There's No Such Thing As A Bad Client - RD262

<h2>Have you ever worked with a bad client?</h2> <p>Ok, I have a confession to make. Obviously, bad clients are a thing. I chose this title to get your attention. And it worked. You’re here, aren’t you? The title I should have chosen is <strong><em>If you do your job right, you should never have to deal with bad clients.</em></strong> But it just doesn’t have the same ring to it.</p> <p class="p1">I bet if I asked you to recount an experience with a bad client, it wouldn’t take you long to think of one. Heck, there are entire <a href="https://clientsfromhell.net/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">websites dedicated to stories of bad clients</a> designers have had to endure. Be warned. Once you start reading the stories, it’s hard to stop.</p> <h2 class="p1">What is a bad client?</h2> <p class="p1">Every designer has their own definition of what makes a bad client.</p> <p class="p1">To some, it’s their personality. They’re demanding or obnoxious. “This is how I want you to do it” or “That’s not what I asked for. What’s wrong with you?” Or they’re too timid and uncommitting, never able to give a firm opinion. “I can’t decide. What do you think?”</p> <p class="p1">Maybe it’s their inability to visualize. For example, “I have no idea what I want, but I’ll know it when I see it.” or “can you try it like this, and like this, and like this and perhaps like this so I can see what each way looks like?”</p> <p class="p1">Bad clients also come in the form of people who reluctantly or flat out don’t pay. They don’t realize, or they don’t care, that as a freelancer or small business, you rely on every bit of income to make a living, and their refusal or tardiness in paying can drastically affect your way of life.</p> <p class="p1">Then some clients want something for nothing. They assure you that the exposure you’ll get from working on their project will be more valuable than any sum of money you would charge them.</p> <p class="p1">The list of bad clients continues with clients who change scope midway through a project. Some