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If there is one thing I’ve learned in this industry, it is that there is a lot of business to be had out there. Every day a company is realizing more and more why they need Internet marketing services. This gives you (the Internet marketer) the flexibility to choose who you want as a client.

How often have you regretted working with a client 2 or 3 months into the contract? Maybe they are too demanding, too frustrating, or your prices are much higher now then they were when you started working with them. Getting out of these situations can often be difficult, and could also be bad for your reputation. The key to avoiding these problems is to do a better job of choosing your clients.

Let’s say you are about to make a big purchase. You’re ready to fork over $4,000 for a brand new 60 inch high definition TV. The question is: are you willing to hand that over to the first guy who tries to sell you one? Of course not. You’re going to do a little online research about what brand is best, how many pixels you need, etc. You should exercise the same amount of caution when potentially engaging in a long-term relationship with a client.

What warning signs should you listen/look for when deciding whether or not this is a good relationship for you? Keep an eye open for:

• A control freak. I’ve mentioned the control freak before, and they are quite a handful. It is horrible to land a client that will be overly demanding of your time. As a consultant, your time is money. You don’t want to have to spend 10 extra hours working on a project that is done a very specific way just to appease your client. Control freaks can be tough to spot at first, but in your conversations with them, you should be able to notice things like the way they want the contract written or when they expect certain deliverables. If they are already starting to micro-manage you – run away!!

• High Demands. I’ve met with clients before who don’t understand how patient you need to be with organic SEO. They’ve really pushed me hard to leave the office and get them in the first position for a keyword like “clothes” by the end of the week. Usually clients like this have a ton of money, so it is really tempting, but don’t expect them to ever change. Even if you are able to convince them that it might take a bit longer, they will never back down. In my opinion, they aren’t worth the stress.

• Tough Negotiator. Negotiations are part of any business deal. Andy Beal had an excellent point (in a post that I frequently link to) that you shouldn’t reduce the price of your services without reducing your deliverables. It only hurts you to let them devalue your service and for you to take on more work for less money.

There are numerous warning signs that you should be able to pick up on. If someone sounds like a jerk during the pre-contract meetings, chances are they are a jerk. It is up to you to decide what level of frustration, irritation, rudeness, and pressure you are willing to handle. It is easy to feel pressure to take on more work so you know you can pay the bills, but it is also important to remember that there is a lot of business to be had out there. Make sure to give the client a thorough examination before agreeing to work with them, and get the courage to say “no”. Don’t forget, you’re running a business, too.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 31st, 2007 at 3:56 pm in Sales.