There will come a time in your freelancing career when you simply won’t be able to complete an assignment on time. Maybe a baby was born, or an accident happened, or you got sick, or you just got behind. Nevertheless, there is a right and a wrong procedure for telling a client you need an extension. Let’s take a look.
What to Do If You’re Going to Miss a Deadline
Don’t Panic
The first thing you need to remember is that it’s okay to miss a deadline because of an emergency. Life happens. Your clients are people, and they don’t want you slaving over a hot keyboard when you’re in labor anymore than you do. So take a deep breathe and cut yourself some slack.
Contact the Client Immediately
As soon as you realize you won’t be able to make a deadline, contact the client. A lot of freelancers spend time ruminating over whether or not they can squeeze the project in. Take the safer route and let them know that you’ll need more time to provide the quality they’re looking for. Don’t rush projects in the middle of an emergency, or you could face some serious burnout and damage the working relationship.
Don’t Lie
Sometimes you miss a deadline because you didn’t plan ahead. The important thing to remember when telling a client is to never lie about the reason behind a missed deadline. Honesty builds trust between you and the client, and 9 times out of 10, they’ll understand.
Use the Word “Because”
The word “because” has psychological effects, and it’s often used in persuasive writing. Similarly, you should use the word “because” when describing the reason for missing the upcoming deadline. It makes the client resonate the connection between cause and effect, and makes them more likely to be persuaded to take your side. See it in action below with the sample email.
Sample Email
Hey {client},
I’m emailing you this morning to let you know that I won’t be able to meet the deadline of [date] because a family emergency has occurred. I apologize for the inconvenience. I should be able to get you the pieces by [new date]. Let me know if that is sufficient. Otherwise, I will send over the partial work and we can arrange for a partial payment, or we can cancel the job from here. Please let me know,
Your name
What are your tips for notifying a client about deadline requirements? Share them below in the comments.
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