Inside the Client's Mind
“Inside the Client’s Mind” was the intriguing title for a recent meeting of the IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Orange County chapter’s IndyComm group, moderated by Cathi Douglas and featuring insights from diverse clients.
The three panelists hire a significant number of freelancers, from writers to project managers to graphic artists, to handle large and small projects to free up their small staffs for day-to-day work.
Featured panelists were Ryan Lilyengren, APR, communications director for the Diocese of Orange; Vitamin T recruiter Emily Peel; and Judy Iannaccone, the director of communications and publications for the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Unintentionally all three panelists turned out to be CDC clients.
IndyComm is a group designed for independent communication consultants like Cathi who want to discover creative ways of marketing their businesses, attracting new clients, acquiring a higher level of business acumen and looking to network and brainstorm with like-minded professionals. The group met in the evening at the Citrus Café in Tustin.
“Inside the Client’s Mind” panelists discussed why they choose to outsource some projects and not others as well as the types of projects they usually outsource. They said they most frequently hire consultants that are personally referred by other pleased clients.
A lively discussion that involved guests and panelists was whether price, quality, responsiveness or strong communications skills were the top concern when considering freelancers. Panelists unanimously concurred that it’s better for a consultant to be realistic and honest about deadline challenges rather remaining silent.
They described their best and worst experiences with consultants, and tried to articulate the qualities that make them say “wow” to a new or current consultant. Qualities such as responsiveness, organizational skills and the ability to accurately summarize difficult content make a freelancer stand apart from the competition.
Ultimately, panelists agreed, a consultant’s passion makes a big difference because a creative consultant remains dedicated to a highly desired project – even in the worst of circumstances.
The three panelists hire a significant number of freelancers, from writers to project managers to graphic artists, to handle large and small projects to free up their small staffs for day-to-day work.
Featured panelists were Ryan Lilyengren, APR, communications director for the Diocese of Orange; Vitamin T recruiter Emily Peel; and Judy Iannaccone, the director of communications and publications for the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Unintentionally all three panelists turned out to be CDC clients.
IndyComm is a group designed for independent communication consultants like Cathi who want to discover creative ways of marketing their businesses, attracting new clients, acquiring a higher level of business acumen and looking to network and brainstorm with like-minded professionals. The group met in the evening at the Citrus Café in Tustin.
“Inside the Client’s Mind” panelists discussed why they choose to outsource some projects and not others as well as the types of projects they usually outsource. They said they most frequently hire consultants that are personally referred by other pleased clients.
A lively discussion that involved guests and panelists was whether price, quality, responsiveness or strong communications skills were the top concern when considering freelancers. Panelists unanimously concurred that it’s better for a consultant to be realistic and honest about deadline challenges rather remaining silent.
They described their best and worst experiences with consultants, and tried to articulate the qualities that make them say “wow” to a new or current consultant. Qualities such as responsiveness, organizational skills and the ability to accurately summarize difficult content make a freelancer stand apart from the competition.
Ultimately, panelists agreed, a consultant’s passion makes a big difference because a creative consultant remains dedicated to a highly desired project – even in the worst of circumstances.
