Often, the difference between a successful project and an awful project is rooted in unrealistic expectations\u2014but it\u2019s our job to help our clients set those expectations. They\u2019re not the experts, we are; they\u2019re working off of their best guesses, so it\u2019s up to us to help them understand exactly how the process works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we help them understand the process, help them set realistic expectations, both parties benefit\u2014clients don\u2019t feel like their time is being wasted, and you don\u2019t leave a project feeling like you failed, even if the final product was good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s as simple as this: A four-week project that was supposed to take six weeks equals a happy client. A four-week project that was supposed to take three weeks equals an unhappy client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s the difference between the two? Expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So how do you successfully set these expectations? Just follow these tips to help your clients understand how the process works, how to communicate expectations, and how to get the most out of their project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without our clients, we don\u2019t get to do what we do\u2014they\u2019re a precious resource, and it\u2019s easy to forget that, especially when dealing with a difficult or ill-informed client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We want nothing more than to make sure they walk away with an awesome product, and these tips will help you do exactly that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most clients just need a helping hand, and a little work on the front-end can save you a lot of heartache mid-project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many clients have never done anything like this before\u2014part of our job is to show them how to be a good client and how to appreciate the skills you bring to the table as the designer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Web design isn\u2019t cheap\u2014it\u2019s valued highly for a good reason. What it takes to excel at web design goes far beyond technical skill (or even artistic intuition).<\/p>\n\n\n\n A great designer combines art and technical skill with an inborn sense of a business\u2019 needs, all to ultimately create something that fulfills a business and marketing purpose (instead of just sitting around and looking pretty).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thinking creatively, creating a concept out of thin air, bringing it to life in a timely manner, and making all of that work for your client\u2019s business is absolutely possible\u2014as long as you and your client are on the same page. Because if you aren\u2019t, their project is going to suffer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it doesn\u2019t have to!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few tips that can make your next project go more smoothly, making for an easier, more efficient project, and more successful project (and a happier client!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you can begin any project, the client needs to have a very clear idea of what their brand is and who their audience is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thousands and thousands of beautifully designed websites, posters, brochures, advertisements (really, the list goes on), have failed utterly because they didn\u2019t target the right audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A gorgeous website that doesn\u2019t resonate with a client\u2019s audience (or address their needs) is a failed website\u2014no matter how pretty it is\u2014but clients often don\u2019t know this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s your job to tell them, and you might even get some extra work by helping them build out their brand and nail down their audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Impress upon your clients the importance of getting this stuff done first<\/strong>\u2014before any website designing takes place. And if you’re serious about this step, you could even take this a step further. Don\u2019t work with clients who haven\u2019t figured this stuff out yet and aren\u2019t willing to do it first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s critical\u2014and it saves them money (and you a headache) in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s nothing quite like beginning a project with almost nothing to go on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You rely on your creative abilities, show the client something amazing, and they tear it apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a way to avoid that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By asking your client to collect visual examples of completed projects similar to theirs (a website, for example, or a brochure or logo), you are helping them help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even asking for examples of colors, layouts, or ideas that they don\u2019t<\/em> like can help significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This helps to clear up any confusion or misunderstanding between designer and client, ensuring everyone is on the same page about the overall look and feel of the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try asking your client to pin images via Pinterest or create a list of website URLs directed to certain landing pages they love for your reference. Ask your client about their aesthetic tastes\u2014then use that information to create the site they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately (or unfortunately), a great deal of design is a matter of taste. Forcing your client to explain their tastes before<\/em> you begin working saves you time and them frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s hard to reach perfection if you don\u2019t know what perfection means to your client. A lack of clarity (especially with your expectations for a project) can really hamper the process. We all want to wow our customers, to give them exactly what they\u2019re looking for, and then some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But we can\u2019t do that if we don\u2019t know what wow means to them<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, we need to ask! Find out your client\u2019s expectations (and set your own in the meantime to avoid scope creep).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You both want to get it right the first time\u2014communicating your expectations for the project is crucial to doing just that. You can do a lot of magical things, but you can\u2019t read minds, and neither can your client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The more specifics you can dig out of your client\u2014especially concerning what success looks like to them, what their dreams and goals are, and how this project fits into their overarching plan for their business\u2014the more likely you are to get it right the first time, which helps you avoid expensive and time-consuming rounds of revision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask your clients a lot of questions at the beginning of your project, and don\u2019t accept vague answers! Communicate your expectations freely, and encourage your client to communicate theirs\u2014it will save you both a headache down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting precise, actionable feedback can lead to a better final product\u2014and a happier client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How many times have we heard generalized feedback like \u201cI don\u2019t like that\u201d or \u201cit’s just not working?” It\u2019s not much to work from, and it often means additional rounds of revision (or unhappy clients).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asking for specifics helps you better cater your design work to their business needs. The more precise the criticism you draw out of your clients, the easier it will be for you to make improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is again where visual examples play a key role in the design process\u2014a picture is worth 1000 words, and even a hand-drawn sketch can help immeasurably. Encourage your clients to get creative, and reassure them that you\u2019re not judging their design skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without a direction, we\u2019re making things up as we go based on instinct, experience, and best practices\u2014and that doesn\u2019t always work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the tip that clients struggle with the most, and it’s understandable\u2014their business is their baby, and they want their project to be perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They want it to look exactly how they visualized in their head, but sometimes, it\u2019s just not possible to fit in everything they want. And that can be a good thing\u2014the difficulty lies in communicating this to your client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Give yourself the permission to say \u201cno.\u201d Educate your clients on the importance of letting the creative process proceed unimpeded. Help them understand how their project can benefit from a hands-off approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/getflywheel-images.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2016\/07\/tips-for-clients-expectations.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFive Tips to Share With Your Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"tips-for-clients-working\"](\"https:\/\/getflywheel-images.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2016\/07\/tips-for-clients-working.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
1. Help Them Define Their Audience and Brand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/getflywheel-images.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2016\/07\/tips-for-clients-brand.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Ask for Visual Examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/getflywheel-images.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2016\/07\/tips-for-clients-examples.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Communicate Your Expectations Clearly (and Ask Them for Theirs!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/getflywheel-images.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2016\/07\/tips-for-clients-communication.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Ask for Specific Feedback<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"tips-for-clients-sketch\"](\"https:\/\/getflywheel-images.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2016\/07\/tips-for-clients-sketch.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Emphasize the Importance of Creative Freedom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n