Magical Clients: Coping with the Disappearing/Reappearing Act

Credit: Bohman on Flickr

Sometimes, there’s just nothing you can do when a client disappears. Things can be great for a long time, but then they don’t call you for work. You’re sure they’ve found someone else to complete the projects you used to get, when–poof! The client is back.

That’s cause enough to toss some confetti, because freelancers are often left out of the loop when it comes to working with companies. So if you seem to be cut off from communication or told that nothing new has come up for you to work on, take heart–that client you thought was gone could make a comeback.

Make Your Push, Politely and Professionally, Then Back Off

I’ve blogged about how to let clients know you’re available for work without seeming pushy. After a project wraps up, send a message to thank the client. That opens you up for future communication. After that, an occasional check-in email or phone call (in addition to putting out an e-newsletter to keep your name fresh in their faces) is just about all you can do. You can’t check in every week, because that would be annoying and could make you look desperate.

So if you’re feeling a chill, back off and focus on other things. In the meantime, blow off the steam that has likely built up in your system from being apparently excommunicated. It helps tremendously to help you make peace with a situation and move forward. And it does wonders to ensure you don’t vent or say something cruel about the client in the meantime, which could burn a bridge.

Why You May Be on the Outs

When you’re not getting any work from a client that has given you regular projects in the past, you may think that a client is giving all the work to someone else, but the truth may be that they do not have projects that require your services at the time. I have a client that cycles like that: they go through business development phases for months and then it’s like Christmas–projects are flowing!

Also, consider that your client may also be using a pool of freelancers and trying to evenly spread the wealth, and you can’t fault them for that. They have to look out for their best interest and will not put all of their eggs in one contractor’s basket. I try to remember this when a client seemingly disappears. We’re just “on a break.”

I sometimes tend to blame myself when communication goes dark, but over time, I have developed a mindset not to get negative, not to blame myself and to try to paint the client in the best light. You can stew for hours over a disappearing client, but the truth is that you’ll just do that, stew, instead of picking up new projects–and that can be devastating for your business.

And then I pray that they reappear in the future. (You bet I do, especially if its a client that I like who gives me good work!)

And…They’re Back

It can happen when you least expect it. You’ve calmly and professionally extended your services, stayed visible, and worked your tail off not to burn bridges. That’s when a client can make a comeback. An email comes in with details for a new project, or you get a call that they need your help on something. It’s the best feeling in the world, again, especially if you like the client and the work. It also verifies that they trust you enough to retain you for more work, and that means you’re doing something right as a contractor.

The key then is to keep your cool, determine if you can take on the project and, if so,  accept it. I don’t mention anything negative about not hearing from the client, but I let him or her know that I am happy to hear from them.

At times, you have to hide your emotions–and that can be a good thing in the workplace. Even after you’ve been let down by a client and feel like a freelance stepchild, sometimes you just have to suck it up. Chances are you weren’t being punished–it’s just the way that projects ebb and flow. Take the job and use the “reappearance” project to nurture that client relationship. Make yourself stand out. Maybe that way, the client will never vanish again.

Photo Credit: Bohman on Flickr