I've spoken at length and on numerous occasions about the importance of client communication and with good reason: It is the foundation of a successful freelance career. Or indeed, in ANY career and in ANY field. Get this wrong, and you're setting yourself up for frustration, confusion and inevitably, an absolute mess.
You’ve likely heard this time and again, yet being aware of its importance and implementing it effectively are two entirely different things. While I could (and I will) continue to emphasise why clear and open dialogue with clients is crucial, I’d much rather equip you with actionable tools to elevate your communication game. Tools that will not only improve your working relationships but also position you as a model of professionalism in your industry.
In my blog post, The 10 Types of Client You’ll Meet as a Creative Freelancer, I briefly mentioned a list of questions I provide to every client at the beginning of our collaboration.
This list isn’t just a polite formality. It's non-negotiable. It's an essential component of my workflow, designed to set expectations, clarify project goals, and prevent the dreaded scenario of finding yourself “with your trousers down” (yes, I did say that). Let’s be honest, it's your job to ensure that you don't end up in that situation: It isn't on the client to make sure you have everything you need, unless you actually ask for it. So bloody well ask for it.
This list (or one like it) is so important because uncertainty is the enemy of a smooth creative process. If you don’t establish clear boundaries and expectations upfront, you’re practically begging for scope creep, miscommunication and the kind of stress that keeps you up at night. If you don’t lay the groundwork early, you’re just winging it, hoping for the best.
Feel free to edit it, rework it, use it as inspiration for your own... As I've said before, I don't even care if you cut off my company logo and stick your own in its place. Just use it, or something similar to it, at the very least.
By integrating these questions into your onboarding process, you set the stage for a seamless collaboration. Not only does this approach reduce misunderstandings, it also instills confidence in your clients, by demonstrating that you are a proactive professional who takes your client's needs seriously.
So, the next time you kick off a new project, don’t leave things up to chance. Use this framework to guide the conversation and you’ll find yourself dealing with fewer last-minute surprises, better-aligned projects, and ultimately, happier clients. When I got my start writing custom music, I had a client imply that I was asking too many questions. Her actual words? Something along the lines of "wasting (her) time with this bullshit." (By the way, this was the same client who fired her last composer because he "just didn’t get it.") You see where I’m going with this? I don’t care. I really, really don’t care. Drive your client to despair with questions if you have to. The final product will be infinitely better for it.
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