Comments on: Ask The Experts: How Do You Get a Project Off On The Right Foot?

By: Randa Clay

Randa Clay — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:13:58 +0000

Thanks for the great discussion everyone!

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:34:11 +0000

This is a great site, and what a great article…

Char is definitely right about contacts.

I have been using contracts for a few years now and have found them helpful in every way.

They give you, the web designer, a professional appearance and tells the customer that you are serious about what you do. And more importantly they protect all parties.

Unfortunately, like many people I guess, I have learnt not formalising your relationship with clients early leads to problems later on.

By: Carla Guggino

Carla Guggino — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:02:56 +0000

As a client of design services one of the first thing I want is the “designer” to make me understand why doing a website “my way” is not “commercial” for me was hard to understand that what I do like doesn’t have to like other people as well and in business my taste doesn’t matter at all but the taste of the people.

Carla

By: Rohit

Rohit — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:25:51 +0000

I haven’t interacted directly with the client yet, but I’d choose Vivien Anayi’s way. I like her points

By: inspirationbit

inspirationbit — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:18:38 +0000

Thanks for input, David. That’s a very good point about people not being able to save their long answers in an online form. I’m thinking of putting up a quick online quote request form, to at least start filtering the clients based on their budget & quote expectations.

By: Larry McLeod

Larry McLeod — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:56:23 +0000

Yes, a questionnaire is real valuable, however we really value every opportunity to talk to and WOW a client. This field is so competitive there really needs to be a way to separate yourself from the pack.

Thanks all for the valuable input, Social Media Integration at it’s best! bulbwired.com

By: Stephen Castings

Stephen Castings — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:23:03 +0000

A phone conversation is useful as a first port of call to get a feel for things, and then a questionnaire is useful if there are numerous options to save time asking the more mundane questions later, and clear a few things up.

Should be sufficient for the early stages.

By: Nate Kragness

Nate Kragness — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:25:57 +0000

I always start off every project with a detailed set of specific questions (no form letters), as I feel this accomplishes two things: first, you clearly quantify the scope of the project, so there are no surprises that pop up later on; and second, the client appreciates the attention to detail, as long as your questions are thoughtful and evidence your intricate knowledge. Also, I find it helpful to respond in kind: if the client e-mails me, I e-mail them back; if they call me, I call them; and if they want to meet in person, I offer a follow-up meeting in person. Some clients don’t care at all how you communicate, but some really appreciate your effort, and making the client comfortable and satisfied is the surest way to land follow-up business with them.

By: Daniel Puroclean

Daniel Puroclean — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:15:59 +0000

It’s all about meeting expectations, not your own, but your clients. Understand their expectations, draft up and communicate back to them your plan to exceed those expectations and then put pen to paper and draw up a contract.

By: Minnie

Minnie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:16:48 +0000

I think it is like any other endeavor where you need the other parties approval. We have forms, but do not give them out if we feel the client is not going to be a active participant in filling it out.