As a freelancer, you’re probably used to managing several projects at once. You’ve gotten the hang of prioritizing, scheduling, and making deadlines. While the overall outcome of your work is vital to your business, maintaining strong relationships with your clients is just as important. To help you out, we’ve put together a crash course in arming yourself with the practical tools you’ll need to stay connected.
Tools
- Freshbooks: Manage your invoices quickly and efficiently with Freshbooks, an online program that helps you notify your clients of new payments and project updates.
- Highrise: With Highrise, you’ll avoid scrolling through massive e-mail lists to find records of all your communication history. Keep track of your client chats with this handy tool.
- Salesforce.com: Salesforce.com is a comprehensive toolkit for client relationship management, but it costs much less than traditional CRM packages.
- Backpack: Keep track of to-do lists, deadlines, and contact information with Backpack. Activate the alerts option to notify of important dates or appointments.
- Essential PIM: This inclusive program offers a free version, so don’t worry about shelling out extra cash just to stay organized
- Core FTP: This free download allows you and your clients to take advantage of file sharing, editing, and transfer capabilities.
- ProjectStat.us: Sign up for a free account, and start updating clients on each project’s progress.
- Box: Allow your clients to access files so you won’t have to keep from faxing and e-mailing all day long.
- Jewelboxing: Burn your assignments onto CDs and DVDs with the help of Jewelboxing and send them to your clients. Trust us, they’ll be impressed.
- 8apps: 8apps takes online social networking to the next level. Make your clients feel loved by checking in on them frequently, updating them with project information and collaborating on assignments with 8apps’ easy-to-use features.
- Goplan: Use Goplan to chat with clients and vendors, share your calendar and to-do list, and more.
- eFax: Continue to connect with your clients in a paper-free format. eFax allows you to “fax by e-mail.”
- Relenta CRM: Forget about all those pricey CRM software tools. Relenta CRM simplifies client management software so that you can afford to connect with your clients.
Resources
- Free CRM: Gain access to software programs that assist you with managing databases, contact lists, and more.
- Up Close and Personal: This resource will guide you through the basics of client relationship management with its training, video tour, reference guide, and support section.
- BoldChat: BoldChat offers a fantastic way to keep in touch with customers. More advanced than a generic instant messaging system, Boldchat also offers a live support solution for your customers.
- SalesPro CRM: Signing on as a single user will grant you affordable access to SalesPro, one of the best CRM hosting services out there.
- The CRM Toolkit 3.1: Follow this link to a free download of The CRM Toolkit 3.1.
- Stay Connected SOC: Send out cards to your clients for all kinds of occasions.
- Zoho Meeting: Set up Web conferencing solutions with Zoho.
- Xing: Search for new customers with Xing, an innovative approach to making online connections.
- MindMeister: Let your customers feel like they’re contributing to the creative process with the help of MindMeister. Add as many users as you want and start brainstorming. The basic subscription is totally free.
- Biz-Plan: Your customers will appreciate your organization when you use Biz-Plan. Create a separate business plan for each project, or develop an ongoing strategy for your overall freelance career.
- Comodo: Give your clients peace of mind with Comodo. This secure e-mail service will assure them that all their creative and financial information is safe from hackers.
- Spongecell Calendar: Spongecell features an attractive way to share your calendar with clients and contacts. Invite your business associates to leave comments, RSVP, and more!
- Moo: Use Moo to custom-designed postcards, business cards, and other print items for your clients.
Client relationship management can be tough to maintain if you’re juggling several different projects by yourself. Use these tools and resources to help you create solid connections with each of your clients.
译文:
抓住客户群，26个小技巧助你的自由职业更有钱途！！
在“自由”的道路上，你可曾遇阻？可曾因客户太多，无法一时兼顾？是否徘徊在客户之间无从权衡？纵使付诸了汗水，如果与客户的关系没有得到很好的维持，那最终也是难以取得很高的回报的，所以怎么去跟客户保持良好而持久的合作关系成了至关重要的因素。为助你在自由职业的道路上更有钱途，我们在此搜集了一些比较实用的工具，分别衔接到各家网站，相信对你会有帮助。
实用工具
1. Freshbooks:作为一种在线工具，能向客户发出付款通知，实时更新项目信息，管理项目发票既快速又高效；
2. Highrise:非常方便的一款客户交谈记录工具，避免了查找客户通讯录的麻烦；
3. Salesforce.com: 综合类客户关系管理工具包，相比传统CRM包，Salesforce更加物超所值；
4. Backpack: 具备代办事项、项目截止日期和联系方式等信息跟踪功能，有重要事项预约提醒功能；
5. Essential PIM: 该个人信息管理器 (PIM) 同时提供免费版本，无须担心额外的开销预算；
6. Core FTP: 建立免费FTP，与客户共享文件，客户也能进行编辑和传输；
7. ProjectStat.us: 可免费注册，上传项目信息，更新项目进度和客户信息；
8. Box: 像一个网络硬盘，可在线储存文件，客户可访问阅读文件，省去了整天传真或发邮件的麻烦；
9. Jewelboxing: 烧录CD和DVD，发给客户；
10. 8apps: 该网站已关闭（译外话）
11. Goplan: 类似一种客服软件，可与客户聊天，可共享出自己的日程表和待办事项等；
12. eFax: 顾名思义，这是一款电子传真，再次实现了无纸化办公模式，可“用电邮发传真”；
13. Relenta CRM: 作为自由职业人员，价格高昂的CRM软件只能让我们望而止步。不过Relenta CRM 的问世算是给了自由人们很好的机会，该软件做了一些简化程序，用起来比较方便，而且价格也能承受。
信息资源 14. Free CRM: 在线使用CRM软件，网络储存空间达10M，能管理数据库、通讯录等；
15. Up Close and Personal: CRM新手入门网站，提供CRM基础培训、视频讲解、对比引导和答疑解惑；
16. BoldChat: 能带给用户不一样的感觉，与客户的沟通近乎零距离。比起普通的即时通讯软件或系统，BoldChat更加先进，还能提供在线服务支持，使你的客户无后顾之忧；
17. SalesPro CRM: 注册使用，费用低廉，其CRM托管服务比较有特色;
18. The CRM Toolkit 3.1: 点击此处免费下载The CRM Toolkit 3.1.
19. Stay Connected SOC: 无论洋节还是中国节，多给你的客户发些贺卡；
20. Zoho Meeting: 用Zoho召开网络会议解决问题；
21. Xing: 可进行客户搜索，在在线联系方面比较创新；
22. MindMeister: 别固守陈规了，给客户一些新意吧，用MindMeister的创新玩意儿吊住客户们的胃口，邀请朋友或客户加入你在MindMeister的项目开动脑筋；网站信息可免费订阅；
23. Biz-Plan: 用Biz-Plan来规划自己的自由职业生涯，每个项目都创建一个单独的商业计划，或者把手上所有的项目集中起来研究形成自己一套独有的自由职业策略，相信客户都会输气拇指赞赏你的；
24. Comodo: 网络世界，难免遭遇黑客的袭击，而用Comodo的邮件保密服务，绝对可以避免，邮件来往等信息绝对安全，这样一来客户还不相信你；
25. Spongecell Calendar: Spongecell的很多功能比较吸引眼球，可与客户和通讯录的朋友共享你的日程，可邀请你的生意伙伴留言、评价等等；
26. Moo: 打印个性明信片、名片，或为客户打印点东西都可以找Moo；
分身于多个项目之中，客户关系的管理固然不是件易事；但要是能将上面介绍的工具和网站资源利用好的话，长久而良好的客户关系理所当然的就不在话下！