Hey,
Ever landed a big project, and failed to get things off to a good start?
Because I certainly have.
So today, I'm going share some mistakes that nearly ruined my first big project.
That’s right, I messed up so you don’t have to 👀
Mistake #1: Not Defining the Goal
Ever tried to shoot a moving target in a video game?
That's how it felt when my client's expectations kept shifting.
Scope creep is annoying and stressful.
To avoid this, I now clearly define the deliverables in a contract upfront and include this clause:
“Extra deliverables added to the project will be regarded as outside the project's scope.
The Client will need to provide this in writing, and there will be an extra charge”.
It not only keeps us on the same page but also helps me determine fair pricing.
Mistake #2: Getting Burnt Out
I’ll be honest, I signed up for way too much at first.
I was juggling multiple client projects simultaneously and trying to manage them via a spreadsheet and emails.
You can just imagine how long the email thread would get!
I had no real system in place for managing client projects. Everything was so unorganised that the whole process was a headache.
So I decided to put some time into researching project management systems and creating a client portal and project tracker.
Now, I can easily organise files, communicate with clients, and store project information hassle-free.
Mistake #3: Not Getting Paid
I’ve been burned by clients in the past, but honestly, it was my fault.
I failed to take payment upfront, which meant I’d do the work and then bill clients. As you can guess, this didn’t end well, and some clients took advantage and did a runner (leaving me uncompensated).
To prevent this from happening again, I implemented a deposit payment system. Now, when clients secure their slot with me, they have to pay 50% of the project upfront.
This measure completely stopped clients from skipping out on payments.
Mistake #4: Leaving Clients Wondering
The thing about humans is that we hate uncertainty. You know the feeling when you’re waiting for your food to come… You have no idea if it’s going to be 15 minutes or 1 hour and as the time goes on the more uncertain and impatient you become.
This is the same feeling your clients get.
In the past, I’d tell them a date to expect their design concept, but they were left uncertain during that period. What was really going on? What process was happening? What was I doing? This uncertainty can lead to distrust and an unhappy client.
So, I decided to include an overview section inside my project management system👇
Here, clients can see the status of the project and what stage I’m at. This provides clarity and puts them at ease knowing I’m actively working on their project! This subtle change has massively reduced clients asking for updates on the project (saving me admin time).
Want to know how I do all this?
Don’t worry because I’ve put together a free course explaining my entire onboarding process. It comes with a bunch of free cool templates (like a contract) designed to help make your onboarding system run smoothly. Chat next week, Abi 😊