I love my clients, I really do. No matter what the product, no matter what the situation, it all comes down to the fact that I am there to make results happen for them. Unfortunately, this means taking on the responsibility of translating client concerns into palatable solutions which is not always an easy task.
As is the case from time-to-time, there might come a moment in a client relationship where I might not do the best job articulating the nuances of a campaign or perhaps take for granted a level of understanding with a particular channel. When that occurs, this is what happens:
Ah yes, the facepalm. The facepalm is the universal symbol for “I probably shouldn’t have gotten out of bed this morning.” The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way! Sure, communications with clients may not always go as you envision but that doesn’t mean that you can’t correct it.
The key is to talk in terms of end-goals rather than the technical. Explain the issue in terms of the impact of engagement, awareness or even just user understanding. Chances are you want the same things (they are your client after all) but the conversation is just getting lost in translation.
What other tactics do you use to increase understanding between you and your clients?
In a sudden twist of fate, I find myself living and working back in my hometown of Atlanta, GA. Andrew Duthie joins me for the kick-off of the 5th season of The Marketing Diner Podcast.
Greetings Marketing Fans!
