Welcome to 2D Web Solutions Episode #31

Today we’re going to talk all about the different contact methods and options for ways that potential clients can connect with you.

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Intro and Outro by Benjamin Bradley.

1. Who needs to contact you? (Arelthia – 0:47) (Kerry – 1:31)
2. What are some of your contact processes? (Kerry – 1:50, 4:47) (Arelthia – 3:16)
3. How do you respond to the contacts outside of the normal process? (Kerry – 05:31) (Arelthia – 06:40)

Common Freelancer Contacts

There are many types of people that are going to need to be able to reach out and connect with you when you are a freelancer.

• Leads
• Clients
• Customers
• Potential Partners
• Co-workers and existing Partners

Let’s define the different types of people that you will need to communicate with as a freelancer.

A lead is someone who may purchase from you at some point. A client is someone who pays you for your services. A customer is someone who pays you for your products. Potential partners are people who may collaborate with you in business at some point. And your coworkers and existing partners are people who are already collaborating with you and your business.

Each of these types of people is connecting with your for very different reasons and therefore, the methods of communication and the processes each of them use may be very different from one another.

Contact Methods and Processes

Contact Page Components to Consider

• your name
• mailing address
• email address or form
• map
• telephone number
• cell phone number
• fax number
• social media links

Support Portal

Some businesses do rather well offering a support portal or ticket system for their clients.

Email Address

Some freelancers use a business or personal email to communicate regularly. Many use both but differentiate who has access to which email.

Other Communication Methods

It’s not uncommon for freelancers to be approached by someone outside of their regular communication process. This can be a potential new lead, a solicitor for work, employment or even a partnership opportunity.

For example, someone may send you a random social media message, chat message or an unexpected email.

It can be important at times to respond to messages outside of your process.

Some appropriate responses for when someone connects with you outside of your regular communication process might be…

1. Respond with an impromptu message back.
2. Pre-write canned replies that will direct them to your regular process.

Review and update your contact processes.Click To Tweet

It is always better to be prepared and have a plan for when the unexpected occurs rather than being unprepared and miss a potential opportunity to build and grow your business.

Thinking through and putting some simple processes in place can save you time later and set you up to be able to recognize new opportunities as they present themselves.