What should I do if a client ghosts me after a conversation?
Ah, the infamous ghosting scenario—something that seems unavoidable in the freelancing world. First of all, don’t take it personally; it’s often more about them than it is about you. Here’s how you can navigate this:
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Reflect and Review: Before jumping to conclusions, take a moment to review your last interactions. Were there any potential misunderstandings or misalignments? Sometimes, a simple oversight or forgotten follow-up can cause the lull.
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Follow-Up Gracefully: Give them a nudge with a polite, non-pushy message. Something as simple as, “I hope all is well. I wanted to touch base on our last conversation and see if there's anything more you need from me."
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Give Them Space: If they still don’t respond, step back for a bit. Over-following up can appear desperate or pushy. In my early days of freelancing, I found patience to be a virtue in these situations.
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Evaluate Your Options: Look at the bigger picture. They might not be the right client for you, and that’s okay. Use this downtime to Capture new opportunities, Develop ongoing projects, or Expose your existing work to new audiences.
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Learn and Adjust: Use the experience to refine your client interaction skills. Set clearer expectations in initial meetings and possibly tweak your follow-up process to avoid similar situations in the future.
On a personal note, I had a potential client who went silent after what seemed like a promising discussion. Instead of spiraling into self-doubt, I invested that time into expanding my portfolio, which in turn attracted clients who were more aligned with my values and work style. Remember, freelancing is all about crafting a life and career on your terms. Not every opportunity is worth chasing. Keep putting yourself and your work out there, and the right clients will come.