Comments on: Ditch Email: Face-to-face Meetings For The Win http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/ Freelance Advice and Freelance Jobs - FreelanceSwitch Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:29:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: William Donnell http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-18415 William Donnell Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:18:49 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-18415 Oh, I also do the same thing when I am showing pencil-sketches, mock-ups, etc... Its great to tell them the reason for your color choice or whatever when they are looking at the mock for the first time. You are "pitching" your mock ups just like you "pitch" the proposal. :) William Donnell www.SodiumHalogen.com Oh, I also do the same thing when I am showing pencil-sketches, mock-ups, etc… Its great to tell them the reason for your color choice or whatever when they are looking at the mock for the first time. You are “pitching” your mock ups just like you “pitch” the proposal. :)

William Donnell
http://www.SodiumHalogen.com

]]> By: William Donnell http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-18414 William Donnell Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:16:00 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-18414 Great points in the article. I always try to communicate with phone and in person in addition to email communication. But what about when you are pitching a site to a client who is on the other side of the country and can't justify the plane ticket? :) One technique I have used that seems to work well is to: 1. talk with them on the phone and tell them I will work up a detailed proposal 2. send an email with a link to a password protected page and say I will call them to "talk them through the proposal" 3. call them on the phone, make sure its a good time and then give the password and talk them through the proposal. Pitching in person really is best, but this has worked well for me. You get to explain what you mean and answer questions they might have before they misinterpret something written in your proposal. I just ran across this site recently and listened to a podcast today. William Donnell www.SodiumHalogen.com Great points in the article. I always try to communicate with phone and in person in addition to email communication. But what about when you are pitching a site to a client who is on the other side of the country and can’t justify the plane ticket? :)

One technique I have used that seems to work well is to:
1. talk with them on the phone and tell them I will work up a detailed proposal
2. send an email with a link to a password protected page and say I will call them to “talk them through the proposal”
3. call them on the phone, make sure its a good time and then give the password and talk them through the proposal.

Pitching in person really is best, but this has worked well for me. You get to explain what you mean and answer questions they might have before they misinterpret something written in your proposal.

I just ran across this site recently and listened to a podcast today.

William Donnell
http://www.SodiumHalogen.com

]]> By: jennydecki http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17903 jennydecki Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:50:12 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17903 While I enjoy the overall feeling of the personal meeting, I think the key is knowing how you can build a fast, solid emotional connection with your potential client. Emphasis on how YOU can build. What's your strength? Are you better typing or talking? If you have no social skills...maybe an in person meeting would be the kiss of death for your project. What I would love to see is during any in-person meetings I have with potential clients is a neon forehead sign that says "I'm totally beyond insane" if appropriate. I mean, you couldn't put it on *everyone's* head or we wouldn't know who was actually insane and who wasn't. While I enjoy the overall feeling of the personal meeting, I think the key is knowing how you can build a fast, solid emotional connection with your potential client. Emphasis on how YOU can build. What’s your strength? Are you better typing or talking? If you have no social skills…maybe an in person meeting would be the kiss of death for your project.

What I would love to see is during any in-person meetings I have with potential clients is a neon forehead sign that says “I’m totally beyond insane” if appropriate. I mean, you couldn’t put it on *everyone’s* head or we wouldn’t know who was actually insane and who wasn’t.

]]> By: Ivan Brezak Brkan http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17802 Ivan Brezak Brkan Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:23:45 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17802 @Julian Schrader: Well, since there is not other choice, why not videochat? Honestly, I never VoIP-ed with a client so that would be something new for me. In my opinion, hearing a persons voice is most important - so a phone call, VoIP or just audio chat can do wonders. It beats e-mail in any case. :) @Julian Schrader: Well, since there is not other choice, why not videochat? Honestly, I never VoIP-ed with a client so that would be something new for me. In my opinion, hearing a persons voice is most important - so a phone call, VoIP or just audio chat can do wonders. It beats e-mail in any case. :)

]]> By: Julian Schrader http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17596 Julian Schrader Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:34:50 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17596 Sorry, jumped straight to the comment form without reading the previous comments. Question's already answered ;-) Sorry, jumped straight to the comment form without reading the previous comments. Question’s already answered ;-)

]]> By: Julian Schrader http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17595 Julian Schrader Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:33:10 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17595 Great post, very enjoyable to read! Good points on meeting clients — it may be hard, but it's worth it. What about clients who live far away? Would you recommend videochat sessions when “real-live” meetings are not possible? Great post, very enjoyable to read! Good points on meeting clients — it may be hard, but it’s worth it.

What about clients who live far away? Would you recommend videochat sessions when “real-live” meetings are not possible?

]]> By: Abadeu http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17506 Abadeu Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:54:05 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17506 Love the post Ivan. I agree with the importance for the face 2 face meetings, and the importance of the initial emotions. Being designers, it is our job to convey there initial emotion, reaction, body language, and that infamous gaze. Also I thank it is very important that we learn how to merge the two, just for the terms of proper business practices. Meet face to face with a client (when available), and back it up with an con4mation email. To all those working in other locations, Audio/Video may be the best way to go. then the email. Love the post Ivan.

I agree with the importance for the face 2 face meetings, and the importance of the initial emotions. Being designers, it is our job to convey there initial emotion, reaction, body language, and that infamous gaze.

Also I thank it is very important that we learn how to merge the two, just for the terms of proper business practices. Meet face to face with a client (when available), and back it up with an con4mation email. To all those working in other locations, Audio/Video may be the best way to go. then the email.

]]> By: Chuck Vosburgh http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17311 Chuck Vosburgh Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:57:48 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17311 Thanks for a great post! People hire us for us, they like us and as a result like working with us. Electronic communication just doesn't convey your personality adequately. Another benefit is that ours is a very solitary profession and getting out of the office from time to time makes us more balanced. It's always nice to get some fresh air and have a conversation with a real person :) Thanks for a great post!

People hire us for us, they like us and as a result like working with us. Electronic communication just doesn’t convey your personality adequately.

Another benefit is that ours is a very solitary profession and getting out of the office from time to time makes us more balanced. It’s always nice to get some fresh air and have a conversation with a real person :)

]]> By: Chris Laskey http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17309 Chris Laskey Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:41:54 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17309 Face to face meetings are a cornerstone of my freelance career. Of course there are many situations where this simply isn't possible, but anytime I get (relatively) local business I try to meet in person. Some of my best referrals, user confessionals, and repeat customers are the ones I've met with. Putting a face to a name goes a long way in keeping the customer understanding and satisfied. As an aside: I agree completely with Clara, a follow up confirmation email is important to make sure everything is in writing. Our audio memories have a bad habit of forgetting things. Cheers Face to face meetings are a cornerstone of my freelance career. Of course there are many situations where this simply isn’t possible, but anytime I get (relatively) local business I try to meet in person.

Some of my best referrals, user confessionals, and repeat customers are the ones I’ve met with. Putting a face to a name goes a long way in keeping the customer understanding and satisfied.

As an aside: I agree completely with Clara, a follow up confirmation email is important to make sure everything is in writing. Our audio memories have a bad habit of forgetting things.

Cheers

]]> By: Clara http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17306 Clara Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:38:32 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/ditch-email-face-to-face-meetings-for-the-win/#comment-17306 You definitely make some good points about the value of face-to-face meetings. However, I've had issues before where something was discussed in a face-to-face meeting, and then later the client and I had a disagreement about what the action item was we had agreed on. Now, while I'm happy to meet face-to-face to get to know the client and discuss the project, I ask for action items to be confirmed by email so that there's a paper trail in case of a disagreement. You definitely make some good points about the value of face-to-face meetings.
However, I’ve had issues before where something was discussed in a face-to-face meeting, and then later the client and I had a disagreement about what the action item was we had agreed on. Now, while I’m happy to meet face-to-face to get to know the client and discuss the project, I ask for action items to be confirmed by email so that there’s a paper trail in case of a disagreement.

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