Five ways to balance client expectations and deliverables

It is incredibly important to be honest about what can and can't be done for a client early on. This will ensure that you have a great working relationship from the get-go and it can almost guarantee you a healthy working relationship with your clients in the long run.

It is crucial to under promise and over deliver, as opposed to making big promises and then underwhelming your client in terms of what you had agreed upon. Underperforming can cause a massive dent in your reputation; your professional relationships and you will end up losing clients.

Ultimately, the objective should always be to surpass the client's expectations by producing on your deliverables and then exceeding them. This will ensure that you impress. 

Having a strategy in dealing with your clients is vital, but you also need to adhere to some functional guidelines that can aid in creating balance between a client's expectations and what you can deliver. 

Here are five ways to create and maintain that balance:

1. Understand client expectations

You need to have a clear understanding of what the client wants and how they want it executed. You also should be able to see whether it is achievable or not. Clients can sometimes have unrealistic expectations and it is your duty to let them know when an expectation can't be met.

2. Establish the deliverables

Setting reasonable goals will help you deliver quality services to your clients. State clearly what sort of services you will be rendering to the client and execute them well.

3. Be transparent

Problems and unforeseeable circumstances always arise. As an agency, you need to be honest and open with your clients about the state of affairs. When you are transparent, clients gain trust and you build a solid relationship with them.

4. Practice consistent communication

Utilising various channels of communication to engage, interact and discuss services with your client will ensure that everyone is on the same page. Constant communication means the client is prioritised and always knows what is happening regarding their account.

5. Guide your clients

Rendering PR, advertising and marketing services is your field of expertise. You need to take charge and lead your clients. When you have studied your client well, you will be in a good position to offer sound advice on the kind of services that will work in their favour.

In the grand scheme of things, how well you manage client expectations depends on your understanding of their business needs, so that you can deliver quality services.

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