Today, I want to share with you one of my experiences from the trenches. I had a job to write a website for a past client, now working at a new company.
Since this was a past client, I was more relaxed — probably a little too much so — and I found myself in an awkward situation.
The client sent the materials for the project at hand. When I looked at what he sent over, I realized I needed a lot more information to write the website content. (Of course, this becomes an even more awkward situation if you wait to review the materials until the deadline is looming…)
If you ever find yourself in the same predicament, here are three strategies you can use to complete the project.
Option #1: Go with what you have
If you’ve worked with the client before, you probably have information you can also use for your current project.
Review the information you do have, and determine if there’s enough to professionally complete the project.
Then, send a draft to the client as early as possible, asking them for feedback on what you’ve done and if there’s additional information they can provide.
Once you have their input, you can move on to complete the project.
Option #2: Dig deeper on your own
You may also be able to supplement the information you have by spending time researching the company online.
Look for articles, ads, videos, and any other information that can help you get the insight you need to complete your writing project.
Coupled with the information you already have, it’s possible you’ll have what you need to get the job done.
Option #3: The best solution
In nearly every case, the best solution is to plan another call with the client to get the information you need by completing a creative brief.
A creative brief is a document that covers the main points of the project. It is clearly laid out in a way that acts as a guideline as you progress with the project.
(You can learn more about what a creative brief is and how to use one in this short video by Pam Foster.)
This wasn’t the first time I made the mistake of not getting a creative brief up front, but it’s definitely my last!
How have you handled the situation when your client didn’t give you enough information to complete the project? Let me know in the comments!
