[offthegrid]

I just started a freelance gig and I have such great issues communicating with my first set of clients. Its technically 3 people I'm communicating with electronically because we are in different states.

Every time I submit something its "not exactly what they want" and I have to change it to something else totally different. They are getting impatient and I'm getting stressed. I'm have submitted multiple renditions of the part needing revision but to no avail. Im extremely dissappointented with myself with how this is turning out. Ive hoped that I could make this into my career but now I feel totally inept. This is right after failing miserbly at my last job and making crap grades in school. I feel like a failure at life.

Is this the sort of thing that gets easier? Is there anyway to avoid such frustration in the future?

[kaliope]

you have to realize it is not about your or your ineptitude. I am sure what you are sending them each time is just fine. it is just not their vision. this is about them not clearly communicating to you what they want so that you can create it for them. so they are failing not you. see if you cant find creative ways to question them so that you can get clearer ideas of what they want, when you finally get their approval, figure out what it was that made it finally click for you. the more you work with clients the easier it will become to ferret out what they want from the beginning. take care.

[tinyrabbit]

I'm sorry you are feeling down about this. It's actually completely normal for freelance clients to want to revise things and it doesn't mean you did a bad job. What kind of work is it?

[hvert]

Yes, this is something that gets better as you learn to deal with difficult clients through dreadful experiences like this one.

For your next contract, allow one free revision and charge for any others. The client will be much better about communicating their vision to you! Also, if electronic communication is not working, pick up the phone.

[offthegrid]

Originally Posted by kaliope

you have to realize it is not about your or your ineptitude. I am sure what you are sending them each time is just fine. it is just not their vision. this is about them not clearly communicating to you what they want so that you can create it for them. so they are failing not you. see if you cant find creative ways to question them so that you can get clearer ideas of what they want, when you finally get their approval, figure out what it was that made it finally click for you. the more you work with clients the easier it will become to ferret out what they want from the beginning. take care.

This is a good suggestion, I've never thought of it this way before.

[offthegrid]

Originally Posted by tinyrabbit

I'm sorry you are feeling down about this. It's actually completely normal for freelance clients to want to revise things and it doesn't mean you did a bad job. What kind of work is it?

Thank you tiny rabbit.
I'm illustrating a book. Idk, I just expected it to be a lot more seamless. It's very frustrating when things don't work out exactly as imagined.

[offthegrid]

Originally Posted by hvert

Yes, this is something that gets better as you learn to deal with difficult clients through dreadful experiences like this one.

For your next contract, allow one free revision and charge for any others. The client will be much better about communicating their vision to you! Also, if electronic communication is not working, pick up the phone.

Very good suggestions! I was nervous about suggesting paid revisions in the beginning (didn't bring it up at all) because I was nervous about my ability on my end. Other people say my work is really really good but I have a lot of problems believing it. I don't feel good enough to go up to someone and be like "I'm doing this X amount of times, anything extra is going to cost you". That makes sense of course but I don't feel like I'm great enough for that.

[hvert]

I think it is something most freelancers learn the hard way! My first job I charged $20 an hour when the cheapest alternative was $100. I did everything the way he asked and then had one of his employees call me on a Saturday to have me undo all of it because she didn't like it!

After many years, I have finally learned that the people who balk at paying professional rates are going to be a PITA about everything --- and get it all in writing, as specific as you can be, and get their sign off, even if it is just an email reply, and get 50% up front. So many things to learn the hard way