10 Tips for Communicating Your Vision to Clients

Source: aturkus Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Tom Walker of Franking Machine Cartridges The customer knows what they want, but they usually do not know how to express it. As a freelance designer, it is your job to take that general idea and create something that both you and your client will [...]

Source: aturkus

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Tom Walker of Franking Machine Cartridges

The customer knows what they want, but they usually do not know how to express it. As a freelance designer, it is your job to take that general idea and create something that both you and your client will love. Once you have an idea, how do you convey your vision to the client? Here are ten tips which will help your presentations.

1. Be prepared

The client wants to be entertained and informed. You are the focal point and should demonstrate your complete control of the situation. With this preparation, make sure that you have all of the necessary mock-ups and materials ready. The preparation that you do beforehand will make you appear more relaxed and professional.

2. Practice your presentation

Practice your presentation with friends or loved ones. Ask that their feedback be brutally honest. Capitalize on your strong points and diminish the weak.

3. Develop versatility

Each client is different. You will not know what works with a specific company until you are in the room. Have a contingency plan available in case you see glazed over eyes. After all, if your customer doesn’t see or understand your vision, they may not be pleased with what you have to offer.

4. Be brief and direct

Time is valuable. If you are sure that your client’s idea won’t work, let them know as early and as tactfully as possible. Take their needs into consideration when you are presenting alternatives and solutions. You are the professional, so you know what works and what doesn’t. Save future headaches by conveying your information clearly, quickly and accurately.

5. Tell stories

Stories are perfect for illustrating the points that you wish to make. Use any tool available to make your customers realize that you are looking out for their best interests. The stories themselves should be brief and clearly demonstrate why your ideas are the best.

6. Involve and engage the client

Use samples and pictures of your ideas. If you are wanting a customer to buy a product, allow them to interact with it. Give your clients something to keep their hands occupied while you talk about design ideas. Let them take notes.

7. Show them what they’re wanting

Your customer might have an idea which will not work. Follow their instructions to the letter, giving them a visual demonstration of why the idea will not work. Present your own solutions, keeping your customer’s original ideas in mind. If the customer still wants their idea, complete their order to the best of your ability.

8. Know your audience

Your clients are more interested in finding the best ways to do their job. They are not concerned with technological advances in your field. Learn about their field so that you can adequately present your ideas to the client, using analogies that can be easily understood.

9. Get feedback while you’re presenting

Ask your customers questions. Listen to their responses. Allow your clients to ask questions. When you leave the room, your client should feel that you have provided the best solutions and responded to all of their needs.

10. Don’t present like it’s the end of the world

Many people feel that they need to stuff their client’s head with all of the information available on a subject. Oversaturation can lead a client to be unsatisfied and confused. Present the basics of your idea, and encourage questions. A customer wants to know about your solution, they do not need to know every technical detail.

Communicate with your clients and convey your ideas as soon as possible. You know your business, and must present yourself in the most effective manner to get your clients to understand your vision. Once that is done, you can move on to the joy of creation.

Tags: dont loose clients, freelance business, happy clients

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3 Comments to 10 Tips for Communicating Your Vision to Clients

1. [...] [...]
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