About. |
About great portfolio creating process
This doesn’t necessarily mean creating a long sales page like the one above. Instead focus on a implementing the following:
1. Examine a new client’s typical journey.
How does someone go from stranger to paying client? What did they go through to a) find you, b) contact you, c) like you, and d) hire you?
Do they find you on dribbble, then email you? Do they use a form on your website? Do you email them first? What happens next?
Write down every interaction that happens in the typical order they happen. Examine this process all the way until you actually begin work on a project (bonus points if you go beyond). You’ll typically find there’s 10–15 steps for onboarding a client.
Once you’re done, here’s what your process may look like:
Client sees you on dribbble.
They go to your website.
They visit your ‘contact’ page and copy your email address.
They go to their email hit ‘compose’ and paste your email address into the recipient field.
They send you some brief details about the project, and ask you if you’re interested.
You reply with a few questions about the project.They reply with answers to your questions.
If it seems like a fit, you suggest a meeting over skype.
They’ll accept your skype invitation, and ask you to pick a time.
You give a day and time that works.If that day doesn’t work for the client, you send over a new one.
Once you go over the project on skype, you outline a proposal or scope for the project and define deliverables.
The client will go over what you put together and make changes.
Barring any hidden surprises, you agree to a scope of work proposal.
You receive payment for the agreed amount.
You have a kick-off meeting about the project and the scope of work expands a bit (which you don’t charge extra for, sadly).
As You begin work on the project, you may have a few last minute questions before you can start.
The client might have some questions about working with you, that he/she was too afraid to ask during the courting process. What’s your name again?
Your start work on deliverables.
Now this isn’t the exact process for everyone, but I’m guessing a lot of these steps are familiar to you. Kinda messy, no?
In fact a lot of the steps could be eliminated completely and actually result in an improved client experience.
2. Answer questions before they’re asked. Direct any inquiries that don’t come in via your website to that form, so that all clients know there’s an established process to follow when working with you. That’s what a lot of the examples above are doing, each in their own way; answering common questions potential clients have before they even ask them.
3. Send a welcome packet that answers common questions and sets the expectation of what it’s like working together.
There’s bound to be questions a client doesn’t realize they have until you begin working together. Some of these may seem too awkward to ask (“what’s your name again?”). Send over this package as part of the sales process. Preferably before you setup a skype call, that way the client gets an inside look at working with you and can decide whether you are going to be the right person for the job before you actually spend any time trying to land the project.
4. Qualify prospects before investing your time in the project.
Now that you have the answers coming in from your custom-built form, and have sent over a welcome package, you have a highly-qualified client. Now the fun starts.
Once you land the client it’s awesome to send the prospective/new client a thoughtful gift. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just something simple that shows you are thoughtful and willing to go the extra mile. It’s surprising how a $10.00 book can turn a casual acquaintance into a true champion. Bonus points if you’ve written the book you’re sending over.
1. Examine a new client’s typical journey.
How does someone go from stranger to paying client? What did they go through to a) find you, b) contact you, c) like you, and d) hire you?
Do they find you on dribbble, then email you? Do they use a form on your website? Do you email them first? What happens next?
Write down every interaction that happens in the typical order they happen. Examine this process all the way until you actually begin work on a project (bonus points if you go beyond). You’ll typically find there’s 10–15 steps for onboarding a client.
Once you’re done, here’s what your process may look like:
Client sees you on dribbble.
They go to your website.
They visit your ‘contact’ page and copy your email address.
They go to their email hit ‘compose’ and paste your email address into the recipient field.
They send you some brief details about the project, and ask you if you’re interested.
You reply with a few questions about the project.They reply with answers to your questions.
If it seems like a fit, you suggest a meeting over skype.
They’ll accept your skype invitation, and ask you to pick a time.
You give a day and time that works.If that day doesn’t work for the client, you send over a new one.
Once you go over the project on skype, you outline a proposal or scope for the project and define deliverables.
The client will go over what you put together and make changes.
Barring any hidden surprises, you agree to a scope of work proposal.
You receive payment for the agreed amount.
You have a kick-off meeting about the project and the scope of work expands a bit (which you don’t charge extra for, sadly).
As You begin work on the project, you may have a few last minute questions before you can start.
The client might have some questions about working with you, that he/she was too afraid to ask during the courting process. What’s your name again?
Your start work on deliverables.
Now this isn’t the exact process for everyone, but I’m guessing a lot of these steps are familiar to you. Kinda messy, no?
In fact a lot of the steps could be eliminated completely and actually result in an improved client experience.
2. Answer questions before they’re asked. Direct any inquiries that don’t come in via your website to that form, so that all clients know there’s an established process to follow when working with you. That’s what a lot of the examples above are doing, each in their own way; answering common questions potential clients have before they even ask them.
3. Send a welcome packet that answers common questions and sets the expectation of what it’s like working together.
There’s bound to be questions a client doesn’t realize they have until you begin working together. Some of these may seem too awkward to ask (“what’s your name again?”). Send over this package as part of the sales process. Preferably before you setup a skype call, that way the client gets an inside look at working with you and can decide whether you are going to be the right person for the job before you actually spend any time trying to land the project.
4. Qualify prospects before investing your time in the project.
Now that you have the answers coming in from your custom-built form, and have sent over a welcome package, you have a highly-qualified client. Now the fun starts.
Once you land the client it’s awesome to send the prospective/new client a thoughtful gift. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just something simple that shows you are thoughtful and willing to go the extra mile. It’s surprising how a $10.00 book can turn a casual acquaintance into a true champion. Bonus points if you’ve written the book you’re sending over.