#client relationships
5 pieces filed under “client relationships”.
Referrals for studios: introductions, not codes
SaaS-style referral codes don't fit agencies. How studios actually grow by referral: designing introductions, credit mechanics, gratitude, and client memory.
Scope change without drama
Scope creep is a process failure wearing an intent costume. Distinguishing discovery from creep, a change-request micro-process, and scripts for hard talks.
Aligning stakeholders without design by committee
How to keep design decisions fast with many stakeholders: decision mapping, demo-based alignment, the input-vs-decision distinction, and rescuing stalled review loops.
Reference calls: what to ask an agency's past clients
Twelve questions for agency reference calls that surface reality — first missed dates, month-three invoices, vanishing seniors — and how to read the hedges.
The kickoff workshop agenda we run before every build
Our actual half-day kickoff agenda for a 12-week build: the hour-one decision log, the risk room, role mapping and the 'what would make this fail' round.