I thought a client's 'quick fix' project was a waste of time

A client offered me $200 to update their website's contact form, which seemed too simple. I did it in an hour, but they were so happy they gave me three bigger projects over the next month. That small job in April showed me that building trust is more important than the project size. Has anyone else landed a long-term client from a tiny first job?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_brian5d ago

Exactly, that "audition" idea from @juliashah is spot on. I read a blog post once that called small jobs "trust builders." They're not about the money right then. It's like you're showing you're reliable and easy to work with before the big ask even comes. Turning down those little tasks might mean missing the chance to prove yourself. Your story is a perfect example of how a simple yes to a small thing can open the door to everything else.

victor_jones993d ago

Yeah but that "trust builder" thing can backfire. Sometimes you just get stuck doing small jobs forever because they know you'll say yes. I've seen people get taken for granted that way, never getting the bigger project.

juliashah5d ago

My plumber charged me eighty bucks to fix a dripping tap last year. Now he does all our building's work. Sometimes the small stuff is just an audition.