The client expects us to complete their project both quickly and accurately, even if they are unsure of what they want and are relying on our professional expertise. As such, it’s our responsibility to effectively communicate our plans and explain why we believe it’s the best approach to achieve their desired outcome.<\/p>\n
I know I’ve said it many times but clearly communicating is the best way to manage any project. Let’s talk about some specific ways you can do that.<\/p>\n
Be The Professional Expert<\/strong><\/p>\n As a project manager, it is crucial to act as the professional and be the expert guiding the client through the process. Clients often come to the project with an idea of what they want, but may not be aware of the intricacies of the video production process. It is the project manager’s role to ensure that the client understands what is involved in the production process, what can and cannot be achieved within the budget and timeframe, and to provide advice on the best approach to achieve the desired outcome.To act as the professional, the project manager needs to be well-versed in the video production process, from pre-production to post-production. They must understand the various stages of the process and what is involved in each stage, as well as have knowledge of the equipment and resources required. This knowledge enables them to provide expert advice to the client on what is feasible within the given timeframe and budget.The project manager must also be able to communicate effectively with the client, ensuring that they understand the process, the timelines, and the costs involved. They must be able to provide clear and concise updates on the project’s progress, as well as any issues that arise along the way. This communication ensures that the client remains informed and involved throughout the process, and that there are no surprises at the end.In addition to being the expert guide for the client, the project manager must also ensure that the production team is working effectively and efficiently. They need to communicate with the creative team, ensuring that they are on track and that any issues are resolved quickly. <\/p>\n Identify the necessary steps, required resources, and deadlines for each team member’s contributions and as the professional who’s done this before avoid the typical pitfalls. We should also allow room for under-promising and over-delivering by building in extra time for reviews and changes.<\/p>\n BAGES<\/strong><\/p>\n It’s tempting to take shortcuts when reviewing a project, such as quickly sending a first cut for client review without a thorough assessment. However, as the project manager, it’s our duty to scrutinize every aspect of the video against the original project goals and details. We need to review the project from multiple angles, catch any possible issues, and consider feedback from other team members as well.<\/p>\n I came up with an acronym to make it easier to remember the key points to focus on during the client review process: BRAGES.<\/p>\n B: Branding<\/strong><\/p>\n R: Requests<\/strong><\/p>\n A: Audio<\/strong><\/p>\n G: Goal<\/strong><\/p>\n E: Excellence<\/strong><\/p>\n S: Spelling\/Grammar<\/strong><\/p>\n Preferred<\/b> Method<\/strong><\/p>\n Effective communication is key to successful project management, and it\u2019s essential to communicate with clients in a way that they prefer. Some clients may prefer to communicate via email, while others may prefer phone calls or even text messages. As a project manager, it’s important to identify the preferred communication method of each client and use it regularly.<\/p>\n It’s also important to keep a paper trail of all communications with clients. Even if you are communicating via text message or phone call, it’s a good idea to follow up with an email summarizing the conversation. This way, there’s a record of the conversation that can be referred back to later. This is especially important when discussing important project details or making decisions.<\/p>\n Regular Communication<\/strong><\/p>\n Regular communication is also critical to ensure that the project stays on track. A weekly or monthly meeting with the client can be scheduled to discuss project progress and address any concerns or issues. During these meetings, the project manager can update the client on any developments, and the client can provide feedback or ask questions. It’s also an opportunity to reinforce the project goals and ensure that everyone is working towards the same objective.<\/p>\n Informed about the timeline of the project. You can remind them of the progress made by saying something like “With these changes now made, we’re on track to finish this on time.” If there are any outstanding tasks or deliverables, ask about them and offer assistance if needed. For example, you can say “You mentioned that we should expect XYZ today. When do you think you’ll be able to send them over? Is there anything I can assist with?” It’s also crucial to help the client understand their responsibilities and how they impact the overall project deadline. If the client needs to involve a team to review the video, ask when that will happen and when to expect final feedback.<\/p>\n To streamline the revision process, try to consolidate feedback from the client as much as possible. You can collect feedback in one round to avoid confusion or misunderstandings. Although there may be times when you want to break down revisions into multiple rounds, be careful not to overwhelm the client. Encourage the customer to gather feedback from their team rather than sending changes one by one. This can help keep the project moving smoothly and efficiently.<\/p>\n Communicate Value<\/strong><\/p>\n It is important to not only provide updates on the progress of the project but also to remind them of the value we are providing them. By doing this, clients will see the efforts and work being put into their project, and be reassured that they made the right decision in choosing our services.<\/p>\n Staying Focused<\/strong><\/p>\n When presenting the video for client review, it’s important to be confident that we’ve done everything possible to meet their expectations. We need to remind the client of the goal and why we’re doing what we’re doing, as it’s easy for them to lose focus. Discuss with the creative team why certain choices were made and how they tie into the goal.<\/p>\n Proactive<\/strong><\/p>\n It is crucial to fulfill our promises and make the client’s life easier. This commitment should be evident in how we communicate and present information to them, as well as our willingness to take action and follow through on their requests, even if they don’t follow up on their end. Going the extra mile to ensure that their experience is seamless and efficient is essential in building a strong and lasting relationship with the client. By doing so, we not only fulfill our obligations but also demonstrate our commitment to their success and satisfaction.<\/p>\n It is essential to maintain clear and open communication with our clients regarding the hours they purchase and how they are being utilized within our subscription packages. As a responsible team member, it falls upon you to ensure that the client’s expectations are managed appropriately, allowing them to navigate their projects successfully while being treated fairly.However, we must also safeguard our interests and receive compensation for the effort we put into each project. We cannot provide value without receiving something in return. Thus, effective management and communication are crucial to maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with our clients.<\/p>\n In this video I cover the tools you have and how you should work through project hours.<\/p>\n Multiple Client Brands<\/strong><\/p>\n Customers who purchase a large number of hours are eligible for a discounted hourly rate. However, managing multiple projects with a larger number of hours can be complex. To address this, we have created videos to demonstrate how we handle such situations for one of our clients.<\/p>\n Tracking Your Time<\/strong><\/p>\n It can be difficult tracking your time as you go from project to project. You’ll need to develop some new habits and create a sense of time well spent on a client project verses a 1 min review.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","yoast_head":"\nManaging Client Hours<\/h3>\n