Before starting any project, it’s vital that you and your client are on the same wavelength, from the very start. This will not only help you to achieve the very best end results at every stage of the production process, but it will also help you to keep your client happy at every stage of the process.

With this in mind, a project start meeting should always be completed at the very beginning of any project, in order to establish a brief that you and your client are both happy with.

From discussing objectives and expectations through to going over likes/dislikes and timescales, a project start meeting provides the perfect opportunity to get to know your client’s vision, business and needs, inside out.

But most importantly, it will give you the best chance of achieving results that your client is 100% happy with.

How a project start meeting works

Before your client arrives, it’s vital that you map out a structure of the meeting, as this will ensure that all bases are covered and nothing is missed!

So, sit down with your team and run through the proposal, quote and brief. Discuss any deliverables and create a list of questions for your client that will provide you and your team with a better understanding of the project and everything you need to get started.

Getting to know your client

A start up meeting shouldn’t feel like a chore. Instead, your client should feel relaxed and able to be open and honest about what they expect from the project you are working on.

So create a comfortable and inviting environment where you can relax, chat and map out a strategy undisturbed.

During the project meeting, you should cover a wide range of topics and ask as many questions as possible in order to gain a better understanding of the project.

Good topics and questions to ask include:

• Getting to know you questions, find out as much as you can about your client’s business and let them know about your business.
• Discuss the approval process and who will need to sign-off and at what stage, so everyone understands each stage of the production process. Give realistic deadlines.
• Understanding your client’s requirements and expectations
• Discuss the tools you will use whilst working on the project
• If the project is web-based, talk about the functionality of the website
• Request all additional materials you need from the client to start and complete the project in a timely manner.
• Discuss any project milestones, the client’s vision.
• Discuss the payment and sign off process.