a spectacular task of persuading your client to do business with you. It’s your prize after all the countless revisions and sleepless nights. And since then, you’ve given everything you could just to keep your (professional) relationship in good shape. But suddenly, with no warning, you just noticed that everything is falling apart – the business, the communication, the process, the concepts. It’s as if nothing is going right.
So what do you do next? Of course, you’ll try to make things work. As much as you can, you will do a series of analysis to identify the root cause of the problem. But what if nothing works anymore? What if after endless resolutions, you’ll always end up in a disagreement – up to the point that it’s already affecting other aspects of your business? Would you be willing to ditch all the efforts you made just so you can breathe a little, or will you continue to look for solutions that will be beneficial for both sides?
If there's a lack of trust and confidence
Letting go of your client is one of the hardest things to do; but sometimes, it’s important. Continue reading below to know the signs when it’s time to let your client go.
After working a couple of projects together, your relationship with your client is becoming more familiar . Surely, you’ll notice a lot of similarities and things in common. These things can help you surpass any challenges and it can convert your concepts to successful campaigns.
If you're not getting anything in return
But, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies. There will be times when some of your insights won’t match. There will be instances where the client will not accept any of the strategies you present. It’s not that you’re not good; it’s just that… it’s not what they want. If this clashing of differences happen too often, then it’s time to consider letting them go.
Of course, trust is built as you work together. It may not be naturally planted in each relationship, but trust can be developed based on how well you value your words to each other. You have to make sure that you will deliver as promised. But, if after all the efforts of staying true to every commitment and the client is still second-guessing you , then it’s time to bid farewell. You cannot work with someone who doesn’t trust that you can do a good job, because they will always expect that you’re going to do something wrong.
If your compromise needs compromising
Sometimes, it all boils down to proper compensation. It’s a no-brainer: no business is running a charity and everyone needs to pay their dues. One or two setbacks or delayed payments may be okay, but if it becomes a routine (and you’re basically working for free) then it’s not fair anymore. You can consider renegotiating your contract, or maybe it’s just time to end it.
It’s expected that you will compromise with your client. Meaning, your decisions should always be in favor of everyone. Also, it’s normal that the client will ask for a couple of favors and will negotiate on different things – fees, deadlines, concepts, etc. that’s okay; but, if it becomes habitual to the point that it’s compromising your business and your team, then you should just call it all off. If haggling has become their hobby, it’s not good for business anymore.
If they demand too much of your time
Once the contract is signed, you’re committing to a long-term relationship with your client. Which means, they are entitled to your utmost dedication. They should get updates on the progress your campaigns or business, and they should also be informed of everything that is happening with their brand – even when they are not asking for it. Closing a deal requires extra initiative.
But, there are times when a single client is taking too much of your time. There are times when a client clings on you too much – asking for updates even on weekends, requesting for revisions with impossible timetables, and practically asking for almost everything. For example, imagine having 15 employees, and 10 of which is working on a single account. It’s a disaster.
If your opinion doesn't matter anymore
How can your boat float if almost everyone is stuck on one side? You cannot be available 24/7 and you cannot always have all your hands on deck just to please one client. If their expectations are unmanageable, you can have them jump off your boat. That’s okay.
The client is the expert in their business. We know that, and we acknowledge that. You can’t tell them what is good or bad about their brand, and what should they change about it. Their business is theirs. But, the marketing, web design, social media , and business development, it’s all yours. That is why they hired you, and it means that they should listen to you about those things.
If they don’t respect your team members
Of course, they won’t always like what you present. There may be times when your concepts are completely off or your campaigns are just too far from their core values. But, you shouldn’t just take orders from them, you should give them options to choose from.
If it comes to a point where the client doesn’t listen to you anymore and all they do is to feed you with ideas, then there’s something wrong. If the client does nothing but to make you a proofreader or a designer, and the strategy is all coming from them, then probably they don’t need you anymore.
Diskusikan konteks bisnis Anda di halaman kontak atau WhatsApp. Kami tidak menjanjikan peringkat, volume prospek, atau hasil dalam waktu tetap.
