A good relationship with a client can be invaluable for a freelancer. Not only are you gaining a good recommendation, but they can be the key to your next job by putting you in contact with new prospective clients.
When it comes to having a positive relationship with your clients, some are easier to maintain than others. There are multiple reasons why you may have to refuse an offer from a client, but the 
secret is keeping them happy even if you can’t do the work they require.
The Pay is too Low
Being in contact with a potential client is an exciting prospect for any newly fledged freelancer. The difficulty lies in naming the right price; between undervaluing and overvaluing your work.
In these first few bartering emails, it’s important to keep a professional tone – that means checking three times for spelling mistakes. Remain friendly even if you’re offended by their low offers – it might be their first time hiring a freelancer!
If you simply can’t commit to the highest figure they are willing to pay, then you need to let them walk away. Explaining the quality of your services and directing them to your portfolio may earn you some wiggle room, but don’t commit to a figure you aren’t happy with.
Rather than sending an affronted email, simply be honest by explaining the figure is too low. It could help to point them in the direction of some cheaper freelancers – even if they are your competition! In the long run the client will be grateful for the contacts and there will be no hard feelings.
You Have Too Much Work Already
It can be a fine line between having a good relationship with a client and rushing around to move back deadlines and keep them satisfied.
When you find yourself doing this, it might be time to reassess your capacity. This may mean increasing the hours you spend on projects or cutting back on the workload; whatever the sacrifice, you won’t be able to take on new clients for a while.
This is a bittersweet conundrum for a freelancer to be in; you have too much work which means lots of business, but it also means you’re having to turn people away which can be bad for business.
Someone Can Do It Better
If you’re a copywriter specialising in website copy and social media, you might not be the best person to write an article for a medical newsletter – and it is okay to admit that!
Sometimes you’ll be contacted by clients who will be better off finding a specialist for their work to get the best quality. If you admit this to them upfront it will save you both a lot of time and energy, and not to mention the client will be grateful for your honesty.
The alternative is to compromise the quality of your other work by prioritising it; risking your reputation with other clients and your future prospects of work.
They’re Unreasonable
Every once in a while you’ll come across a client who you simply don’t get along with. It might be that they’re pushing you to do work when you have another deadline, or they want you to do something you don’t think you would be great at.
If it’s the former, you should explain politely the other commitments you have made to clients. If it’s the latter, you should apologise and see if you can help them with finding someone who could give them more advice and might be more suited to their project.
To avoid parting on bad terms you should remain calm and not complain about them all over their Twitter. Some prospective clients may get shirty when you suggest you’re not the best person for the job.
The best solution in these situations is to simply walk away and ignore any further messages. If they leave you an unfair comment simply deal with it calmly and carry on – there isn’t a brand around that hasn’t had a bad review!
Have you had to say no to a client? Or were you denied a project by a freelancer was too busy? Let us know in the comments below!