After all – long-term clients are every freelancer’s daydream. They provide a repeating income and familiarity. Loyal clients can be a HUGE boost to your career confidence, and they can bring us freelancers the stability we crave.

However, persuading a client to commit isn’t always easy. Today, I’ll share some solid strategies for turning your one-off customers into loyal clients!

Who am I to talk about this? Well, I’ve been on both sides, as a long-time freelance writer and a client too.

I’m now employed full-time by one of my old clients… to manage a team of talented freelancers. So I’ve got a few insights up my sleeve!

Firstly – What Can Long-term Clients Look Like?

Here are 3 of my favourite forms of these long-term clients:

Type 1: Clients that just keep coming back to you

These are the clients who worked with you in the past and had a great experience. They left that project nodding and feeling satisfied. And, guess what? The next time a project arises – you’re the first freelancer that pops into their head.

These types of clients are awesome. Some of my favorite clients fall into this category – and we’ve stayed in touch for years. These clients will provide jobs throughout your career without tying you down, and without kicking up a hissy fit if you update your rates.

The only downside? The work isn’t always regular.

Type 2: Retainer clients

Retainer clients are the closest things freelancers have to being on payroll. By signing a retainer agreement, your client promises to pay you a set rate each month for a certain amount of work.

These sorts of retainers work best for freelance services that can be repeated every month – e.g legal services, blog writing, and virtual assistant tasks. You might agree to commit a certain number of hours to the client, or just agree to complete certain tasks.

The best thing about retainers is that they give you greater financial security. You can rely on having a certain income, which makes it easier to budget your finances. Plus – you’re more likely to be paid on time!

Type 3: Clients you sell monthly services to

This one is a slight variation of the retainer – I like to think of it more like a ‘subscription’.

Instead of forming a contract based on the hours or work done, these clients agree to purchase some sort of ongoing product/service from you.

For example – you might offer to run an expert training session with your client’s team every 2 weeks, where you share the latest developments in your industry.

The great thing about this is that you aren’t as ‘stuck’ to them as a regular retainer agreement. You won’t need to worry about things like scope creep, or client exclusivity.

It’s All About Building The Client Relationship

How likely you can secure these 3 types of clients depends on one main thing: how great you are to work with.

As someone who’s hired a lot of freelancers – take it from me. Many clients hate the finding-a-reliable-freelancer thing. It’s time-consuming, and we don’t know if you’re going to work hard, or turn out crazy.

I’d MUCH rather engage a freelancer I’ve worked with before… if I was happy the first time round. Because it’s not JUST about delivering high-quality work. It’s about proving your worth ethic too.

I’ve found the following 4 freelancer tactics make the biggest difference.

1. Be pleasant and sincere

Make a sincere effort to connect with your clients. I’ve been lucky to become friends with some of my clients. It’s not always possible, but you can ALWAYS treat clients with friendliness, respect and honesty.

A sense of humor can also go a long way. The more enjoyable you make the experience of working with you, the more likely they’ll choose you again and again.

2. Be consistent

Prove that you’re trustworthy. If you say you’re going to do something, do it! And if something goes wrong – be communicative.

As a client, I’m baffled at the number of freelancers I’ve worked with who’ve missed deadlines, or go MIA for a week mid-project. Sure, we’re all human – but if you make a habit out of being sloppy, expect to get droppy.

3. Show clients that you’re in it for the long haul

Position yourself as someone who will be around in the long-term. Try and understand your client’s long-term goals and challenges – then be their rock.

When you pitch a client at the start of the project – you can hint that you enjoy working towards long-term relationships with clients. At the end of the project, remind them they can come to you anytime.

Another great tactic is to share helpful resources. For example, if you find a useful video about a specific challenge they’re facing, why not send it over? Chances are, they’ll be pleasantly surprised and grateful – it may even spark a new collaboration.

4. Ask for their feedback

Don’t shy from asking for feedback. For example, when a project has ended, you can ask the client how they felt about working together and if they have any suggestions for improvement (preferably do this over email or a call, rather than a public review).

Not only will this improve your work – the act of asking shows that you actually care. You’ll stand out from all the other freelancers who didn’t bother.

How To Propose Long-term Work To Clients

So, how can you start turning your one-time clients to long-time clients?

Start by making a list of all your clients – past and current, ex-colleagues and managers included.

Then – narrow it down to those clients you enjoyed working with.

Since you’re going to devote a chunk of your time to these clients, you’ll need to make sure they can embellish your career growth. Is it the type of work you WANT to keep adding to your portfolio?

Which clients have more potential to become long-term?

Someone more likely to become a long-term client is…

Someone that less likely to become a long-term clients is:

Remind your clients what you can bring to the table

Whether you can turn a client loyal depends on one thing: your ability to convince them that you can solve their biggest problems.

Before you approach them, prepare what you’re going to say. You can’t just break down the door and wave a contract in their face.

Instead, draft out a proposal. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy. It just needs to be an idea of a project that both of you can get excited about. The trick is to figure out what project will work in your benefit, and reframe that as an opportunity for the client.

Because, sure, you’re asking for more/regular work. But you’re also offering a long-term solution to their problems.

If you haven’t been in contact with them for a while, now’s your chance to remind them what you can bring to the table. What can you do that no one else can?

Is it all the dazzling testimonials you got from clients on a similar project? Your unique blend of talent + passion? Or the fact your last article for them, was shared 3,000 times on Facebook?

How To Pop The Question (Plus, Some Examples)

In short – don’t be scared of asking. Here’s some quick examples of when and how you can pitch for a long-term relationship:

However you say it, just be casual and gauge your client’s interest levels. Once you’ve got them hooked, you can talk about the details (which you’ve prepared with the proposal).

You’re not limited to the 4 examples above. If you have a great idea of how to add value on a recurring basis, why not pitch it? Heck, some freelancers prefer to put a pitch for a retainer in every initial proposal they write. It can work.

Of course, don’t want to be too pushy and scare your clients off. Keep it low-key and casual, so they don’t feel like you’re being a hard sell. Some clients will buy into it, some won’t. You won’t know until you take your shot.

Wait – But What If They Say No?

If a client isn’t interested, don’t take it to heart.

Plus, client demands are constantly changing. Perhaps as a client’s business grows, they’ll have more needs and a bigger budget.

Don’t burn your bridges. The trick is to stay positive, offer your support and leave the door open. Then – you’ll stay fresh in clients’ minds when the time comes.

Finally – Don’t Take Each Other For Granted

Before I go, there’s something I want to remind you: even though having long-term clients is awesome, it isn’t a life sentence! Don’t be afraid to drop a bad client if the relationship turns toxic, and they start taking you for granted.

End of the day, your client probably wants the same thing as you. A dependable relationship that helps them hit their professional goals, so they can earn a living and sleep easy at night.

The best thing you can do is to work hard, communicate your value, and stay in touch.

If it still doesn’t happen after you’ve done all that – well, their loss. Next!

The post A Freelancer’s Guide To Getting Long-Term & Retainer Clients appeared first on Bitcatcha - Online Presence DIY.

Today, we’ll break down 11 popular types of websites. We’ll explain their goals and strategies – plus the best resources and tools to start you off. We’ve been building and testing successful websites for years, which means we’ve tried most of these tools ourselves!

Of course, this isn’t a complete list of ALL the types of website you can build, but it should inspire you to get started!

Let’s go.

Type #1 – eCommerce Website

An eCommerce website allows visitors to make online purchases. If you’re planning to sell a product or service through your site, this is probably the type of website for you.

The potential in eCommerce is HUGE, with the industry topping 4.2 trillion U.S. dollars worldwide in 2020.

Since your main goal is sales, it’s important to offer your website visitors an excellent user experience. You’ll need your site to be fast, and it should be easy to browse products and complete transactions smoothly.

On top of building your brand, make sure your site is secure and looks legitimate – for example, by getting a SSL certificate. The easiest way to get started and meet all these needs is to hook yourself up to a reputable eCommerce platform.

Type #2 – Blog Website

A blog is a type of website with a focus on regularly-updated written content.

In the early days, blogging was more like keeping an online diary. These days, individuals and businesses use blogs to discuss niche topics, or to share edu-taining content.

In some cases, a blog isn’t a separate website entity. Many businesses maintain a blog as a section of their main business website.

Blogs are usually written in a conversational style. They can help you express your opinions, or build authority in your niche. Some blogs – like Kottke below – simply curate cool content.

Many bloggers earn via showing display ads with networks like Google AdSense. However – if you haven’t got high traffic yet, it can be more lucrative to sell affiliate products, write sponsored content, or sell your own products.

Type #3 – Portfolio Website

Freelancing can be a competitive sport. If you want to stand out in your industry, then a portfolio website will help you show off your best work.

Portfolios work especially well for freelancers that get hired based on demonstrative skills – such as freelance designers, developers and writers.

Not only do online portfolios make it easier to prove yourself to potential clients – they can become a lead generation tool for clients to find YOU. For that reason, it’s important to have a strong contact page or ‘hire me’ page, so clients can easily reach you.

Type #4 – Business Website

If you’re a business in this day and age, there’s no excuse not to have a website! Many customers will Google your business before they decide to buy.

Business websites should provide all the details that customers require. If you’re a brick-and-mortar store, then it’s important to include your location and opening hours – for example by using a store finder plug-in or a Google maps integration. Some business websites also allow you to view menus, book services, or place orders online.

The end goal of business websites is generally to generate leads. That means it’s really important to have an excellent contact us page where your customers can get in touch.

Your business website should be aligned with your offline branding too. This means using the same logo, colours and styling.

Type #5 – Non-Profit Website

A non-profit type of website usually represents a charity or cause. It’s the first place people will visit to help them decide if they want to lend their support.

The best non-profit types of websites are good at storytelling. They have strong copy and emotional visuals and videos. Combined, you’ll be able to leave a lasting impression, raise awareness, and encourage users to donate.

Most non-profit websites will now allow people to make a donation online directly.

If you want to offer this, you’ll need some similar functions as an eCommerce website (check above), such as the ability to process transactions and an SSL certificate to show visitors that your site is secure.

Many non-profit websites often also try to get people to sign up for a mailing list. This lets you stay in touch with users who are interested in your cause.

Type #6 – Community Forum

Forum types of websites provide an organized way to publish public discussions. Generally, users need to register to be able to take part in the conversation. Topics can range from anything like hobbies and business tips, to fandoms.

Some forums are open and can be viewed by anyone. Some are closed, and require you to sign up as a member in order to even browse topics.

This type of website might appeal to you if you want to build a community.

Many businesses also use forums as a way to nurture self-serving customer support. For example – the Kinsta blog is filled with customers developers actively helping to solve each other’s issues. This helps a business cut down on the support tickets they receive.

Most forums will require some form of moderation against the trusty internet trolls.

Type #7 – Web Portal

A web portal type of website exists for a very specific purpose for a business, organization, or institution.

They usually bring together information or data in one place where it can be easily accessed by the right people. For example, a school may set up a portal to share updates and resources or let students access their assignments.

Users will need their own specific login to access these portals, and they’ll see a personalized view.

Type #8 – Media or Entertainment Website

Media and entertainment sites such as Vice, NPR and The Onion are popular for their regularly updated and timely content.

Some examples can include special interest magazines, entertainment websites and news outlets.

Content is queen for these types of sites. Think video content, compelling or thoughtful articles, trending topics, solid journalism, and strong images. These elements will help you find and keep a readership.

A clean layout works well to prevent the reader drowning in content. It also allows articles to be easily searched, categorized and viewed.

This type of site oftens earns via display adverts and brand partnerships. Some also have a paywall – where members need to pay for unlimited reading access.

Type #9 – Educational Website

This type of website is used by educational institutions and course providers.

Some serve as the official website for an existing educational institution – e.g. Stanford University’s website. Others provide online courses on the site itself – e.g. Udemy.

They might offer free courses, paid courses, or a subscription model.

Type #10 – Personal Website

If you want to center your website around a certain person, you might want to build a personal website.

A common version of this is the ‘infopreneur’ site, where website owners establish themselves as experts, and then sell their expertise.

Typically, the goal of these websites is to build up a ‘knowledge brand’ centered around an individual.

A common strategy to grow your traffic is to offer a mix of free and paid content. You attract people to your site by providing lots of free valuable content. As you build your readership, you can then start to sell products or services. Common forms include ebooks, online courses, consulting, or merchandise.

Type #11 – Membership Website

A membership website requires visitors to register before they can access private content. Membership can be free, paid, or both.

Some websites allow readers to access a certain amount of content for free, but charge for full access. Like Medium – which makes you pay to read more than 3 articles a month.

Alternatively, you might let members unlock all content for a single payment.

OR, you might even charge for a subscription that needs to be renewed after a certain period of time, for example, on a monthly basis.

There’s even a type of membership site called a ‘drip content’ style, where content is released at certain points in time, rather than being available all at once.

Wrap Up

As you’ve seen from this article, there’s a huge range of types of websites that can be built.

We hope this article has inspired you to see some of the popular options that are available to you – and how you can hope to get started.

Be sure to browse the rest of our content to help build a strong and steady-growing site.

Good luck!

The post The 11 Types of Websites to Start in 2022 (& How to Make Them) appeared first on Bitcatcha - Online Presence DIY.