Working with Clients: Lessons from Freelance Dev Life

By Borys5 April 2025

Freelancing is more than writing code — it's about solving problems for real people.

Here’s what I’ve learned by building websites for clients (and making a few mistakes along the way).


🧠 Lesson 1: Clarity Is Everything

Clients aren’t always technical.
Avoid jargon. Be specific. Use mockups and examples.

“Confused clients don’t say ‘I’m confused.’ They go silent.”


🛠️ Lesson 2: Set Boundaries Early

Define:

  • What’s included (and what’s not)
  • Timeline and deadlines
  • Revision limits
  • Payment structure

Be kind — but be firm. Overcommunicating beats undercommunicating.


💬 Lesson 3: Feedback Is a Gift

Sometimes it stings. Sometimes it’s vague. But:

  • Ask follow-ups like “What isn’t working for you?”
  • Restate their feedback to confirm
  • Use it to improve your process

🔄 Lesson 4: Iteration > Perfection

The first version won't be perfect — and that’s okay.
It’s better to ship something functional and improve from there.


👨‍💻 Lesson 5: Your Tech Stack Matters Less Than You Think

Clients usually care about:

  • How it looks
  • How it works
  • How fast you deliver

If you’re debating Vue vs React — they just want a beautiful, working site.


💼 Final Advice

Freelancing can be rewarding — but only if you treat it like a business.

You’re not just coding. You’re:

  • Listening
  • Planning
  • Communicating
  • Delivering

🧭 Code with care. Communicate with clarity. Charge what you’re worth.