Research

Being a web worker can mean learning to handle many facets of running a small business, including dealing with difficult clients, which can often be one of the biggest frustrations that come with the territory. But how do you know if your clients are abusing you? Here are a few telltale signs and tips for how to fix and avoid these situations. The work keeps creeping in. You start with one description of what is to be done and end up doing something entirely different or something that's way more involved than the original task. How to Fix/Avoid It: Have a contract and a clear and agreed-upon scope and schedule for each and every phase or project. Outline exactly what is to be done and when it's due. The client expects immediate responses or complete availability. Occasionally, you'll come across clients who want 100% of your undivided attention. They expect emails to be responded to within an hour and work to be completed at an unrealistic pace. How to Fix/Avoid It: Set expectations from the start. Explain when you're available to clients, how quickly you tend to reply to communications, and how you prefer to communicate. You may also wish to explain how you work. For example, do you generally devote a set amount of time to each project or client per day? If so, explain this to clients on the front side so that they know what to expect.…