Does your Web Design Work Come with References?
Does your Web Design Work Come with References
?
In your experience as a web design professional, have you ever had a client ask for references? Were you prepared to give them?
Many times, we are so busy with focusing on our projects and the "right now" things, that we end up completely forgetting about other elements that could help attract more clients. One of these very important elements is developing a list of references from your past successful projects.
You may be thinking, "How do I approach my clients to get a reference?" Well, first of all, don't wait until the last minute when you need them, get them immediately after a project concludes. Building a reference list is an on-going process.
When your current project is coming to its final stages is when you should initiate the conversation with the client about a reference, either in person, on the phone, or even in an email. It's more preferable to use the in-person or phone approach. However, if you conduct most of your business through email, then email is definitely satisfactory.
More or less, the primary goal of the conversation is to see if your client is satisfied or not with your end results. Do they seem enthusiastic about the final result? Getting a good feel of their satisfaction will help you determine if they'd give a satisfactory reference.
Good ways to approach the conversation is to just ask, "How are you?" then proceed to follow-up with other non-related subjects like "How's the weather?" After you've allowed some warming up time, you should then slowly dive into your clients feelings about your work.
With a bit of luck, the client should welcomingly address this topic without further prodding. Typically, we want to hear really great things about how our work was a success, but more importantly is getting an honest opinion. If they do share some not-so-happy remarks, thank them and use those comments to better your work.
After you've gotten their opinion, that's when you decide on whether or not to ask them for a reference. They will probably ask you, "What kind of reference do you want?"
There are many solutions to this:
1. If you have a LinkedIn account, and you are connected to your client, ask for them to leave a reference there. Because LinkedIn is a social media network for professionals, it's a good place to have references for other potential clients to see.
2. Get a testimonial. These can be posted on your website, blog or any other promotional and marketing materials. They should be brief and include their name, business and possibly a picture or logo.
3. If, for some reason, your client cannot provide a written reference, ask for a verbal one for in the future, if needed.
These aren't all the ways to get a reference but these tips can surely help. Good luck, and don't forget to ask for them!
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