Living in the Undo Society: How to Gain the Respect of Your Clients
In this digital age, it seems that more and more, people are becoming more and more prone to use the undo command. Back a few years ago, when something was designed, it was done with pencils, markers, rubylith and waxing machines. But these days, everything is digital and undoing things is easier than ever. Plus, with the advent of the Intenet, nothing is set in stone. Since Internet files are never sent to print, we’re not stuck with 50,000 copies of an old out-dated brochure. But, since everything is fluid, things are constantly changing and clients are more apt to ask for changes with little regard to the intentionality that was put in place in the original design.
I call it “Monkey Boy” when a client sits over your shoulder telling you exactly what to do, as if they were the expert. This scenario almost always results in lack-luster results. So how can you avoid this scenario?
Here are a couple tips to avoid becoming Monkey Boy:
1. Always maintain a professionalism in every aspect of your business.
2. Increase your rates.
Let me address each of those points separately. First professionalism. Clients are looking for professional advice. As long as you maintain that professionalism they are more likely to respect you and your expertise. But when you display anything that’s unprofessional, you immediately close the gap between your expertise and their naivete. It may be something as slight as a hesitation. They may ask a question and you may hesitate. They take that as a clue that you may not really understand your craft. Or maybe it’s that you answered your cell phone after hours with kids in the background. That can immediately lower you in their mind from a professional to a common dad. Sure being a dad is great and establising relationships are wonderful, but nonetheless, that can diminish your credibility and ope the door for them to begin treating you like Monkey Boy.
Now let’s talk about your price. You know it–you get what you pay for. If you’re charging too little, then your clients are likely assuming that you may not be as good as the next guy who charges more. Are you clients more likely to butt in and offer their opinion if you’re perceived as the chump that is punching the keys of if you’re the high-dollar professional from out of state? Charge more and you’ll likely get a very different reaction and will immediately command more respect. But you’d better know what you’re doing. People can see right through a hack and if you don’t offer value, they’ll ditch you.
