Page 4 | Client promised referrals for work but now refuses, how to move on?

Original poster

JoyOnAMission · 15/03/2026 04:49

needapokerface · 14/03/2026 22:11

You need to be the one providing the contract along with your terms and conditions, stating hourly rate, invoice terms ie payable immediately or 7 days etc. Always get the 1st month invoice upfront that way you never work for free.

You could talk to your client on Monday and say as you have seen how good my work is by growing your socials from this many view to however much you have increased it to, you will be charging them what ever your hourly rate is from today. Should they decline your services, tell them thank you for the experience and remove yourself as an admin. Do not delete anything or do any damage. Do you have a website, social media page, ask them to give you a testimonial that you can put on your page for others to see and hopefully gain a few clients

Edited

Yes,i have a website and a social media page,thank you for this idea.

OP posts:

Original poster

JoyOnAMission · 15/03/2026 04:53

Tarkadaaaahling · 14/03/2026 12:06

OP do you have any support in real life? I'm a bit concerned about you to be honest that you willingly worked for someone for 3 months with no pay and didn't realise you were being taken advantage of? Are your parents around to talk to about this stuff?

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I do not really have the kind of support you are talking about to be honest.

OP posts:

Original poster

JoyOnAMission · 15/03/2026 05:18

Oblivionnnnn · 14/03/2026 13:29

@JoyOnAMissionout of curiosity, when say you ‘agency’ do you mean marketing agency?

No.A virtual assistant agency.

OP posts:

Skippinglightly · 15/03/2026 05:21

It’s ok, you acted in good faith and found out that not everyone does. It’s a great idea from a pp to say that you are pleased that things have gone so well, these are your rates going forward if she would like to continue with the arrangement.
I own a small business with beautiful grounds, I constantly get people asking for photo shoots, free use of my grounds, etc in return for photos and exposure. I went along with it a few times before I realised that certain people will take and take and that I got no benefit from it. It’s not a nice lesson to learn but a necessary one.

MyNextDoorNeighbourVotesReform · 15/03/2026 05:34

JoyOnAMission · 15/03/2026 04:53

I do not really have the kind of support you are talking about to be honest.

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Is User Client your only client?

Original poster

JoyOnAMission · 15/03/2026 05:43

MyNextDoorNeighbourVotesReform · 15/03/2026 05:34

Is User Client your only client?

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Yes,she was.

OP posts:

Original poster

JoyOnAMission · 15/03/2026 05:48

Skippinglightly · 15/03/2026 05:21

It’s ok, you acted in good faith and found out that not everyone does. It’s a great idea from a pp to say that you are pleased that things have gone so well, these are your rates going forward if she would like to continue with the arrangement.
I own a small business with beautiful grounds, I constantly get people asking for photo shoots, free use of my grounds, etc in return for photos and exposure. I went along with it a few times before I realised that certain people will take and take and that I got no benefit from it. It’s not a nice lesson to learn but a necessary one.

It has been a painful lesson but needed it to open my eyes and your business sounds lovely.

OP posts:

Oblivionnnnn · 15/03/2026 08:47

JoyOnAMission · 15/03/2026 05:43

Yes,she was.

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if that’s the case then I would go back to agency work for a year or two. You may not have enjoyed the transactional nature of it, but that is clearly a lesson you have not yet learned - that it IS just a transaction.

PinterandPirandello · 15/03/2026 09:33

Oblivionnnnn · 14/03/2026 12:04

You know…it seems to me that the way you are approaching business is very social media filtered.

All this talk of your light being dimmed and showing up fully and freeing someone’s mental energy.

You need to stop that right now. It isn’t how people talk in the corporate world. I’ve worked in social media for 16 years and I would genuinely laugh at someone who talked like this, nor would I employ them.

Forget that nonsense and plonk yourself back in the real world. You provide a service which you are obviously good at. The cost is £x per day/month/whatever. That’s all there is to it.

You sound lovely but that will get you eaten by the sharks, or which there are thousands in social media. Thicken your skin and act like a business owner, because you are one.

Flagging this as this poster has nailed it. You need to be more professional.

Oblivionnnnn · 15/03/2026 10:53

Thanks @PinterandPirandello

It scares me how many young people think marketing is like living the life of Emily in Paris. Even the influencers I work with would never in a million years talk about light being dimmed and stuff; it’s all business really just like any other.

If you find yourself working with one who does they are a fucking shyster out for free shit.

MaddestGranny · 16/03/2026 20:28

may I say, very kindly without wishing to hurt or offend, could you also, perhaps, do something about your writing style? as it comes over as if you are a word-salad-juggling teenager.
um, yes, I am old. But, y'know, clarity still counts.

Shotokan101 · 16/03/2026 20:28

JoyOnAMission · 14/03/2026 10:57

Hello lovely people.
I'm a freelance virtual assistant and social media manager who has been working with a client under an agreement where she promised referrals in exchange for my work. I showed up fully, grew her social media page, managed her inbox, handled her admin and was reliable every single day.I even work sometimes during the weekend because i want to make her week as easy as i can.
She acknowledges I do good work, yet when it came time to honour our agreement the answer became no with no real explanation.A friend of hers reached out to me and asked me to give her some vas since she was told'my schedule is full' by my boss.
I'm not here to bash anyone, I'm simply ready to spread my wings and find clients who truly value what I bring to the table.
And if you've been in a similar situation, I'd love to hear how you handled it.Where do i even start,where do i even apply.
My heart broke yesterday since she knows i have open slots to get even more clients since i was only working for her for an hour each day.
Any help ,word of advice would mean the world.

Always get a contract in writing, then you could call her out and sue her....

thesandwich · 16/03/2026 20:50

Not read the whole thread but I strongly suggest you get mentoring or support from your local business networks/ chamber of commerce etc. There should be local free business advisers etc.

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 16/03/2026 22:18

Never work for free or on a promise

I think this so called Client should be outed for what they did in a quiet subtle way.

IAmUsingTheApplauseReactionSarcastically · 16/03/2026 22:26

m00rfarm · 14/03/2026 12:21

You do know that even with social media, you need to put a space after a comma (,) and a fully stop (.) ?

Muphry’s Law, you love to see it…

Ilikeveg · 16/03/2026 23:16

This is a scam thread

Redragtoabull · 17/03/2026 00:05

This is not a client, it's a vulture. Your time, skills and work ethics are not for free. Dump this spine sucker and learn a new rhetoric for your future. What a CFC! Some people!

MargotMoon · 17/03/2026 06:52

Ilikeveg · 16/03/2026 23:16

This is a scam thread

I’ve been thinking that as I’ve been reading through the thread, although I thought the OP was a bot at first!

Tonissister · 17/03/2026 07:01

I despair.
Never ever for free.
Ever.

Politely explain that you need to bill her from now on as the referrals have not materialised and you can't work without pay indefinitely.

Work out a fair rate for your labour with higher rates for weekends, late nights or last minute requests. Charge a small admin fee to begin with that covers the cost of all the set up time.