The Silent Treatment: How to Deal with Clients Who Ghost You Mid-Project

Let’s be real: getting ghosted sucks. It’s annoying in dating, it’s infuriating when your friends do it, and it’s downright unacceptable when your clients do it, especially when you’re in the middle of a project. One moment, you’re collaborating, exchanging ideas, and making progress. The next moment? Radio silence. Emails go unanswered, calls go to voicemail, and you’re left wondering what the hell happened.

It’s a special kind of torture, because what are you to do? There is so much unknown as you have not been given a reason for the behavior, as you only assume. So you can become a wreck over the anxiety.

The reason for this is because you didn’t set boundaries. In essence, that is what happened. You should have made sure that you were going to continue and be safe, and get respect for your efforts. But alas here we are with nothing.

Why do clients ghost? Here’s the brutal truth:

• They Found Someone Cheaper: They found another freelancer or agency who offered a lower price and decided to cut ties without telling you.
• They Lost Funding: Their project budget got slashed, and they’re too embarrassed to admit that they can no longer afford your services.
• They Changed Their Mind: They had a change of heart about the project and decided to abandon it, but they’re too cowardly to communicate that decision.
• They’re Disorganized: They’re simply disorganized and overwhelmed, and your project fell off their radar.
• They’re Unhappy (But Can’t Tell You): They’re dissatisfied with your work but lack the courage to provide constructive feedback.
• They’re Gone: In the worst case, the person could have died. And to be prepared you need to plan for the worst to deal with it.
• They Are Evil: Some people just enjoy treating others badly.

Whatever the reason, ghosting is disrespectful, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable. It leaves you in limbo, wasting your time, and preventing you from moving on to other projects.

But what can you do when a client ghosts you mid-project? How do you handle the situation without sounding desperate, without coming across as a nag, and without wasting even more time on a lost cause? It’s a delicate dance, but it’s one you need to master if you want to survive in this business.

Before we dive into the strategies, let’s hear a story from the trenches:

I know this copywriter who wanted to start something so I asked if he needs help with my web design. His name is Akash.

Things were smooth to start, I gave a good design that fit his needs. But one day, all of a sudden, everything stopped. All of a sudden no communication. Akash just disappeared with all the work that was ready for him.

Months went by. What happened? His client, a person he thought was his best buddy, was on board to give Akash a million dollar gig. But sadly, he needed to ghost the project. I know it was out of his control, so I didn’t fault him.

When you get ghosted, it is best to think of the future, and keep moving, do not linger, remember that people are weird. That is life, and that is okay, you just can’t let them keep you from living.

So you too must do this.

Here are actionable steps on what you need to do:

1. Attempt initial contact to make sure they got the info, and nothing is broken
2. Check in if something is wrong, and be assertive.
3. Give them a final notice that this matter will now be moved over to collections, or small claims court.

There are no guarantees, but it will let you feel secure with getting things done.

Here are some actionable strategies for dealing with ghosting clients:

1. Document Everything: Keep detailed records of all communication with the client, including emails, phone calls, and meeting notes. This documentation can be invaluable if you need to take legal action.
2. Send a Polite Follow-Up Email: After a few days of silence, send a polite follow-up email. Remind the client of the project status, reiterate your commitment to delivering results, and ask if there’s anything you can do to help them move forward.
3. Call the Client: If email doesn’t work, try calling the client. Sometimes, a phone call is the most effective way to get someone’s attention.
4. Set a Deadline: If you still don’t hear back after a few attempts, set a deadline for a response. Let the client know that if you don’t hear from them by a certain date, you’ll assume they’ve abandoned the project and you’ll move on to other clients.
5. Consider Sending a Certified Letter: If you’re owed a significant amount of money, consider sending a certified letter to the client’s office. This shows that you’re serious about getting paid and that you’re willing to take legal action if necessary.
6. Consult with an Attorney: If you’ve exhausted all other options, consult with an attorney to explore your legal options. You may be able to file a lawsuit to recover the money you’re owed.
7. Know When to Cut Your Losses: Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to cut your losses and move on. Don’t waste your time and energy chasing after a client who is clearly unwilling to communicate or pay.

If all these are exhausted then you can take a peak into the next point.

Let’s talk about a few more stories so you know you are not alone!

*Story from my friend: a freelance developer *

As he was going on with his career he had to work hard. He was struggling to get clients, or he had a client that had disappeared one day. Now he just lost a job and does not know what is to come. He needed to keep things on track.

What we found out was that there was a family emergency and it made him disappear. He had said that all of the assets would be paid to his contractors as necessary.

It sucks. But now we know how it is.

What you need to do is:

1. Know that things will happen
2. What you’re doing can get scary
3. Stay on the lookout, and continue to do a good job.

Story from my friend – web designer Priya

One time, I was working for a client, and got good work. I was able to take my business to another level. I was doing everything to meet the deadlines and to do all my responsibilities.

What happened was that my client went to the hospital due to an accident. I wasn’t able to communicate so I kept moving and kept making things happen

I didn’t know anything was wrong, and only assumed the worst! He came back and paid me and was more than happy for the work completed in the time he was away.

There were problems, but were solved due to open communication.

You must always create a method where you can make things work. To make sure that in the end everything is going well.

Story from my friend – marketing specialist Akash

One time I got into the industry, there was so much that was done, and I had a boss that I trusted. I went along and did the best that I could.

I worked with a client, and I showed all of the hard work and all that I worked with it did not work out and the company went completely out of reach and I was lost and confused and it hit hard and I could not understand.

I was let go due to a drop in client numbers but it was never my fault. The company was losing money and let me go because I was the latest hire. This is what is called bad luck!

So this can also be it!

Here’s how you need to deal with these.
You will do all you can, but sometimes things are out of your control

So what do you do after reading all of these stories?
There is very little that you can do, but you can plan ahead. To set yourself up and do your best to secure the situation. You can go crazy with worry, but do what you need to get your mind to a better place.

Let’s keep it simple, and do the action plan today!

What you do:

• Do what needs to be done with the best of abilities
• Let yourself heal from it as is. This is all out of your control.
• Plan to be in a better place moving forward so you can succeed in the future
  The most important thing you want to succeed is to take time and to set the next level up so it always goes well.

The conclusion:

The goal is to keep moving no matter what you’ve done. What you have to do is take your best chance forward because you are amazing and talented, and just need to try. You do not have anything to waste, there is nothing lost.

So move and get all the things done, and do the work you need. You are still in the one percent.

So to do it again for more success so good luck.
You need to believe all is great and you can do it so move.
Just get a good life and success is in your grasp.
With great power comes great responsibility. As such there are choices you must make. Do the right one so the money is worth it for you to create greatness.

So go you’re on the verge of a greater life.