Collaborating with clients on creative projects

We’ve spent over a decade fine tuning how we collaborate with clients. Here are some tips for making collaboration most effective.

Some clients are hands off. They ask for help then hand over the proverbial keys to the castle by giving us carte blanche on creative. They say, “You’re the pros.” So we get to work writing, designing, animating, filming, and so on, delivering assets that they can immediately put to use.

Other clients want to be lock in step in creative collaboration. They have a vision and want our input and know-how to steer them on the right path and deliver within a closely coordinated course.

Either way, we start by asking specific and detailed questions then listen closely to our clients in order to pinpoint gaps in their end to end sales journey. Then we develop a strategy that we know will fill those gaps with the right assets. We always let our professional experience guide us, but let’s take a closer look at how we approach the more collaborative relationship.

We’ve learned that at the end of the day, it’s up to us to deliver excellence and that means sometimes saying no.

For example, clients often want to include as much messaging as possible in one go. Unfortunately, most viewers suffer from information overload and their capacity to take in new content diminishes after 60-90 seconds. So it’s our job to reassure our clients that less is more by creating clear and effective messaging brought to life by compelling visuals.

Here are a few more tips to keep in mind:

• Clear Communication
  From the outset, maintain open and clear lines of communication with your client. Make an effort to understand their needs and preferences while ensuring that they understand your processes, timelines, and expectations which are based on years of experience and success.
  

• Define Objectives
  Clearly define the project's objectives, scope, and goals. Make sure both you and your client have a shared understanding of what success looks like.
  

• Set Expectations
  Be transparent about what your client can expect from you and what you expect from them. Discuss roles and responsibilities, deadlines, and deliverables. Create timelines that include regular updates on progress, check-ins to encourage feedback and get feedback.
  

• Problem-Solving
  When challenges or issues arise, approach them as opportunities for problem-solving. Include the client in discussions about how to address problems and find mutually agreeable solutions. Whenever we say no to a client for any reason, we present an alternate solution and ensure it works for them.
  

• Transparency
  Be honest and transparent about any issues or delays. Clients appreciate knowing about potential problems in advance rather than being caught by surprise. Clients get upset because of missed deadlines and lack of communication which we avoid by being proactive and transparent.
  

• Follow-Up
  After the project is complete, follow up with your client to ensure they are satisfied, and gather feedback on whatever they felt could have been improved upon. It’s always an opportunity to further streamline your process as well as a chance to discuss future collaborations.
  

Effective collaboration with clients is about building a strong working relationship based on trust, respect, and open communication. Ideally, you become their go-to partner for endless projects into the future and help expand their business as well as yours.