I believe that with the array of technology available to creative firms comes the ability to not only be more flexible, but the ability to grow a firm with lower associated and administrative costs. Keeping costs down can translate to client savings if they’re willing to work with you on a virtual level.

It’s important to do everything in your power to meet face-to-face, but there are times where both sides have scheduling or travel restrictions. In those cases, we use alternative methods to share.

Video Comprehensives

I’ve decided to embrace this new presentation vehicle for our clients that are over 200 miles from our location or unable to meet with us in a timely fashion: V-Comps.

Using V-Comps, we can put together a quick introduction and then lead the discussion as we walk through the different reasons behind our design choices.

We do this for three specific reasons:

• The client is not within a commutable distance.
• We can post a copy to the client portal with secure access to give to additional client staff at a later date so that they can review it (or see it again) at their leisure.
• It is more difficult to properly emote in an e-mail.

The Protected PDF

Why not just send jpgs and a little text? Because you need to be protective of the information you send to anyone these days. It’s one thing to have someone try and repeat what you’ve said during a presentation, but it’s another to misquote and misdirect the conversation. Take the initiative and write up a PDF that’s protected so that your words and pictures are sent together to a client for them to review and forward. This will take a lot of the guesswork out of your intentions.

Talk to your client about the preferred alternative method for communication. Make sure they’re comfortable with how you intend to move forward.

In most cases, your client will be quite accepting of replacing costs with an alternative.