SKALAK25, same with your use of the English language: “you must know a good knowledge” of the language you’re using, or else you, too, must be “aware of full shit”.

Just recently acquired Client A, who is annoying in the most classic ways. I decided to work with her anyway, partly because she has a good budget and is quite willing to pay me fairly for my time.

She referred me to Client B, who, interestingly, is a delight to work with in the most classic ways. Here’s the comparison:

CLIENT A: Fought fiercely against my “I work only with one point person” rule. Consults her clueless Board members on entirely inappropriate level of decisions for website. (Would “sic” them on me directly if I allowed such horrors.) Instructs me on exactly how to design and lay out the website, with laughably little actual knowledge of best practices (example: all menu items should be Calls to Action.) Almost totally incapable of providing any content whatsoever, and requires me to enter all content. Actually believes that it is efficient to copy emails to more than one person.

CLIENT B: From the beginning, respected my advice on almost everything. Has content already prepared, and a colleague to enter it. Has a general concept of what he wants the website to look like and how he wants it to function, while trusting me to come up with designs and solutions. Communicates easily and appropriately by email and phone.

Just wanted to share that. I am not overloaded with work, but I absolutely will still turn down client projects which clearly show “red lights”. As your excellent article states, any funny-business about payment, ANY, is an immediate deal-breaker. I once literally fired a longtime regular client who started “missing” my invoices and paying a few weeks late.