Get Better Client Feedback (Without More Revisions)
Hi! Savanna here, sharing my tried-and-true methods to getting the best client feedback possible. I’ve built hundreds of Squarespace sites, often in a one-day, live-design process, so I know how important good client feedback is. Here are my tips for building sites that don’t get stuck in the revision loop. Let’s dive in! 👇
1. Start Asking Better Questions First
Good feedback starts long before you present a design. If you skip asking the right questions up front, you’ll be shooting in the dark and likely end up with a first draft that your client doesn’t love (cue the tears).
Before you start, pick your client’s brain with these questions:
What are your business goals?
What are your website goals?
Who is your target audience?
How should your brand feel?
What sites do you have inspiration?
These questions create your roadmap and should guide every design decision you make. Plus, you can pull them out if start hearing things like: “I’m just not sure about the color palette” or “I saw another website and maybe… can we do something like that?” 😬
2. Don’t Just Send the Design — Present It
After you’ve picked your client’s brain and can confidently design a draft you know aligns with their goals and heart’s desire, it’s time to put on your expert-strategic-designer-counselor-leader hat and get presenting (crazy to think that designers have been referred to as merely “button pushers” right!).
Alternatively, you could drop a link into an email and say something like “Let me know your thoughts!” and open the doors to Mount Doom. HAHA.
Instead, walk clients through your thought process and take them on a journey of falling in love with your design.
Explain:
Why you did what you did
How it aligns with their goals
Why their target audience will love it
How your accomplished the “brand feeling” — reference colors, fonts, elements, etc.
What inspo sites you gleaned from
BONUS TIP: repeat back to them things they said were important to build trust and show you really listened.
3. Live Feedback Is Your Best Friend
Whenever possible, live calls are critical in my book. You get real time reactions, can make live tweaks they can respond to, actually understand what they’re communicating, and get to see the twinkle in their eye if they love it.
Real-time feedback usually:
Speeds decisions up
Prevents misunderstandings
Reduces long email chains
Builds trust faster
This is one of the easiest ways to keep momentum moving. Because sometimes a client’s “I’m not sure about this section…” can be solved in 30 seconds live instead of 14 emails later. And who has patience for an email chain that long!
4. Guide Clients to Review Big Picture First
In our first meeting, we typically show them a couple designed sections of the homepage. I’ve learned it’s best to show them everything you’ve done and avoid stopping section by section to get feedback.
One of the fastest ways projects get stuck in revisions, in my opinion, is clients focusing on tiny details too early. Instead: Show them the full picture, then let them respond at the end.
5. Stop asking “What do you think?”
I get it, it feels like a natural question, and I love asking it to really any other person in my life, except my clients. From my experience, it’s too broad and it often opens up cans of worms you never wanted.
Instead, ask:
Does this align with your goals?
Does this feel on-brand?
Is there anything you’re not liking?
These prompts give clients direction on how to provide useful feedback.
Final thought: better process = better work
You can design the most beautiful site, but without a good process in place that facilities good, helpful dialogue with clients, you’ll get caught in the revision loop and be on your way to Mount Doom. When you improve your feedback process, you’re not just making projects easier, you are creating:
Confidence in your work
Authority and trust with your clients
Efficiency (less revisions)
Better client experiences
A stronger business
Which usually means: happier clients, stronger referrals, higher rates, less burnout (sounds wonderful!).
Steal Our Client Feedback Questions
We created a free guide packed with practical questions you can start using immediately to:
Get clearer feedback and reduce revisions
Lead projects more confidently
Save time and sanity
Build sites your clients are obsessed with
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