Whether you’re a designer, programmer, developer, or even a business owner—whether you’re a professional or an amateur—what you really need is a genuine client. But what do I mean by that?
We all spend a significant portion of our lives in school and university, only to be shocked by the harsh reality after graduation. Everything we learned was theoretical and often unrelated to the real world. But your skills are honed when you interact with people and learn from them. The professions I mentioned above are perfect for this kind of learning. You can pick up the basics quickly, but your expertise and skill are refined through dealing with clients. And this is where the “genuine” client comes in—the one who truly teaches you, not the fake one who makes you despise your profession.
How to Spot a Genuine Client? Let’s Discuss:
From the First Message
A genuine client knows how to communicate from the very first message. From the first email you receive to the last one, politeness and respect are evident in every word. In short, they respect themselves and they respect you.
What Do They Want?
A genuine client knows exactly what they want. They know how, why, where, and when. They answer all your questions and even ask themselves questions and answer them too. They are confident and empathetic, putting themselves in your shoes.
What’s the Cost?
A genuine client has a reasonable understanding of costs. They are informed, or at least have logical expectations of what you might charge. They won’t freak out when you tell them the cost.
Expected Timeframe
They respect your time and effort. They understand that quality work takes time, and they value quality over speed.
Appreciates Creativity
A genuine client appreciates your work and effort. Even if they’re not entirely satisfied with the outcome, they communicate their concerns politely and respectfully. They may ask about additional costs if necessary and apologize repeatedly while explaining their perspective.
Revisions
If they request revisions, they are reasonable. And even if they aren’t, their respectful approach makes everything more bearable—even if the request means redoing the entire project from scratch.
Free Services
A genuine client doesn’t ask for free services. And if you offer them something extra, they’ll ask if they should compensate you. It’s in their nature to feel they should give you something in return for your work and time.
Commitment
Everyone may encounter personal circumstances that delay payments, but procrastination is something you can sense right away—just like commitment. A single message apologizing for a delay is usually enough.
And What Else?
Don’t think it’s all on the client. Everything I’ve written above applies to someone who treats their clients with courtesy and respect. Don’t expect good treatment if you’re not giving it in return 🙂