What to do when you land a new client?

In voice-over, we can potentially land a new client a week, or day, or even several a day. I’ve found that when I have a lot of new clients coming in, I drop the ball when it comes to making sure I have all their details and with what to do after-the-fact. However, when a new client drips in once or twice a month, my “new client routine” also tends to suffer, because I’m not on top of my game and I let routines slip through the cracks. All the names that start flowing into our inbox start to lose context.

So, what works for me … a list. Surprise, surprise.

Need help figuring out what to do when you have a new freelance client and you’ve finished your first job with them? Here’s a new client checklist that will help you tie it all together!

New Client Checklist to Grow your Freelance Business

• Starting with the information in the client’s email signature, collect their contact details and add to your invoicing database/software. This will connect the work you’ve done from them to their name.
• This would be a good time to also add them into any additional databases you have going – CRM, tracking software, spreadsheet. Ideally, we’d only have one database, but admittedly, I have more than one on the go right now.
• Grab an envelope from your personalized stationery and fill out their name and details on the front of the envelope.
• Connect with your client (and their company) on all the social media within their email signature. If they don’t list any, Google the business to see if their company website lists further contact information for your database, plus, all social media contact info.
• In Facebook, should their company appear there, be sure to hover over the “three dots” and “like as your page” instead of liking from your personal profile.
• In Twitter, make sure you are connecting only with your profile that you use for business.
• Subscribe to the company’s YouTube Channel.
• For all other social mediums, same as above – connect as your business, not from your personal profiles, unless you are using those for business.
• Now, go ahead to LinkedIn and connect with the specific contact who hired you, if they appear in a search.
• Back on their company website, sign up for their newsletter and blog, if they have either.
• When the job is done and you have sent the invoice, immediately send the new client a thank you note with your prepped envelope and a business card inside. If they hadn’t paid yet, the card will also be a good reminder to do so!
• Review your past client’s social media details every six months or so, to stay up-to-date.

(Post updated from 2017 post)

For more list making prowess, please see information on my past course (one that I hope to offer again in the future!):
Master VO To-Do List course offerings.