- You know what you’re talking about – never go to a meeting with a client without prior research and asking the client about the materials and technologies being considered. If during the conversation it turns out that you are making cardinal mistakes regarding the basic aspects of the project, such as the product itself, the intended technologies or the method of its sale and distribution channel, the client will not take you seriously, and if he does not close the meeting at all, then will definitely make it harder for you to get the desired price for your service.
- You know what the customer doesn’t like on the market – you can design even the best design, which you can justify with hard data, research or trends, but if the customer was not previously an enthusiast of this type of solution, you will not convince him with your design. That’s why it’s so important to ask the client about benchmarks and anti-benchmarks at the beginning of the process.
- You know what to do next β you are aware of what must happen with the proposed design solution. It is necessary to verify it through tests, take these tests into account, and carry out the engineering stage with strict consideration of the technologies agreed with the client, so that the implementation itself is business-justified, i.e. profitable. This is often the most important issue in a conversation with a client who, seeing your awareness and knowledge of implementing a project into production and then onto the market, feels that he or she has a business partner in you, not simply a designer.
By following the above rules, you do not guarantee that you will convince the client to cooperate with you, but you definitely reduce the likelihood of rejection during the first conversation opening the cooperation.
