I'm going to make this post about what to do at the initial meeting of a design project. As far as becoming a freelance designer, I realize there are things that must happen before this meeting. Scary legal, form-y, tax-y things. And you must have a client before you can have a meeting with them. I'm planning to explore these expositional steps (finding clients, setting up shop) in later posts. For now, let's talk about this part right here:
Hokay. So in my research, I found some stuff out.
What's the point of an initial meeting?
- Fit. The client is determining if you are a good fit for the project. It's also an opportunity for you to determine if the client is a good fit for you.
- To talk about needs and services. The client needs to express what they are looking for, and you need to express the services you can provide. Hopefully, the needs and the services will correspond. In a way, this is also about fit.
- If you're setting the meeting, choose a good place for a focused conversation. Meet in person if possible.
- Bring something to take notes with, or record the meeting. Be on time. Bring business cards.
- Have an agenda in mind. (For an idea of what should be discussed, see The Meeting Itself.)
- You're a human being. Your client is a human being. Act accordingly. While it's important to be prepared, there's no need to overly rehearse this thing. Listen, empathize, and chime in when appropriate.
The following will help you in your quest to determine fit. Make sure you discuss:
- The need. What is the problem that needs to be solved? No two problems (or clients) are the same. Pay attention to what makes this problem different. Get a sense of what the client is trying to accomplish. Ask a lot of questions. A deep understanding of the problem is a key part of creating a great solution.
- The project scope. How much work needs to be done? "Are you looking for a logo, or are you also in need of business card, letterhead, and envelope design?" "Will the site also need a blog?" These are scope questions. Ask yourself if there are aspects of the project that are outside your skill set. Be honest with your client about your limits. Know the services you can provide on your own, and when you'd need outside help.
- The timeline. By what date is the solution needed? You're not asking for a firm deadline yet, you just need to understand if the timeline is doable given the project scope. Make the deadline firm in future conversations. The art of estimating and budgeting time is a topic worthy of it's own post. If anyone has tips on how to assess the viability of a timeline, be a pal and share.
- The budget. How much money does the client have to solve the problem? Assess whether or not the price is reasonable based on the scope and the timeline. Here is one of my weak spots. I don't have a lot of information on how to detrimine if a budget is reasonable. In general, I'm uncertain about financial aspects of a project, but this seems like a great place to start. I'm probably going to devote an entire post to money and pricing.
Wrapping up
- Establish the next point of contact. When you part ways, you both should be clear on what's going to happen next.
- If you want to move forward with the project, tell your client that you'll work up an estimate and a timeline, and you'll send it to them by X date.
- If you're not interested in the project, or if the project falls outside of your skill set, find a honest and positive way to decline.
- Hand out your trusty business card! Remind them that if they have any questions, they can just email or call.
- Reflect on how the meeting went. Do they seem like the kind of person you want to do business with?
What do you think? Am I missing something vital, or oversimplifying in an area? Do you still have questions? Don't hold back. Drop thoughts and whatever else in a comment. Let's work it out.
BEST,
B
No comments:
Post a Comment