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Getting lots of questions
Have you ever experienced a LOT of questions from your suppliers?
I aways lots of questions about new writing projects – less so for existing and long-term clients – and some people are amazed by that. Usually amazed and appreciative, but amazed none the less.
Could you imagine going to a doctor or lawyer and not have them ask questions to clarify the issue and find the best solution? Would you trust a doctor who said hello and handed you a script?
As far as I am concerned, I like my suppliers to ask questions to show interest in the project (rather than the dollars) and to be sure they understand what I actually need.
As a writer, I don’t feel I can’t write good content if I don’t know much about the topic of the piece. I know I can’t write effective content if I don’t know who the target audience is or the purpose of the piece. So I ask lots of questions before I write or edit any content.
Although it make take you more time than you expected to hand over a project if the supplier asks many questions, it is usually worth it for the quality of the final result.
Some reasons to appreciate these questions are that the supplier:
- is interested in doing the project as well as they possibly can
- will clarify any parts of your instructions they don’t understand
- learns the purpose of the work and can tailor it to suit
- is able to make appropriate suggestions and recommendations
- has the knowledge to give a different perspective
- gets an understanding of you and your business as well as the specific project
- knows who to target the result at (if relevant)
- may notice other things you can benefit from (for example, when I read a client’s website to learn about them, I sometimes find a typing or logic error that I will point out so they can correct it)
- is being professional and showing attention to details which presumably will carry through into the project itself
- is gathering information from the best source rather than making assumptions or using less reliable sources
So be warned – if you ask me to write for you or help with a communications project, you will be asked a number of questions!
How about you – how have you reacted to suppliers asking questions in the past?
Do you respond differently to ‘dumb’ questions compared to a supplier gathering useful information?
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