Communication Must-Haves Between Web Designers and Clients

Communication is key to ensuring that web design projects move forwards in an efficient, effective way. Designers responsible for bringing a client’s vision for their site to life need to keep in touch regularly to avoid common pitfalls, although achieving this is not always straightforward.

To make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible, here is a look at the tools, techniques and strategies to use which should deliver mutually beneficial results for all parties.

 

Meet for frequent catch-ups

While it may be tempting to take the initial brief and run with it without looking for further input from the client, this will likely lead to complications further down the line. As such, holding frequent meetings to discuss progress and demonstrate where the project is up to can be useful.

Thanks to the proliferation of video conferencing apps like Zoom, hosting these meetings between web designer and client is painless and swift. If you are working remotely or from home, using the high quality backgrounds offered by a site like HelloBackgrounds is a good idea to ensure that you maintain a professional appearance during video catch-ups.

 

Leverage unambiguous language

The fastest way to confuse a client is to use terms and phrases that seem like second nature to you, but are simply not in the lexicon of the average non-designer. This can cause frustration or even blind agreement with suggestions that are spurred on because the client does not understand what you are describing to them.

Instead it is far safer to take a little more time and speak about web design using language that should be simple to comprehend even for total novices. You might be tempted to try and boost your designer credentials with cryptically written, tech-speak-packed emails, but this strategy will definitely backfire.

 

Be open about timeframes

Promising the Earth and then failing to deliver is a serious detriment to your reputation as a web designer, and more often than not it is timing that trips up the less experienced practitioners of this trade.

This means that you should not only endeavour to set realistic deadlines for a project’s completion, but also let clients know well in advance if you think that the existing schedule is not going to be stuck to. Do not procrastinate or ignore this admission altogether; honesty is the best policy and clients will appreciate it, as delays are common and early warnings will avoid consternation.

 

Offer multiple points of contact

Clients may have wildly different preferences about how they get in touch, so be responsive to this and do not limit their options to just one platform. For example, email is an undeniably useful form of communication in this context, but you should also be prepared to have phone conversations and real time chats via IM.

Of course these alternative options may not be within your comfort zone, but it is important to remember that you need to challenge yourself to improve your professional outlook and this is an area where your efforts will be rewarded.

 

Image Source: Pixabay

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