With freelancing comes choice. A choice to decide what time of the day you work, where you work, and how you work. There is also the more important issue of ‘who you work with’. I’ve already written about turning down a potential client but I haven’t yet touched upon turning down clients on ethical & professional integrity grounds.
Throughout my time in full time employment I turned down the opportunity to work with a number of companies across multiple industries & sectors because ethically it just didn’t sit right with me.
I’ve continued this into self employment and have turned down opportunities based upon a number of personal reasons. These are well paying clients who offered strong retainers. But professional integrity and self worth comes above any level of monetary return.
Industries:
Industry is a huge driver when saying yes or no to a new client. There’s naturally industries I favour based upon my skills set and interests however there are also industries which are an instant no for me.
Gambling is an industry I would turn down on ethical grounds. When employed I was offered the opportunity to work for one of the biggest betting companies in the UK. After deliberation I turned the position down. Things just didn’t sit right with me. It’s a personal thing and not one everyone agrees with but I’m a little uneasy about the impact my marketing may have on people’s lives. Sure it’s the individual’s decision to gamble however actively marketing it just doesn’t quite sit right with me.
But for other individuals it could be a completely different reason. Perhaps it’s one of the following;
- Food production (If vegetarian/vegan)
- Beauty industry (is the makeup ethically tested?)
- The Oil & Gas industry (if you are conscious about the impact on the environment)
There are endless reasons why you may feel uncomfortable working in a specific industry and that’s completely cool. It’s your business and as a freelancer you make that decision to work with who you want to work with.
Online Reputation:
We live in a world where you are accountable for everything you do; particularly when you are working online. The internet is unforgiving and shitstorms really do not disappear quickly. Neither does your reputation with your customer base.
When working with eCommerce retailers in particular I always look for ratings/reviews before making a decision whether I would feel comfortable working for a specific brand.
I had, what seemed on the surface, an excellent enquiry from a large scale retailer. Upon doing my usual due diligence I noticed they were constantly slammed in reviews due to a complete non existent customer service department. Furthermore there were multiple threads on a popular comparison site forum citing how rogue they were. As a result I instantly turned down the client.
We freelancers are completely accountable for our actions. Those of us who live behind our own name as our brand especially so. As a marketeer too I would feel uneasy; almost dirty from a professional integrity perspective to continue to push a brand who clearly have no respect for consumer rights. No way could I work with such a disrespectful organisation.
Financial Status:
Before taking on a client I always assess the company’s financial status. For start ups this is more challenging however for established companies you can get a feel for how they are doing and whether you will actually get paid.
I have a significant number of friends currently freelancing who are chasing clients 90 days + overdue. Sure it’s not correct to say all financially sound clients are good payers however there is usually a factor for late payment and that tends to be cash flow.
If a company seems to be struggling or your initial consultation alludes to a struggle then head for the hills. Chasing invoices is super frustrating and also a productivity killer. Don’t do it. Nip it in the bud before it blossoms.
Before taking on a client:
I have a small checklist of points which you may find useful when doing your due diligence on a potential client. You may not give a crap as paying clients are paying clients but for me to get up everyday and do a job with my head held high I need to be invested in the brand.
If you can comfortably answer yes to the below then your potential client is a winner.
- Do you feel comfortable working in that industry?
- Are you happy to tell your friends/family about the work you are doing?
- Have you done financial due diligence on the company?
- Do they have an online reputation you would be happy to represent?
- Is it a brand you would feature in your portfolio?