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In every industry, working with clients can be challenging. While some clients are the source of that challenge, often, it’s the result of disorganized systems. For example, a website developer needs to know exactly how to guide their clients to explain their vision. Simply asking a client to describe what they want will almost always result in chaos.

Are you looking for ways to make client interactions easier? The following tips will help, regardless of your industry.

1. Collect electronic signatures on your documents

One of the biggest obstacles when working with clients is getting documents signed. If you’re old school and prefer paper documents, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, it does take more time. Electronic signatures are faster and you can always print electronically signed documents if you prefer keeping paper records.

The main issue with electronic signatures is choosing the right method to get the signature. You can prepare a PDF file for your clients to sign, but they might not understand how to save it and email you the new copy.

Hands down, this is the easiest way to get electronic signatures from your clients. Instead of emailing files back and forth (an unsecure practice to start with), your clients can sign your documents inside of this platform. 

For example, once you link a client to their document, they don’t need to download the file – they can sign where they’re supposed to sign and the program will save the edited document.

Using this platform makes collecting signatures fast and easy, and it also helps you maintain compliance with applicable information security policies.

2. Ask clarifying questions – lots of them

Clients aren’t always the best at explaining their ideas in full. It’s actually not that easy for anyone. As humans, we live in our heads and fail to convey large chunks of information unintentionally. 

For example, when someone says, “I didn’t like the concert,” you might think they hated the band. On the contrary, they might have enjoyed the music, but not the seats, the view, or the food. Or, they might have been upset about the opening band, but enjoyed the rest of the show.

When someone makes a general statement, the tendency is to interpret that statement according to the first and most obvious possibility. However, you’ll never know exactly what a client is trying to communicate unless you ask clarifying questions.

If you don’t have a clear, detailed mental picture or document depicting all of the details your client wants, keep asking questions until you get those details.

If you take action based on general statements from a client without understanding what they’re really saying, you’ll probably end up making mistakes that will set back the project and make everyone frustrated.

3. Don’t take a client’s use of jargon at face value

When a client uses industry jargon, don’t assume they know what they’re talking about because they probably don’t. For instance, a graphic design client might tell you they want a “red gradient” around their logo, not knowing what they really want is an outline.

When you present them with a sample, they might get frustrated and wonder if you’re listening to their directions. What they don’t know is they picked up the term “gradient” somewhere out of context and aren’t using the right word.

When a client asks you to do something that involves the use of specialized terms, and you know they’re not using the right word, read between the lines. Better yet, ask for clarification to be sure you understand. Ask them to show you an example of a gradient and see what they come up with.

4. Manage client expectations

Clients notoriously have big expectations, especially in digital marketing industries where so many industry leaders give the impression that anyone can achieve big results.

While it’s true that anyone can achieve big results, there are plenty of unrealistic expectations to be found. For instance, many SEO clients expect impossible results, like ranking on the first page of Google for competitive keywords regardless of personalized results.

Overcoming unrealistic expectations begins with your first client interaction. You have to be direct and clear with them from the get go.

Have patience with your clients

Above all else, have patience when interacting with your clients. Sometimes that’s hard to do, but it will make your projects much easier to complete. If you’re not getting the results you want, you have to change the way you’re operating.

You’ll always bump into truly difficult clients, but when you follow these tips, you’ll find that many clients aren’t actually difficult – they just need structured interactions.