5 simple ways to spot a bad client for your PPC agency

Are you constantly chasing after clients and spending a lot of time on projects that never amount to anything? Are your clients not paying their bills or contacting you regularly? It might be time to start identifying the bad agency clients.

In this post, I’ll go over some of the warning signs that indicate a client might be ‘bad, and what you can do to avoid them. We’ve also included some tips for how to spot a good client so that you don’t end up wasting time with those who are wastes of space.

5 Ways to Spot a Bad Client for your agency

1) They’re continually asking for more work, but they haven’t paid your previous invoice yet.

Clients that try to get more work before having paid up are probably bad. It’s a great sign if you finish your last project and then they ask for more work, but the first time this happened, it’s a red flag. If they do not pay up on time each time, that’s another warning sign – this will make you feel like your time is being wasted, and maybe you’ll decide not to work with them again.

2) They change their mind about the scope of work

This might seem like common sense – but it isn’t always the case. Sometimes clients change their minds about things at the last minute, or halfway through a project, they start wanting something else.

This isn’t good for your business. The changes are coming too late in the game and often put you behind schedule. You can’t finish the project within the timeframe and budget agreed upon, and you end up working late or paying someone overtime to complete it on time (which isn’t part of your contract).

3) They don’t have any money

If they’re not paying you – they’re probably bad. They might not be able to make it out to pay your invoice because they have a long commute or other reason – but if all of these excuses add up to too much time and you’re not getting paid – chances are they’re bad news.

4) They want/need the project to be done immediately

This can happen in different ways. Sometimes clients ask for a project to be finished instantly, but they often don’t have the funds or long-term time frame to do it. You know that you need time to get things done right and deliver the work on deadline – but they’re asking for something not on your terms. A bad client will constantly ask for your work as soon as possible but can’t follow through when they cannot get it done promptly.

5) They are not a serious client

If they say they will order a specific amount of work from you but then do not give you the opportunity to earn their business – chances are they are not a serious client. If they have not given you a chance to complete the job or work for them – it could be because they’re going through a stressful situation and don’t need to add more stress to their lives.

If they are still in the planning stages of their business, it could be that they don’t need the amount of work that you’ve proposed. If so, they’re likely to call back for smaller jobs later on.

How to Tell if You Have a Good Client

It’s tricky to identify whether or not you have an excellent client right from the start – but several signs will let you know as soon as possible so you can stop wasting time.

1) They pay your agency on time and in full every time

This is one of the best ways to tell if a client is okay. If they are paying you always on time, they respect your time and realize that you cannot do good work if the money is not there to pay you.

If they’re doing this consistently and without missing a beat, things are looking good. It’s essential to work with clients who respect your time and business – this will allow you to work more efficiently and turn a profit for yourself.

2) They communicate their vision well

Good clients will usually be able to describe what they want or need for a project well. They have clearly defined goals for the project and how they want it to turn out. In a way, they know what they want and can communicate it effectively. They won’t constantly be asking for more things to be done, and they will have realistic expectations. This means that you can do the job and get paid for it.

3) They understand the time it takes to get things done

Good clients understand that you need time to get a project done well. They might not agree with how much time it’s taking you – but if they understand that good work takes time, then this is a positive sign. If they understand the amount of time required to do the job correctly – this is excellent news for your business.

4) They’re easy to get along with

This is an important sign. If you got along well with the client, it means you could easily do the job without any issues. You don’t have to worry about other people distracting or hindering your work (e.g. their children, spouse). This will allow you to work efficiently and turn a profit for your business. You also don’t have to worry about any communication problems – which means that you can focus on the project without troubles.

5) The project is clear and defined

If you know what the client wants and know what you want, you should be able to work together quite easily. Having a clear understanding of what both parties want will stop things from going south later on. A good client has worked out exactly what they want and hired you because they trust that your expertise will benefit their business.

6) They give direction when needed

Good clients give their agencies direction without demanding every little detail to be done precisely how they want it. They ask questions about your work and how you think it will turn out, and they give you advice when they see that the project is not turning out the way they expected.

A good client will be able to give you more specific details about what exactly they need – which means that you can find a suitable solution for their problems without too much trouble. It also means that you do not need to waste time researching information independently, which would take away from doing the actual job on hand.

7) They’re not afraid to hand over their intellectual property

If they don’t mind you looking at their content and giving you access to information about customers – then this is a good sign for your business. If the client trusted you enough to provide you with access to this information, it means that they’re more likely to be okay with other things in the project – such as changes that might need their approval. This also means that they trust your work and know that you will deliver what they want. This is a massive plus for any agency.

8) They want to work in the long run

If a client is willing to invest time and energy into you – it means that you will benefit from this in the long run. Good clients don’t just want you to do a job for their project – they see great potential in your skills and are happy to offer them ongoing work. This means that they have faith and trust in you, which is always great for your freelance business.

9) They are open-minded about what you do

As an agency owner or freelancer, you should be creative enough to develop different solutions for your client’s problems. If they are not afraid to trust you to develop ideas – that’s a good sign for your agency. This is also a brilliant opportunity to come up with something completely new, which might not have been attempted by anyone else.

10) They know what they want

This is probably the most vital point for any digital agency – knowing what you’re doing for the client and why will make it much easier for them to trust you more. It also means that you can get on with your job, and when you’re working on something they’ve already said they want anyway – this could lead to bigger projects in the future.

Before closing, I should mention that a good client shouldn’t have all these characteristics. In fact, I’ve never met a client with all of them. However, a good client will have many of these characteristics and be one of the best people you work with. It’s easier to trust someone who understands what you do for them and why they need it done in the first place, and if you find yourself working with someone like this – thank them for it.

Do you want to know more about how to spot a bad client? Read this article.

Did I miss anything? What qualities do you look for in a client? Let me know in the comments.

To know more

8 Signs It’s Time To Fire A Bad Client & How To Do It

Use These 10 Red Flags to Spot a Difficult Client From a Mile Away