If you’re a creator or creative agency, you know the world thrives on new ideas.
But new, creative ideas aren’t easy to come by. They take time, collaboration, and brainstorming power to bring to fruition. So, when you have an idea that you know will work and makes you and your team excited, it’s difficult when you don’t get that final stamp of approval from the powers that be.
The client has the final stamp of approval that dictates your range of creative freedom. This can grow into a frustrating obstacle when they don’t want to buy into your ideas because they don’t want to take the risk.
To help you along this branch of client relations, here are key factors in interacting with your client.
YOU SEE REWARD, THEY SEE RISK
What is creativity if not a form of being a rebel and doing things that are edgy?
You know that stepping outside the box has its rewards. But the clients see rebellion, even in a minor, creative form, as a risk to their investment. Owning a business itself comes with enough risks that your client will try to avoid any liability that could aggravate a negative reaction to their brand.
That’s why you must offer the alternative of controlled rebellion; creativity with a strategy that aligns with your client’s brand.
KNOW YOUR CLIENT
Controlled rebellion means that you have to know the rules before you break them.
Know your client, their brand, and their goals so you can tailor your idea with their mission. Without that understanding, your idea pitch will sound like it’s less for their benefit and more for you to fulfill a creative fantasy at the expense of your client.
Once you know your client well, then you can take the next steps to build rapport and authority so your client feels comfortable stepping outside that box.
BUILD RAPPORT WITH YOUR CLIENT
You build client rapport with credibility and communication. Together, these breed trust within your client relationship. If a client trusts you, they’re more likely to buy into your ideas.
However, there’s no magic bullet that automatically gives you this kind of relationship with your client immediately. They take time and patience to achieve.
Put in the grunt work to establish you’re a credible professional that will get results. Then, if you can communicate how you plan on pulling off your idea and what the benefits are, then your idea won’t look as risky.
PRESENT THE FACTS
It’s hard to argue with the proof in the pudding. If you really believe in an idea and you know it will benefit the client, then show them the examples, graphs, and hard evidence that convinced you of its credibility in the first place.
THE SKINNY
Your clients take enough risks. Show them that your creative ideas aren’t a risk, but a reward waiting to be captured.
