Say What?! Email Templates for Sticky Client Situations
The Original Email Templates for Freelancers in Sticky Situations - Over 125 templates!
That angry email from your client is gnawing at you…
but you don’t know how to respond.
You want to sound professional, but firm, and stand up for yourself while coming up with a solution that will work for you and your client–but you can’t keep the emotion out of your response.
That’s where Say What?! comes in. These simple, copy and paste email templates can be tweaked to fit any difficult client situation and take the drama out of the equation. Delivered immediately upon checkout, this Google Doc is easy to use and will save you hours of stress agonizing over how to compose the proper response. Simply put, these email templates for bad clients turn problem situations into simple solutions.
Say What?! will help you…
- Craft the perfect email to any tough client situation
- Spend less time agonizing over emails
- Feel confident communicating with difficult clients
- Stop working with terrible clients
Not just for web designers!
Past versions of this product have been geared towards web designers, but now Say What?! has been re-written to work for ALL freelancers!
Say What covers what to say when...
Basic Emails
- You get an inquiry
- A potential client schedules a discovery call
- You send the proposal
- You send the contract
- You send the initial invoice
- You send additional invoices
- You send the final invoice
- The client makes a payment
- The strategy call is scheduled
- You send the website homepage mockup for review
- It’s time for a weekly project update
- You need approval on revisions
- The project is ready for review
- The project is ready to launch
- You send the Goodbye Packet
- You ask for feedback
- You want to use the edited feedback as a testimonial
- You send the client a gift
Processes & Offerings
- A potential client requests a quote but doesn’t provide information
- A potential client refuses to sign a contract
- A client asks to cancel her contract
- A client chooses to hire someone else
- A client requests a phone call
- A returning client wants something right away (but you’re already booked)
- A returning client wants to work with you again (but you don’t want to work with her
- A client doesn’t want you to show their project in your portfolio
- A client wants you to remove your credit from the footer of their website
- A client wants a service you don’t offer
- A client wants part of their project to look “different” from the rest
- A client insists on something and then hates it
- A client hates everything you’ve sent her
- You can’t do something
- You stop offering services
Boundaries
- A client doesn’t respect your office hours
- A client calls outside your office hours
- A client wants to be friends on Facebook (and you don’t)
Money
- A potential client says, “You’re too expensive!”
- A potential client has a low (or no) budget
- A client wants free work
- You raise your rates
- A returning client is unhappy with your rate increase
- A client’s payment is late
- A client tells you they are unable to make final payment
- A client doesn’t make final payment (no explanation)
- A client asks for a refund
Scope & Timeline
- A client can’t make a decision
- You can’t deliver the project on time
- A client drags out the timeline
- A client asks to extend the timeline
- A client is scope creeping
- A client wants more revisions that outlined in the contract
- An emergency delays things
- A client goes MIA
Other Problems
- A potential client isn’t a good fit
- You make a recommendation the client hates it
- A client tries to tell you how to do your job
- A client won’t take no for an answer
- A client is rude to you
- You make a mistake
With multiple responses per scenario, you have over 129 templates to choose from!
Say What?! Excerpt
Wondering what the book is like? Here’s one of the scenarios! Simply choose the answer you want, fill in the blanks, and send to your client!
What to say when a client wants more revisions than outlined in the contract:
Option One - Add on more revisions
Hi [NAME],
I love the new idea you had to ____!
As outlined in our contract you get ____ revisions to each ____. Right now, we’ve already done ____ revisions. I’m happy to keep working with you until we get it just right, but will need to charge extra to cover the time spent on each one.
If you’d like more revisions, I’m happy to add them on to the next invoice at $____ each. Please confirm by ____ and I’ll get started on the new ____!
Thanks,
- [YOUR NAME]
Option Two - ENOUGH revisions already!
Hi [NAME],
I know committing to a ____ is hard! But we’ve already hit/exceeded the number of revisions for this project as outlined in the contract. At this time I’m unable to continue revising the ____.
Please choose one of the options I’ve already presented by ____ so that we can move forward with the rest of the project.
Thanks,
- [YOUR NAME]
Option Three - I’m over it.
Hi [NAME],
We’ve already hit/exceeded the number of revisions for this project as outlined in the contract. At this time I’m unable to continue revising the ____ and think it’s best for you to work with another designer.
I have attached the files and all work as outlined in the contract. You may use them as-is or another [DESIGNER/COPYWRITER/ETC,] may be able to bring your vision to life.
Thanks,
- [YOUR NAME]
I had a client go completely MIA after I finished making some changes to her website. I sent her final invoice and didn't here a darn thing for over a week. I purchased your email templates this morning, picked one that fit the situation, and I had an apology and paid invoice within 2 hours. Thank you!! :)
- Krista Miller
Say What?! takes the guesswork out of how to craft the perfect email and presents various options which are clear, direct, and professional. This ebook is my new business bible and one that I treasure so dearly!
- Naomi Chambers
This e-book is awesome! It makes things so much easier when I get stuck on what to say in my emails!
- Tiffany
This killer resource empowers designers to respond efficiently and appropriately to potentially *facepalm* situations with clients. Erin’s scripts take all the guesswork and stress out of the balancing act between being warm and professional and not letting clients take advantage of you. This is a must-have for any freelance designer!
- Allie
Your Instructor
Hi, I’m Erin.
I help web designers make more money without working more.
Not so long ago I was like you. Working constantly. Answering phone calls from clients on Sunday mornings. Staying up late to meet deadlines. Dragging my computer with me on vacation. Constantly checking my phone. Checking emails at my own damn wedding.
It took me several years to figure it out: that I didn't have to chase every shiny object, do all the things, or even hire a team to run a successful business.
By getting clear on my own unique vision of success and cutting out everything in my business that wasn't moving me in the right direction, I was able to scale my business to over six-figures a year, while working less than 20 hours a week.
Through my courses and programs, I have helpedover 15,000 creative entrepreneurs scale their businesses while cutting their work hours. But more importantly, I've helped them get clear on what success means to them, and design their business to help them reach their vision of success as quickly as possible.
I want to help you too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Erin has put together a timeless collection of scripts useful for any designer that works for clients. I have been working for clients providing graphic and web design services for over 8 years and I have collected together six or seven or so scripts. Erin has a whole boatload of them here. And they are all essential. An amazing resource!
- Rob Cubbon
This book has many excellent examples, is clear and direct with a simple copy and paste format. Erin has a great sense of humor and a firm grasp of the frustrations web and graphic designers face with clients. The ebook left me wanting to read more of what she had to say! Worth the purchase many times over. Thank you for such a great resource, Erin.
- Amanda Schoolfield
Say What?! made handling those less-than-fun client interactions a breeze and I’m so happy that Erin’s put this invaluable guide together! Erin has allowed me to spend less time fretting over emails and more time on the important stuff: producing great work! Thanks, Erin!
- Bobbi
I just used the MIA script for a client I hadn’t heard from in a month… and guess what? They actually replied! Woo hoo!
- Nicole
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