My Client is Ghosting Me
Nov 28, 2022
You’re so excited. Your brand-new client has given you a nice juicy project and you can’t wait to get started. You give it your best, finish your work by the deadline, and proudly email it to your client for the next steps, eager to hear back.
And then you don’t hear back… for days or a week or more.
You don’t know what to do, you wonder why they are ignoring you, and you start to worry about the project and your client. You might even wonder if you did something wrong.
Chances are very high that it’s not you, it’s them. Clients get busy, they get distracted, their priorities change, and they lose track of time.
When (not if) a client ghosts you, skip the stress and think about how to handle the situation:
- Follow up and let go. If you don’t hear back from your client for a day or two, forward the email you sent to them and add this text above the original message:
Hi client first name, I’m checking in to make sure you got the email below that I sent on Tuesday. In order for me to XYZ by the deadline, please send me 1,2,3 by the end of the day. Thanks!
And then wait to hear back. The ball is officially in their court.
- It’s not your project. Remember that ultimately the work you’re doing is for the benefit of your client. They decide the timeline and the priority it has in their business, and that can change without them letting you know. And while it doesn’t feel great to be left out of the loop – it happens.
- Don’t take it personally. Your client is most likely not thinking that you’re not important enough to respond to. What they’re probably thinking is how am I going to get all my work done, or I can’t believe the car broke down this week, or I am juggling so many things, my project will just have to wait, again.
- Move on. Be sure that you don’t dwell on the client’s behavior and waste your precious time and energy. Start working on the next project in your queue or think about ways you can grow your business. Then get to it.
If you’re worried that your client is going to come back to you at the last minute and expect you to drop everything to meet their deadline, remember, you’re not at their mercy.
You’re in charge of your schedule, and you can set clear boundaries while being professional and helpful. In my experience, some clients chronically run their businesses in this way, and it’s ok to let them go. Put your sanity first.
If you’re not already a member of our Facebook Group, The Virtual Assistant Connection, and would like to join, here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevaconnection/
