How to set up a decent process for working with the clients

Next Door Design
Sep 5, 2018 · 3 min read

Good Clients and Perfect Workflow don’t magically appear out of nowhere. Of course there are some that have worked with creatives and know how to cooperate like you want, but 99% of the time it’s up to you to optimize it for you.

Generally, you have to cooperate with your clients to find the best possible workflow, which is strict, but fair for both parties — and then stick to it. Include your client in every step of the it to make the process smoother and well communicated for both of you.

First, You have to make sure that you have a good inclusive introductory talk with your client on what are the expectations for the project from both sides and what kind of value you want to end up with.

Then you will need to set up a plan detailed to a single point, so all the expectations are met, so you both are satisfied with the result. Many just-starting agencies and freelancers don’t do that or create a very vague plan that ends up being a mess in the end. You need to have clear goals to align them with each others needs.

If you still don’t have a smooth process of your trade, create it! For example, when designing websites, don’t jump straight into mockups without a clear idea on what it should be. Do brainstorming, sketch, wireframes and only then do a mockup. This applies to everything you do.

Be transparent with your client. Don’t throw excuses, promises or even any extra work if you can’t back it up. Being shady and underdelivering or even overdelivering can bring trouble, so, please, be honest and make sure the client knows everything that is relevant.

This could also mean setting up checkpoints throughout the projects development. This means you have something to refer to if you get lost in the process.

Minimise time-waste. You obviously need to communicate well with each other, but writing thousands of emails isn’t that productive. Try to organise what information you need, before you ask for it. Collect 10 points into 1 email instead of doing it in over 10 emails.

We’re sure your client is excited to talk to you, but let’s keep it short and simple.

If your workflow allows it, Refresh your client — is it fulfilling the needs and parameters of the project? Don’t be afraid to ask them a bunch of questions in that final email and make a second revision if it’s needed. Design is a job, if you do your job well, it will pay off in the long term

With just these adjustments to your process, you can bring the potential of having a bad experience with the project to absolute minimum. So in short, be transparent, be organized and communicate properly to keep it simple and enjoyable.

Next Door Design

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We are Next Door Design, *almost full-service digital studio and we are located in Aarhus, Denmark.

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