About 5 months ago, a client wanted to renew our relationship. They suggested they had not been a “very good client” in the past and wanted to begin anew, that they would be better about providing us with what WE needed to do a good job for them. WOW. Since then, we have worked incredibly well with these people because they held up their end of the bargain. Working for them hasn’t been a chore…it’s been a pleasure and the results prove it.
In a client/agency relationship, each has a set of responsibilities to make the process excellent and efficient. Here’s what I ask for:
Be interested in what we’re doing. Engage us, ask questions, provide us with the information we ask for in a timely manner. I don’t want to feel like I care about your business image more than you do.
Return my call or email. I’m calling because I need an answer or information in order to HELP YOU.
Don’t dictate. If you knew how to do this, you wouldn’t hire us.
Pay us in a timely manner. And if you don’t pay your media bills, we are truly done.
Don’t try to run our business. Yes, I’m a woman, but after almost 28 years on my own, I can do this and it’s mine to screw up, then fix. Thank you.
Don’t drag your religion or politics into our relationship and I promise not to do the same.
Respect our process in developing the material. We are creative thinkers, and see things very differently than you do and go about getting to the end result in a manner that might be foreign to you. Actually, this is why you called us in the first place.
Trust our information. It is our business to know ratings and data, technical applications and trends. We wouldn’t lie to you.
Remember, we sell time and talent. Every nit-picky thing you change- revisions, re-edits – cost us time and in turn, you money. We want to get it as right as possible from the beginning. Help us do that.
Be the client we love!
