Stand Your Ground: Setting Boundaries as a Seller

[thatwordchick]

I see a lot of advice that encourages the freelance tropes - the idea that we’re all workaholic night owls, perpetually hunched over keyboards, waiting at the beck and call of potential clients.

Never log out…
Always be agreeable to clients…
Give free samples or mock ups…
Answer right away…

If you needed an experienced professional to give you permission, in plain words, here it is: it’s okay to be a human being.

Never give out free work. No samples. No mockups. Period. That’s what your portfolio is for! If they can’t judge the quality and capability of your work from your portfolio, they’re likely going to be a pain anyway. (Editing to add: make sure your portfolio DOES reflect your capability, though - if it’s just an image with some text like “I do X, Y, and Z!” and there are no pictures of your actual work, change that. If a client can’t see your work within a few seconds, statistically you’ve probably already lost them!)

Do not offer discounts or give in to buyers begging for one because they’re a “start up.” You were a start up too, and no one paid you more because you were new, right? Don’t give them something they’d never extend to you.

No arbitrary discounts, especially for new clients asking “can you just…” or promising future work. Spoiler alert: that future work, if it even manifests, is going to be expected at the lower rate. You wouldn’t let your boss at a conventional job just randomly pay you less per hour because they felt like it, right? So don’t do it here.

Do not feel bad about taking days where you don’t schedule work or respond to messages. In conventional jobs, people don’t “swing by the office” to see if they can work on something - they enjoy their days off and use them to get personal things accomplished. Do that. Your sanity will thank you.

Some clients are going to be in different time zones. Answer when it’s appropriate for your time zone. Otherwise, you’re setting up a precedent of answering questions at 3am in your time and the client’s going to get testy when that’s not the norm.

Value yourself, your time, and your work - a freelancer is no different than any other worker, and we deserve the same dignity and consideration as those “protected” under a conventional job. It may mean we have to be a little more firm about boundaries with clients, but you can do so while remaining polite and businesslike.

I reject at least 2 or 3 jobs every day because I know in my heart they’re a poor fit, either price-wise, effort-wise, or expectation-wise. I just steer those clients back to the Fiverr marketplace and explain there’s a ton of talent that would suit their needs better than me, and they’re all ready to work.

[imagination7413]

If you don’t mind me throwing in my favorite visual aid to help support your argument:

(If you do mind, I’ll delete.)

[thatwordchick]

If you don’t mind me throwing in my favorite visual aid to help support your argument:

(If you do mind, I’ll delete.)

Aw man, what a GREAT video! No, this is fantastic and I’m so glad you added it here. Everyone should see this!

[imagination7413]

If you liked that, then here is another Fiverr thread that agrees with you, another video (though not as entertaining), and a link to an article I found in one of @smashradio's old 2017 posts.

The power of saying, "NO!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X5fE0BuasM
https://doubleyourfreelancing.com/should-freelancers-work-for-free/

You are not alone in your frustration.

Edited August 21, 2022 by imagination7413

[english_voice]

Hoorah! Someone else who buys into a common sense view of freelancing.

I can’t fault anything you say.

Sadly, I suspect the next post I read on the forum will be from someone asking how to show online 24/7 or asking why their gig doesn’t rank. :man_facepalming:

[catwriter]

On 9/25/2020 at 2:49 PM, english_voice said:

Sadly, I suspect the next post I read on the forum will be from someone asking how to show online 24/7 or asking why their gig doesn’t rank. :man_facepalming:

Close enough, unfortunately.

[maanza_55]

An extremely relevant set of points @thatwordchick. Nicely done!

On 9/25/2020 at 8:53 AM, thatwordchick said:

Do not feel bad about taking days where you don’t schedule work or respond to messages. In conventional jobs, people don’t “swing by the office” to see if they can work on something - they enjoy their days off and use them to get personal things accomplished. Do that. Your sanity will thank you.

Cannot agree with this more. My sanity has been doing several cartwheels out of sheer joy ever since I consciously started putting down more work-life boundaries.

[lenasemenkova]

I’d like this post a hundred times if I could.

[imagination7413]

Found another old-but-very-good thread on the topic! And a new one! Plus one more!

https://community.fiverr.com/forums/topic/145429-the-art-of-saying-no-nicely/
https://community.fiverr.com/forums/topic/220973-top-5-tips-to-protect-yourself-from-badly-behaved-buyers/
https://community.fiverr.com/forums/topic/202647-guide-how-to-avoid-bad-buyers-and-how-to-deal-with-them-if-you-cant/

Edited August 21, 2022 by imagination7413

[mvrphotodesign]

How I wish this was all common sense. I agree with everything you said. Yet I always feel guilty if I live by these ‘rules’, and when I don’t, I keep ending up in awful situations with buyers. Eventually ruining my mental health. I’d highly recommend anyone to follow up on this advice.

[Guest tiggertori]

HECK YESS!!! Couldn’t agree with you more. Just posted my own rant on here. This makes me feel so much better. 💯

[yanakochubynska]

Absolutely true, you should built this self-worth inside of yourself, if you don’t have this, nobody will be eager to pay you more haha

[imagination7413]

Watched this video so many times. It made my day. Now I’ll create a post on my blog on it. Thanks for sharing this.

Check out their website (link is in their video description). Lots of resources for your research.

[hedayetsaadi556]

Check out their website (link is in their video description). Lots of resources for your research.

Their channel has much more than the website. I watched most of them all. Do you think these are movie clip or they shot it by themselves?

[thatwordchick]

Found this awesome reminder today, too:

[If a client tells you “I know people that charge less,” respond “I got clients that pay more.” Keep developing skills to the level that allows you to work with whoever you want to. Value your work and effort.]

[lisamusser]

My comment was for the video above posted by imagination7613. I think I goofed somehow, though.

[fastcopywriter]

Great advice, I only have one thing to add.

If you charge a commercial license, I’m going to hire the seller that doesn’t charge for that license.

Think about it.

Making something is better than making nothing.

[nabiha_masood]

That's exactly what a freelancer should do: "Know the worth of your time and efforts!"

@thatwordchick Thank you for sharing this and it resonates with me perfectly. I believe there are a lot of seller/freelancers out there that need to hear this 👍

Edited January 25, 2022 by nabiha_masood

[emdiabdinur]

On 9/25/2020 at 6:32 AM, imagination7413 said:

If you don’t mind me throwing in my favorite visual aid to help support your argument:

(If you do mind, I’ll delete.)

I am in Love with this SKIT!!

[shalock]

Amazing advices!

 

Although working as a freelancer can be stressfull i intend to be a "good kind" of stress. Theres no place to free work on letting be harassed. Also following your gut is a great advice, when a offer does not sound right is better to let it pass even when you may miss the money, there are some headaches that are better to avoid.

[rabia_sabir]

Dealing with demanding/difficult clients and resolving conflicts

As freelancers, we all know that working with clients can sometimes lead to challenging situations and conflicts. Whether it's a misunderstanding about expectations, miscommunication, or simply different working styles, dealing with demanding clients can be a significant stressor for freelancers.

So, how can we effectively manage these situations and resolve conflicts professionally and positively? Here are some tips and best practices to consider:

1. Maintain open communication: One of the key factors in avoiding and resolving conflicts is maintaining open and positive communication with clients. Establish clear communication channels and regularly check in with clients to ensure everyone is on the same page.
2. Listen actively: When conflicts arise, it's important to listen to the client's perspective and understand their point of view. By showing empathy and seeking to understand the client's needs and concerns, you may be able to find a mutually acceptable solution.
3. Be clear and concise: Conflicts often arise from miscommunication and misunderstandings, so it's important to be clear and concise in your communication with clients. Make sure to clarify expectations and ask for clarification when necessary.
4. Seek mediation or outside help: In some cases, conflicts may not be easily resolved through direct communication with the client. In these situations, seeking mediation or outside help may be helpful, such as a trusted third party or a dispute resolution mechanism provided by the platform you're using.
5. Protect your rights and interests: Finally, as a freelancer, it's essential to protect your rights and interests. Make sure you have a clear contract in place that outlines expectations, responsibilities, and dispute resolution mechanisms and be prepared to enforce your rights if necessary

By following these tips and best practices, you can effectively manage client conflicts and maintain positive and professional relationships. What strategies have you found effective in dealing with demanding clients and resolving disputes? Let's share our experiences and insights!

[vickieito]

Hi @rabia_sabir, It's good to see you again! 😊

1 hour ago, rabia_sabir said:

What strategies have you found effective in dealing with demanding clients and resolving disputes?

I really like how you outlined, in detail, how to effectively communicate with your buyers. I found out that good client-communication leads not only to happier buyers (and more orders) but as a seller, I'm much happier, too. I found out that much of my grief and "bad" buyer experiences were really my fault - I wasn't clearly communicating my boundaries, and as a result, buyers were walking all over me. Once I started sticking to my policies, setting boundaries, and clearly defining expectations, I didn't have as many "bad" buyer experiences.

One thing I'd like to add to your list is to Take Action Fast. As soon as you realize there is a miscommunication, correct it immediately. It only gets worse if you allow it to persist. This means as soon as an order is placed, sellers should immediately review all of the buyer's order requirements and bring up any questions, request gig extras, or cancelations, and do it right then and there. The same holds true whenever the buyer mentions something that is not included in the scope of the order. Immediate action always makes the entire experience more smooth and painless.

[imagination7413]

On 2/13/2023 at 7:31 AM, rabia_sabir said:

Protect your rights and interests: Finally, as a freelancer, it's essential to protect your rights and interests. Make sure you have a clear contract in place that outlines expectations, responsibilities, and dispute resolution mechanisms and be prepared to enforce your rights if necessary

AKA: Learn to say 'no', and stand by it.

In addition, bring up the price early, and outline what IS and what IS NOT included in an order.

"To be unclear is to be unkind." or "Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind."

[charlsmcfarlane]

Can anyone share any advice for politely responding when a buyer gets in touch asking for a job to be done at a significantly lower price than what’s advertised on the gig?

Flexibility is one thing, but I had someone recently ask for what is included in my middle package, for 35% the price advertised – so they wanted a 65% discount!

I usually try and make suggestions for how they can get more value with me — for example, taking advantage of the discounts I offer through the subscriptions feature.

Can anyone share any other strategies for dealing with these situations?

Ideally, it would be great to find a way to work with them, in a way that satisfies both our budgets.

[imagination7413]

On 3/6/2024 at 6:44 PM, charlsmcfarlane said:

Can anyone share any advice for politely responding when a buyer gets in touch asking for a job to be done at a significantly lower price than what’s advertised on the gig?

For your consideration: 

https://community.fiverr.com/forums/topic/309123-my-favorite-responses-when-a-buyer-says-youre-too-expensive/

https://community.fiverr.com/forums/topic/145429-the-art-of-saying-no-nicely/ 

https://community.fiverr.com/forums/topic/136314-the-power-of-saying-no/ 

https://community.fiverr.com/forums/topic/202647-guide-how-to-avoid-bad-buyers-and-how-to-deal-with-them-if-you-cant/ 

https://community.fiverr.com/forums/topic/220973-top-5-tips-to-protect-yourself-from-badly-behaved-buyers/