How do you manage projects with remote customers?

Question

Task Management

Hello everybody!
Decided to try some freelancing. A couple of projects, but already I see some features of working with a remote customer: chatting or video calling; Time Zones; not always ready to answer here and now; source transfer, or collaboration; project notes, etc. etc.
I am sure that experienced freelancers and remote workers already have their own set of tools that not only help them work, but also attract clients.
What services and methods do you use?
My specifics: embedded: stm32, Qt, Python.

Answer 1

What do you mean when you write about a set of tools?
A few thoughts out loud
1) If the project is paid by the hour, then it's okay to give the customer access to the repository with the code. He is calm, you are not stressed.
2) You can approve the time for daily (or a couple of times a week) rallies via Skype. Everyone knows the exact start time and is always ready. You can always change the date and time ahead of time.
3) For small projects, it seems like a handy trello. We just need to agree on the rules. Write only to the point. Each ticket is one topic. Etc. For small projects, free functionality is more than enough.
4) Trello allows you to attach video demonstrations of the implementation of individual tasks to the topic. Voice explanations help to briefly show what and how it works.
5) It is better to agree on some things on the shore. For example: weekends are sacred))). Ignored only in case of serious force majeure )) etc.
The most important thing is that adequate people take part in the process. The rest will follow)

Answer 2

And in the end, I did it, the customer sends the technical specification, we discuss it in detail in detail, set the time / cost, I do it, show the result, he sends comments / pop-up jambs, I correct it if it is within the framework of the technical specification. Discussion by email only. No sushi-pussy, hour-long Skypes about nothing, etc., he needs a product, you need money, if he wants to communicate, let him go to his wife / mistress, if something bothers him, then he can go to hell. If you wipe every op, you will quickly burn out while playing a programmer / analyst / manager at the same time, so choose one thing. Plus, keep in mind that the base is being developed and then the same people will contact you there, so if you constantly wiped their snot, you will have to continue to do this, and if communication is clear and only to the point, then it will continue to be like this . If there are any disputes, and the customers are different, and they will be 100%, then you can’t attach a Skype conversation as evidence of your innocence. Trelo didn’t exist then, he just walked along the TK, and crossed out the completed items.

Answer 3

1) Communication - any chat client (whatsapp / telegram / vk / skype), if possible, audio calls (each client is marked who he is and what project he is working on), or at worst mail (many still adhere to communication by mail .. .)
2) If the project is large and requires a lot of tasks - A common board in trello with the client, where a list of tasks is maintained, discussion on the boards, if necessary, the designer or someone else is pulled there for a more prompt response.
3) Personal Trello board, where tasks and cost + due date are briefly written. (used for small tasks where point 2 is not needed)
4) a repository on bitbucket, if the client needs a code and wants to feel calm :)
5) zenmoney for accounting finances.
I have never worked with 10+ clients at the same time, so the work scheme is more than satisfactory.