When it comes to scope creep, one of two things happens.
The client sends you an email, maybe on a Saturday or Sunday, asking, “Hey, can you check this out?” or “Can we add this webpage?”
It’s tempting to think, “I’ll just do it this one time to help them out.”
But that’s how scope creep starts.
Here’s how I handle it.
I immediately agree with the client.
I say, “Absolutely, that’s fantastic! We can definitely do that. Let me get back to you with a proposal and the cost.”
This approach works like a charm because it makes it clear that any extra work comes with a price tag.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, clients quickly realise they can’t just keep adding tasks without expecting to pay for them.
Suddenly, their list of “ideas” shrinks.
The golden rule in running a marketing agency? Always agree with the client, but make sure they know there’s a cost involved.
So, when a client suggests something extra, like adding live streams, I respond with, “Let me do a bit of research. We’ll jump on a call next week, and I’ll figure out the cost.”
If they push back and say they hoped it would be included for free, I politely remind them that resources have already been allocated for the current project.
I’m more than happy to explore live streaming, but it will require additional resources from their side.
Does that sound fair?
If they say it doesn’t, and they still want it for free, that’s where I draw the line.
Sometimes, you don’t want to take on the extra work at all.
In those cases, I simply say, “I’m not able to look at that right now because we’re in the middle of our current project, but I’m happy to table it and revisit it when I’m next free.”
This approach depends on your style, your relationship with the client, and the type of work you’re doing, but the key is to never feel pressured into doing extra work for free.
Agree with the client first, but make it clear there’s a cost involved.
And if they say that’s more than they were expecting, no problem—suddenly, they don’t have any more ideas.
That’s how I handle scope creep and maintain clear boundaries with clients.
How do you manage scope creep in your projects?
