A great source for repeat work for designers is referrals or retainer work. However, it’s not always easy (and honestly sometimes awkward) to know how to stay in touch. Especially without feeling salesy or annoying. One way to keep top of mind is to create a follow-up schedule for past clients. In this post, I’ll go over how to create a follow-up schedule, create feedback forms, and set up an email schedule to get retainer work and referrals all inside of Dubsado.
The first step in creating a follow-up schedule is to decide how frequently you want to follow up. The goal is to stay in touch without overwhelming your clients.
Consider how often you want to follow up and the best way to do so. For example, you might send an email every three months or a personal note on their “anniversary” date of when you completed their work.
Getting feedback from clients helps you know how your process is being received to help improve for the next client. And it’s also a great way to get testimonials.
Dubsado’s feedback forms are great for this.
I recommend including questions about:
Setting up an email schedule can help you stay top of mind and the services you offer.
Create a series of emails to send at specific intervals. For example, you might send an email after a project is complete. A follow-up email three months later to check in. And then an email every six months to see if they need any ongoing design work or updates.
Inside Dubsado, you can easily add questionnaire forms and a workflow to your clients on a certain schedule that works for you. We like to use a 3-month, and a 6-month feedback form and have these emails scheduled out so we don’t forget. We also have separate questionnaire forms for each of these so we can get even more specific feedback from our clients.
Make sure each email is personalized, addresses their specific needs, and includes a call-to-action, such as working together on a retainer or asking for referrals.
Truth be told, asking for retainer work from past clients or referrals can be awkward. Even so, getting work from someone who has already experienced working with you and your style is easier than finding brand-new clients and having to start from zero.
Include a call to action in your follow-up emails. It can be as simple as “I wanted to thank you again for letting me work on your project. I loved working with you and you’re my ideal client! If you ever need future design services or know of anyone who would be a good fit, I’d love a referral. “
Creating a follow-up schedule for past clients is an effective way to stay in touch, gather feedback, and generate new business. By creating feedback forms, setting up an email schedule, and asking for retainer work and referrals, you can maintain strong relationships with your past clients and ensure a steady flow of work.
A heads-up that this blog post includes affiliate links. All the words are my own and I only recommend products that I use and love.