One of the most interesting things I learned while getting used to being a freelance writer is understanding that not all good customers will be “profitable” customers. Spoiler alert, “profitable” might not mean what you think it does in this context! In reality, this might be one of the freelancing lessons you have to learn by going through it, but I will do my best to explain it so that you can know what’s possible in every client interaction!

Tips for effectively triaging customers

Understanding where your time and energy are most valuable will go a long way to helping you make the most out of freelancing. Here are the best ways to help you keep your customer list focused on those with whom you can build a good relationship.

• Get a clear idea of what the project scope is: Some clients are going to be more prepared for hiring a freelancer than others. Customers that have full content briefs ready to go are typically going to be great for your return on investment (ROI). In this case, your “investment” would be your time and energy. They know what they want and don’t want out of the relationship. If your client can’t or won’t give you a clear understanding of the project, you’ll need to put more time and effort into getting that information from them. If you have that time and energy, then fine.  But if you don’t, this is something to think about!

• Set firm boundaries: Another important detail to creating a “profitable” client base is to set boundaries with them. This could include anything from communication turnaround time to extra services offered, and anything in between. Customers who respect these professional boundaries are going to make for a better relationship than those who don’t.

• Be ready to walk away: Unfortunately, some of the best advice for freelancers that I have is to know when to step away from a client or project. It’s so tempting to want to take on every client and every project, but there will be some that really drain your resources for very little ROI. If a project or customer expectation creeps out of your professional services (before starting or after starting), you should be ready to walk away from it when it gets to a point where you know you should. And yes, that’s the hard part.

Triaging is important

What I’m realizing as I write more blog posts for you all is that a lot of freelancing advice is a blend of general advice and gut instinct. In my experience, triaging helps you put your limited energy and time to the best use for a profitable (in more ways than one) outcome. Understanding where and how customers fit into that pathway to your end goal is essential for maximum profits.

If you ask me (which no one did, technically), triaging your customers for the best ROI is definitely the way to go. But that’s just one voice. Fellow freelancers, what do you think?