5 tips for simplifying communication with a client
I’ve been working with a variety of clients for a while now, and over the years, I have definitely learnt a thing or two about communication. Today, I’m sharing five tips on how to make communication with prospective or existing clients much, much easier.
Tailored preparation is key
‘Tailored’ being the important part here. For every new client or project, I do my research and make sure I get a good impression of the company and of what might be expected of me. I also note down anything I am unsure about or that I would like to discuss in the initial meeting. It saves both the client and me time and means we can get the ball rolling properly, rather than me realising I’ve forgotten to ask about this, that and the other. It also allows me to start thinking about an offer, as that will inevitably come up.
Send a summarising email with key notes
So, you had your successful phone call - now what? I like to put everything in writing to make sure that we are, in fact, on the same page (no pun intended). That way, both sides have a safety net to make sure the initial brief is agreed on in writing (this does not omit a proper contract, though), and any miscommunications can get cleared immediately. A win/win for everybody!
Hop on the phone instead of sending 246 emails
Look, I get it. I live with anxiety and ‘hopping on the phone’ is my idea of a nightmare. But you know what I like even less than that? Not being able to move a project forward because questions have come up, which I’ve emailed about, and then the client’s response has left me with follow-up questions, and before I know it, I’ve wasted two days, annoyed the client and put myself into more anxiety because I didn’t just pick up the damn phone. A five-minute chat is much easier and actually less anxiety-inducing too. Plus, it’s more professional.
P.S. This is not to be confused with “This could’ve been an email”. Sometimes, an email is enough.
For the love of god, don’t fanny around
If a question is quick enough to put in writing, get to the damn point. Yes, this is me injecting some German-ness into British work culture, but really, nobody needs 25 cushioning phrases to ask if the spreadsheet needs to be titled a certain way. Being nice and polite is one thing, being wishy-washy is another.
Format your emails properly
Speaking of writing emails in an efficient manner (told you I’m injecting some German-ness here), formatting can be a lifesaver. Bullet points, bold copy or even colour can make it easier for the client to spot the most important information first (and, again, it’s a safeguard for you, too, as you made the key points clear). I mean, don’t go overboard, this is not a year-7 presentation, but a little bit of accentuation does help to draw attention to the key parts.
What would you add to this list?
Thumbnail Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash