Finishing the design task immaculately and in time makes you feel exuberant. The quality of your completed task gives you confident that you will be applauded by the client. However, it does not really happen all the time. An email describing discrepancy in the design spoils the joy of getting over with the task.
The horrifying experience of mending already perfect design fears you. The inability to understand the depth of design by customer makes you skeptical towards his competence to critique your design. It definitely is a terrible situation which immediately moves the project way down your priority list.
Having a good working relationship with the client should not be difficult. Consistent education and communication on projects can make a huge difference on state of your relationship with your client. Working as a designer needs a lot more than just sitting with your computer and filling colors to your design. This thought helps me to combine some pertinent “keeps” that will harmonize your fierce relationship with the client.
Keep Client’s Positive Participation:
The utmost preference should be given in ensuring clients complete participation during the development of the design. It is important because some clients may not understand what else project requires from them. Here comes your role to provide guidelines or expectations about their involvement, if you don’t do it then they will rightfully assume that you have it all under control.
Ensuring client’s participation is exactly describing what is required from them during and after the project. It may involve informing them to determine the overall objective of the task for you. If client is responsible for providing you some content/copy required for design then let them know when the content is needed and that it is their job to keep the content regularly updated.
Keep Client’s Feedback in Consideration:
During your career you are bound to come across with all kind of clients. Some can be nosy whereas some are professional and understanding. It is entirely your job to drive them in a way where they can help you during the task not bother you with hundreds of inquiry emails. A silent client has more probability to ruin the project on the other hand a passionate client continually providing input is one who is sure to take care of the website long after your job is done.
The client can make your task mutually successful only if you inspire him to provide you with quality feedback. Giving feedback every ten minutes does not make sense, so instruct them on how to send you feedback. A professional client will certainly like the idea of combining all of their comments and concerns into one detailed email rather than frequent short emails.
Keep Your Client Involved:
Most of clients tend to keep their involvement in the project because they want to be aware of what they will be paying for. However, it also empowers client to be the ultimate boss and constantly poking you. Nothing is more excruciating than a snoopy client that keeps asking for updates. The situation is indeed not desired so, in order to cope up with it you need to be proactive by creating a project schedule or calendar that specifically outlines the dates when you expect to complete certain parts of the project.
The trick in this is not to wait until for the specified dates to communicate. You should try to keep the client in loop throughout the process. Irrespective to the nature of assigned task you need to break it apart and finish it up in pieces. In this way, you will always a achieved goal for the client.
Keep an Expert’s Stature:
Clients are always cost conscious and that is why they want to pay less even to an experienced and high statured candidate. Furthermore, client keeps this in mind that the money is going in right pocket and they are quick to size you up. The moment you let them feel you are not worth of their money, they become real villain by taking things in their own control.
The client should know at very early stage that you are an expert of your field. Your expertise would be the first thing to prove this that you are indeed an expert and know what you are doing. If there is a difference of opinion then sort it out rather following your client blindly. Being rationale is the biggest advice you can get, give your client valid reasons for your decision keeping his interest in mind.
Keep the Mutual Interest Alive:
One important thing you as a designer need to keep in mind is to finish your task in a way which does not clash with client’s aspirations. Client will definitely have questions in his mind about your creation, so; you need to answer them methodologically. It is not advised to ridicule his question or using industry jargon that the client might not understand.
One thing is very significant to keep in mind that client will never wish to disrupt the task especially when he is paying you for this, so; the interest here is mutual. Try to give him answers along with examples which will certainly clear the picture in his mind about your decisions in design.
Keep an Open Relationship:
It is important in itself that the relationship between you and client should always be open. Neither you nor client should hesitate to approach each other. It gives the personal touch to job in hands, moreover; it eradicates any miscommunication between both parties. An open relationship with the client fosters a working relationship. It allows you to combines their knowledge with your design and development expertise. However, communication with the client should go both ways and should neither force nor allow them to make an inadequate decision.
Keep your Clients Aware:
The client needs to know the progress, however; on the way of finishing the task you may educate your client. As an expert the responsibility falls on your shoulder to let him know that the value of a project is not in flashy design or pretty pictures, but rather in content and substance. Educating your client towards his task in particular and about different things related to it in general can really help you to build a strong relationship which can help you in attaining more projects.
Keep Communicating:
Tip of the day is to never stop communicating with your client. Regular communication has proved backbone of every successful client relationship. Above all else, you must communicate with the client on a regular basis. Communication is the magic wand which enables each party to openly express questions, concerns and ideas. Projects that lack regular communication often led astray, deadlines are missed and relationships gradually deteriorate.
Keep Final Words in Mind:
The relationship between you and your client is based on mutual cooperation which should contain all the elements of mutuality. The client is willing to have you on board and it’s your job to make him feel good about his selection. Your duties from start till end involve various dynamic decisions that you will take but none of those should upset your working relationship with the client. Your rationality, dedication, passion and cooperative nature will certainly foster a strong bond with your client that will help you in different ways during your career.
About The Author
Thank you very much for such tips. these are very useful for every relationship even in a routine life. Thanx again for that.