One of the many advantages of freelancing is having complete freedom over which projects you take on; however, managing multiple client projects without an effective plan in place can be challenging.
Many freelancers can be tempted to work around the clock in order to meet client deadlines, but working yourself too hard could deplete your energy and compromise the quality of your work.
Know Your Limits
Management of multiple clients requires organization, clear communication and efficiency. Juggling client needs and demands may prove to be challenging but with proper strategies in place it shouldn't be impossible!
Studies reveal that freelancers tend to be happier and more productive when they have enough work on their plate. If your tasks seem overwhelming, perhaps now is the time to try new organizational tools and techniques.
Filing projects and tasks according to their status (e.g. "Pitched," "In Progress"," and "Completed") is one way of keeping track of your workload while assuring clients receive quality service. And don't forget about communicating clearly and consistently with all your clients - you could try providing progress updates through task comments, or use Asana for client communication in general.
Set a Schedule
As your freelance business expands, you may soon find yourself managing multiple projects and clients at once - which can be both exciting and daunting without an effective plan in place.
Establishing a weekly schedule is the key to effectively managing client work. By doing this, you will reduce wasteful time management and boost productivity. Be sure to include time for calls, emails and meetings with clients; additionally setting aside days specifically for tasks such as blogging or social media posts can ensure non-client work doesn't interfere with client expectations and deadlines.
Be realistic about the number of hours you can work each week, and don't be afraid to decline too many client requests for too much of your time. If managing your workload becomes increasingly challenging, hiring help or raising rates could help reduce stress levels; project management tools and prioritization matrices may also aid you in remaining on track and producing quality work for clients.
Prioritize Your Work
Freelance work can quickly become overwhelming without an effective system for prioritizing tasks. Without one in place, deadlines may slip by unmet while administrative tasks pile up - both risks that threaten success.
As it's easy to become bogged down in one task for too long, neglecting other client deliverables can easily happen. Utilizing techniques like Eisenhower matrix prioritization is an effective way to keep yourself on track and avoid falling behind with work.
As you prioritize your work, consider what effect each task will have on you or your clients. This can help narrow down your options and focus on what matters most - for instance answering an urgent email from a client is important, but finishing all deliverables by the end of quarter may take priority over it.
Communicate With Your Clients
Freelancers may find having plenty of client work satisfying, but without an effective system for overseeing those projects it could quickly become overwhelming and result in missed deadlines or forgotten updates.
Before starting any project with clients, be sure to communicate how you will oversee it from the outset. That way there will be no confusion as to when you are available to respond to emails and meet for calls, and scope creep is prevented as customers begin expecting more from you than initially agreed upon.
Determine your client's preferred method of communication and honor it. Email remains the go-to choice, while some clients may prefer phone calls or a dedicated chat app instead - keeping on top of these preferences can make all the difference in meeting deadlines and keeping customers satisfied.
