Collaborating with people is the bread and butter of what we do at NMCO Creative Studio. Without our clients, our creative efforts would wander the empty streets, searching for creative salvation but to no avail. Or maybe we’d just make macaroni art, who knows? But we are fortunate that our reality is one of collaboration and relationships, where we create cause-driven creative and video production that amplify stories and brands.
These relationships with our clients aren’t cultivated just for GIFs and giggles (even though we like you, we really do!)– they serve a valuable purpose. When we truly understand our clients, we’re able to provide tailor-made creative solutions for them that not only fill their needs but anticipate future needs. And when our clients really understand us, well, it makes the process that much more fruitful!
But we know it takes two to tango. So, what can clients do and what can they expect from working with a studio like ours? We have a few moves to share that will make the collaboration dance a true masterpiece.
The Onboarding Ballet
It’s important to kick off on the right foot, so NMCO starts with the onboarding phase. During this phase, goals, expectations, responsibilities, and deadlines need to be clearly defined so that there are no surprises for either party later on.
Hopes & Challenges Cha-Cha
What does our client hope to achieve with their project and are there any specific challenges they’re facing? Do they want to grow their social media following with commercial videography? Gain revenue through their website’s storefront? Bring in new customers with a fresh new brand identity?
We want the inside scoop on our client’s business- from its inception, target audience, aesthetic preferences, and then some. We even like it when they show us examples of work they like and why. That way, we can tailor our approach specifically to them and the problem they want us to help solve.
Boot-Scootin’ Budgets and Expenses
Yeah, the not-so-fun part but the most important. At NMCO, we always clarify the budget from the get-go. Sometimes, we are asked to “shoot in the dark” as some clientele just don’t know how much these things cost.
Our best advice for our clients is to be upfront with their budget. We’re happy to share ballpark estimates based on similar productions but from our experience, we find that it’s much more efficient if clients disclose their budget from the get-go. That way, we can build something that fits what they have in mind and their needs. This also helps us optimize our time and resources. Once we have an established budget, payment schedule, and deposit we move onto our production timeline!
Timeline Two-Step
Let’s talk about timelines, benchmarks, and deadlines. Being goal-oriented from the start is ideal and it helps our team plan effectively. If there’s no plan, there’s no progress, and there’s nothing worse than burning everyone out with a never-ending project. Once we’ve established a timeline with our client, we go straight to the calendar to book those meetings and set deadlines, that way we can plan for any surprises that might pop up.
NMCO keeps our clients in the loop with regular progress updates and lets them know if anything changes with the timeline or deliverables. As a studio, it’s important that we adhere to our production deadlines as another client may be scheduled down the pipeline and we want to give everyone our undivided attention.
Internal Onboarding Ballroom
A creative brief covers the target, the goals, who is assigned to the project, and valuable information that needs to be carried out through the production such as calls to action, messaging, and creative direction. NMCO’s creative team is introduced to the project, and together we collectively review, research, and ask questions.
The creative brief is located within NMCO’s production document, which contains all our productions for that scope of work. Including any website outlines, photography shot lists, audio-visual scripts, and branding discovery notes. This is our centralized spot for all details regarding the client’s production. Our production doc also outlines goals, deadlines, project roles, and changes in production. That way, everything is clear, transferable, and can be referred to later for similar projects.
Client Kick-off Calypso
At NMCO, we have a kick-off meeting with the client where we officially kick off our partnership! This is when we introduce the teams working with each other, review our agreed-upon projects, and answer any questions the client may have. During this time, we review the steps we’ll take, deadlines, and how we’ll handle any changes or challenges that come up. Keeping our clients informed helps them understand what to expect and ensures we’re all dancing to the same beat.
Pirouette Through Production
Just like in a good dance, our productions are all about harmonious movement. Both partners need to stay in step to keep things on track and in budget.
Deadlines Disco
Creative studios often have many client deadlines in their production line and productions are scheduled so each client gets their time and devoted expertise. So, we expect our clients to keep the rhythm going by being responsive, providing timely feedback, and being aware of the project’s milestones. Not adhering to deadlines can cause stress on the production team as other client projects stack up, but we can always reestablish deadlines that work best for everyone.
Revisions Rhumba
Once we get into the revisions stage, NMCO expects- no, needs the client to tell us what is working and/or what isn’t. Tell us the truth because we promise they won’t hurt our feelings with feedback. We want to make sure we are staying aligned with the client’s vision, so if anything doesn’t feel right, we’re all ears!
Studios work best when client feedback is clear and specific, so we know exactly what to adjust. We will then take that feedback, make precise changes, and get approvals, keeping the project moving smoothly.
Pro Tip: With our clients, we always tell them to collect their internal feedback, so our team isn’t bombarded with emails from 10 different people. We typically offer a 3-revision rule and charge based on revisions after that, so in that scenario, 10 different emails count as 10 different revisions and will explode a client’s budget.
Expert Electric Slide
We’re here to guide our clients with our knowledge and years of experience. Clients do know their job better than we ever will, so we follow their lead in a lot of ways and trust that they can follow ours too when it comes to the creative industry.
We want to offer our professional advice so we can deliver the best results for our client’s project. Doing this kind of work with hundreds and hundreds of clientele means that we have a lot of invaluable insight. We’ve seen it all, and we are here to help our clients avoid any of the hurdles we have had to work through with other projects.
Approval Polka
At NMCO, we work closely with our clients to ensure that the final product meets their expectations. Once we’ve made the necessary revisions and you’re satisfied with the outcome, it’s time to get final approval. We encourage our clients to take the time to review the final product carefully and make sure it aligns with their objectives. Final approval is what allows us to move forward with confidence, knowing we’ve hit the mark.
Delivery Do-Si-Do
After the final approval, it’s time for the delivery phase—where the finished product is handed over and our collaborative dance ends, at least for now. We take pride in delivering high-quality assets that are accessible and usable by the client. We’ll provide all the necessary files in the required formats, whether it’s video files, design assets, or anything else we’ve made for you via a Microsoft SharePoint site that we created. These files can be accessed for 30 days after the final delivery dates.
We’ll also give you guidance on how to implement and use these assets, ensuring a smooth transition from production to execution.
But it doesn’t end there! We stand by our work and offer post-delivery support. Our goal is to ensure that our clients are not only satisfied with the final product but also confident in using it effectively.
Pro Tip: We value long-term relationships with our clients and offer special advantages to those in a “retainer,” such as a SharePoint site where all client deliverables will live until the end of the contract, priority in the production line, and more!
The Final Bow
When both clients and creative studios take the time to set clear objectives, manage costs effectively, stick to realistic timelines, and communicate openly, the results are always worth it. These practices not only keep projects on track but also strengthen the collaboration, making the creative process smoother and more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Ready to cha-cha your way to creative success? Click the Contact link and let’s get started on a project that’s perfectly in step with your goals.
