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4 Comments

Handling Customer Service when Freelancing on the side

Hey IndieHackers!

I been wanting to get into freelance work for a while, and would really like to do the work to supplement my main income.

I've heard that someone can find success through large freelancing platform or by marketing themselves and finding their own clients. My only real hesitation is coordinating customer service and client communication during a normal workday.

I imagine a client would want to converse mostly, if not exclusively, during a 9-5 period. As my job was primarily office-based (prior to the last few months), it would cause tension if I was to take a phone call every hour or so to deal with personal clients.

This would be a lot different with a fully remote job, and I'm working to move into a fully remote position. Until that is a reality though, have you found a consistent need for synchronous communication with clients during the day? Are my hesitations grounded in reality?

Thanks :)

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    Be up front, and nobody is going to worry about it. Plus start slow and only take one client at a time. See how things go and grow from there.

    1. 1

      Thanks for the advice :) It's nice to know that clients will be understanding. I guess it all comes down to the client that you're working with.

  2. 1

    What type of work? I've done both graphic design and web design, and the former requires more communication via phone, while the latter can work via email... but meetings are helpful at the start. Also really depends on the client.

    Either way, you can be upfront about your availability. Setting expectations and following through are critical, being available 9-5 is not.

    1. 1

      That is a good way too think about it. As long as the communication is sufficient and expectations are set, then it should all go well.
      I'd like to do web and/or mobile development. I could see that taking a majority of time upfront with short, regular emails afterward throughout a project.

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