Even if you’re a freelancer who works with the same clients week after week, you can still improve your client relationships. And if you’re just starting on your own, it’s even more important to understand how to manage clients to keep them happy and coming back for more.
To help you improve your client relationships, you need to invest in client management software.
What Is Client Management Software
If you have more than one client, or even just one or two, you need to use client management software (CMS). The system will help you keep track of all your business contacts — from maintaining contact information like phone numbers and email addresses to tracking job details like invoices and payments.
The best CMS will even let you schedule follow-up calls and send automated reminders about upcoming deadlines or tasks.
Here’s a detailed description of the features you can expect from client management software:
One Complete Client Snapshot
With client management software, you can keep track of everything about each client in one place. This means that all of their contact information, purchase history, recent activity, and more will be easily accessible. This makes it easy for you to see how each client relates to other clients and find ways to enhance their experience with your brand or business.
Real-Time Updates and Collaboration
One of the most valuable features of CMS is real-time communication between you and your clients. This means that when a client sends an email or makes an update about their project, you’ll receive an alert immediately so you can respond right away.
In addition to real-time updates, CMS allows you to collaborate with other team members who may be working on the same project and with the client directly.
Clearer Bandwidth Forecasting
Using a client management tool helps you forecast how much work each client will require over time. When they ask for more work or revisions than anticipated, they won’t be surprised. You know exactly how much time they will consume and can plan accordingly.
Good Client Interaction Experience
You can see how many past-due invoices they have, how many open contracts are, and so much more. It makes it easy to know when something needs attention immediately or if other issues might require your attention shortly.
Additionally, clients love seeing their work come together in real time. It makes them feel like they’re working with a professional who has a handle on everything going on and is confident that things will get done on time.
The Final Word
As a freelancer, it can be challenging to juggle client relationships while also keeping track of all the different moving parts that run a business — especially if you’re a solopreneur or start-up without an assistant or team member to take care of these tasks for you.
With client management software, you can quickly see how much time is spent on each task and what needs to be done next. You get a quick overview of your work in progress, knowing what’s coming up next in your schedule and when it will be completed. This helps you plan your day better to focus on essential tasks and avoid unnecessary distractions.
