How To Streamline Communication With Clients

Communication is one of the most important aspects in conducting and operating a business. This is because it's quite literally at the core of everything that a business working with clients and customers does. From selling, to marketing, to customer service, to internal operations, strategizing, and design. Everything comes back to communication. In 2022, having a well-designed client-communication process can be a game changer, give you an edge against the competition, and will make it much easier to deliver high-quality work on a consistent basis. When clients know what to expect and when to expect it, the entire process is much smoother from end to end. Not to mention, this can result in getting much more positive feedback and reviews on the tail-end of things, because clients will feel heard and appreciated if you continually prioritize clear and open communication alongside delivering high-quality results.

In today's day and age, business and client communications are largely conducted virtually, which can make them even trickier to navigate. Tone of voice can be misconstrued, phrasing can be misinterpreted, and there are seemingly endless nuisances to the art of video-conferencing. Making these various technologies work for you, though, instead of against you, can help you streamline client communications and create an improved client-experience overall.

"As a full-service creative studio, client communication is such a huge part of our design process and vital to a healthy, happy working relationship. Over the years, we've honed a system that streamlines this process and ensures the lines of communication are wide open. Using a combination of great digital tools and a robust system for different types of creative projects has been the key to success. Our ultimate goal is to make sure our clients feel heard and up to date with everything happening on their projects"

– Anastasia Casey, Founder and CEO, The Identite Collective –

Be Concise, Upfront, and Transparent

Transparency has been a bit of a buzz word in the world of business operations over the past decade or so. Transparency can be practiced within an organization in a variety of ways. From being clear, open, and honest about the ingredients that go into food, to how the organization is actively giving back to the communities in which they're involved, to how much money the C-suite leadership is actually making on an annual basis. Transparency has become significantly more important in the wake of the internet and smart technology. As these two technologies have combined to drastically improve access-to-information, consumers have simply become more informed on a variety of important societal topics. In turn, the modern consumer is much more likely to regularly patron an organization with which they share values.

"Actively seek out brands and companies that you think are operating both truthfully and in a socially responsible manner. It helps design avenues for community outreach in your own brand."

– Cody Candee, Founder and CEO, Bounce Luggage Storage –

Part of being transparent is being concise. Rather than burying your message or what you're really trying to say in paragraphs and paragraphs of copy, be straightforward about what it is that you're saying or asking. This will help avoid miscommunications, but will also show clients that you value their time as much as they value yours.

"There's a time and a place for being social, and a time and a place for short and sweet communications. You have to know that balance in your own schedule."

– Zach Goldstein, CEO, Public Rec –

Make use of Communication Technologies

As any business owner in 2022 should already know, there are plenty of communication softwares, applications, and technologies out there that are available. Making use of these communication technologies can help a business owner automate things like project-updates, billing-reminders, and other simple communications.

"Integrating automated communications is a game-changer. It really allows you to stop focusing on minute communications and really put your time and energy where it matters most. If you aren't already using communication softwares, you need to start."

– Sumeer Kaur, CEO, Lashkaraa –

Automation isn't the only thing that communication softwares are good for, though. Communication technologies can help you manage, create, and schedule a social-media calendar, which continues to play a major role in marketing and sales. Furthermore, sophisticated communication technologies can manage incoming client questions, and even optimize messages for a specific communication channel that a consumer prefers.

"Social media is such an important part of the puzzle these days. It's challenging to run a successful business in 2023 without having a comprehensive social media presence."

– Alex Novak, CEO, SLR –

Build an FAQ on Your Website

Another good way to reduce the length of time spent on client communications is to make sure that the questions you get asked most frequently are already answered somewhere on your website. Many brands achieve this through the composition of a 'frequently-asked-questions' (or FAQ) page. These can give consumers and clients answers to some of the basic questions they may have, which could eliminate the need for communication entirely.

"Build a FAQ on your website. It can eliminate a heavy load of calls and refocus you on the inbound phone calls that are a lot more productive and more specific, too."

– Kim Walls, CEO and Co-Founder, Furtuna Skin –

By building an FAQ on your website, you're also demonstrating and establishing another layer of industry-authority. A well-executed FAQ will show clients and consumers alike that the experts behind your products, services, and operations, know what they're talking about, and know the priorities of the consumers and clients that make up the population of their target audiences.

"Having an idea of the questions you'll be asked before they're actually asked can give you a slight edge in anticipating client and consumer needs. If you build a thorough and comprehensive FAQ, you'll be ready to answer just about anything a client throws your way."

– Michael Fischer, Founder, Elite HRT –

Publish Relevant Information for Clients

One of the hottest marketing trends right now is the development of a comprehensive content marketing strategy. Content marketing is the process of developing and publishing content on your website, or webpages affiliated with your brand, that provide value to consumers without focusing on sales. This can help a brand streamline communications, by already publishing relevant, engaging, and informative content for their clients to consume. In turn, their clients come to the conversation more informed and prepared.

"Developing your content marketing strategy can help you improve your overall communication strategy. There is definitely a correlation there."

– Marilyn Zubak, Marketing Lead, Snif –

Some brands and organizations even go as far as to send out a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly newsletter. These can take on a variety of formats, models, and designs, and can contain a wide myriad of content from sales-info, to new social-initiatives and anything in between.

"By keepingy our clients up to date on the latest company-news without them really asking, they already have a sense of what's going on. Plus, it's a good reminder that your brand and services exist. Newsletters have actually proven to be quite effective in bolstering your communication strategy."

– Lionel Mora, CEO, Neoplants –

Instant Messaging Through a Web App

One of the defining aspects of the modern consumer is that convenience and instant gratification are of the utmost importance. This is especially the case when it comes to communication. While instant messaging may invoke nightmares of AOL, there are a plethora of web-applications and plug-ins available that make instant messaging over a webpage simple, easy, and effective.

"Chatbots are a great way to minimize a large load of direct communication with clients. You can get the short, sweet questions answered for your clients immediately."

– Sean Doherty, General Manager, Box Genie –

Instant messaging through a web application can be a super simple way to communicate with clients and consumers who are interested in your brand, without dealing with the delay of email or the awkwardness of a phone-call.

"Customer service and communication are still extremely important in conducting a business and being successful with longevity. No business is anything without clients and consumers."

– Brianna Bitton, Co-Founder, O Positiv–

Final Thoughts on Streamlining Client Communications

Client communication always has and always will be an important part of running and operating a business. Finding the right communication softwares, technologies, and tactics that work for you will help you deliver on client expectations, build a strong reputation, and help you achieve a positive work-life balance.

"Streamlined communication can seem like a day's work, but in reality, it's an investment in yourself. The only way to make more time in your day is to organize, optimize, and automate."

– Amanda Rae, Author, 17 Hats –