Have you ever been in a situation when you hesitate in accepting projects?
As freelancers and entrepreneurs, we have the habit of accepting projects. Projects are money. If we turn down projects then we lose money. For this reason, as much as possible, many online entrepreneurs hesitate to decline projects.
However, is there a good time to decline projects? Below are the top 5 reasons freelancers should decline projects/orders:
IS THE CLIENT FOR REAL?
When the client is new and he places a rush project to be delivered in a few hours and he is willing to pay huge bucks for it. In my over 6 years of experience as an academic paper writer and as article writer, I have been victimized by scammers. One thing I learned is that if a new client places a rush order and he is a new client, I should begin checking signs for fraud.
Solution: To make sure that the client is legit, check the email that the client used to pay for the order and compare it with the email where the client wants the order to be delivered. If they match then the order is good to go. Try to contact the client using the phone number he gave you in the order form or require a confirmation email from the client. This way, you are protected in case the client asks for refund from Paypal.
CLIENT ASKS FOR UNREASONABLE DISCOUNT
Some clients ask for unreasonable discounts. While you may be tempted to agree to the client’s requests just to establish relationship, it may eventually backfire because he may continue asking for the same rate over and over again.
Solution: Discuss with the client that you the rates being charged him is reasonable. If the company is giving out discount coupon, you may apply it to him. If he insists on getting on much lower rate, try to negotiate with him to change the scope of the project. You can ask for longer deadline or you can ask that the client to change the project
THE PROJECT IS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF YOUR EXPERTISE
There will be situations when you will be offered to work on a project that you are unfamiliar with. In these cases, it is better to reveal to the client that it is something that you cannot handle. I am sure your prospective client will appreciate your honesty and come back with you next time he needs your help.
YOU CANNOT DELIVER THE PROJECT ON TIME
For many clients, time is of the essence. When they give you projects and tell you that they need the output on time, they mean it. A few hours of delay will irate your clients and seriously damage your online reputation.
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