I thought client check-ins were pointless until a ten-minute call fixed everything

For years, I skipped regular updates with people hiring me, thinking it just added extra steps. My mindset was to focus only on finishing tasks and sending them out. Then, on a recent graphic job, I was ready to submit the final version without any review. Something told me to just ring the client for a quick chat, even though I almost didn't. They mentioned a color shift I had missed COMPLETELY, which would have ruined the whole piece. Adjusting it was fast, but it turned a potential disaster into a happy client. That tiny effort made me realize how vital those touches are for avoiding big errors. Now I build in quick calls every week, and it's made my freelance life WAY more stable.

4 comments

4 Comments

quinnshah8d ago

Set a calendar reminder for those quick check-in calls.

phoenix_wells7d ago

Reminders help, but some of the best check-ins are the spontaneous ones.

tylermurray7d ago

That color shift detail is actually terrifying. You almost sent out a ruined final piece because you skipped a ten minute chat. @quinnshah is right about the calendar reminders, because my dumb self would forget to do it unless it's staring me in the face. It's crazy how the smallest slip can wreck everything. Those calls are basically free insurance.

williams907d ago

But do you really need another call when just slowing down works too?