In a previous article, we mentioned that inflection of your voice can make a big difference in how people perceive you.  So the key is always; in life, relationships, and business - is to speak your mind, address what you truly believe but do so in a way that doesn’t make the person dislike you.  This is easier said than done.  One thing I’ve realized is that people are much more perceptive than they realize.  They pick up on frustration, desperation and negativity.  So in some ways, the client introduction process (as wasteful as the process sometimes is with ridiculous and not-so-serious requests) should really be an exercise in this realm.  Speak your mind, watch your inflection, and don’t be a jack-ass. 

The marketing industry is not for the faint-of-heart.  Many of the clients that are inquiring about our services have already been burned by knuckleheads who call themselves designers and marketers but did nothing for their client but piss them off.  And many other clients enter the relationship with hang-ups of their own: attitudes, lack of experience, thinking that you are there to be their slave.

It boils down to this. It is important to keep yourself in check.  Firm, but fair.  Tell them what’s on your mind but don’t sound like a curmudgeon in doing so.

NOTE: This scenario can also apply for clients.  You too can prevent yourselves from sounding like a donkey yourself.  First off, when you approach and agency, try to actually spend a little time thinking about your project and the services you’ll need.  Calling or emailing an agency and saying; “I want a website to sell my 150 products...how much does this cost?” (very common scenario) Agencies don’t expect clients to know everything about how a project rolls out, but we do appreciate those companies that actually put some thought into their project and have at least a general understanding of what they want/don’t want.


SP