by You’re probably a great designer with an excellent reputation to boot, but these attributes alone cannot guarantee a happy client. There’s a great deal of competition in the web design field – you have to go the extra mile to ensure your client absolutely adores you.
Know your clients
Do thorough due diligence with regard to your client. You must know them, their business goals, and their major competitors and so on. Your knowledge will come in useful. Learn as much as you can about their industry as well. Also find out about their family, and make polite inquiries now and then.
Bring added value to the table
Ask pertinent questions; dig deep to identify potential issues. Demonstrate that you are totally focused on the design’s success and effectiveness, even if the client is not. See if you can work in-house to increase face-time and help client by taking on additional workloads.
Always keep them in the loop
Keep your client updated on the web design progress. Respond promptly to their questions; follow up phone conversations with detailed written summaries. Let me know if there will be any delays in the web design project. Never let your client experience the stress of not knowing what’s going on.
Be honest with the money aspect
Don’t quote too much or quote for quote for functionalities that are already built into plugins and tools. Keep the quotation organized, citing clear amounts for edits and revisions. Make sure it’s all in writing.
Show your loyalty
Use the pronouns ‘we’ and ‘us’ while discussing the site design. Your client should feel that you’re a part of their organization. Don’t accept work from a competitor without checking with your client.
Boost their brand image
Show how much you believe in your client’s brand. Do your bit to market your client’s brand via social media. Include the work you’ve done for your client in your samples portfolio. Let your client see how much you’re doing to boost their brand image.
Stick to the timelines
Clients don’t like to compromise on deadlines. So if you need extra time, factor it into your timeline. Structure staggered deliverables and timelines, and deliver as promised. If you’re unable to deliver, let them know in advance.
Be ready to listen
Some clients can be very demanding. Pay attention; don’t tune out during calls or meetings and then ask silly questions. If they’re off the mark, tell them clearly that you don’t agree. They may not agree immediately, but will thank you in the long term.
Be polite and respectful
Screw-ups happen – they cannot be helped sometimes. The important thing is to never forget to be civil. Be polite, civil and respectful, and own up to your mistakes. Show energy, enthusiasm and confidence, and your client will come back to you time and again.
Make the client happy, not you
You want to do a fabulously beautiful job that will look good on your portfolio, but your client wants something functional and plain. Never matter; do what the client wants, it’s their site, not yours. Aim to please the client and not yourself; it’ll pay off in the long run.
