¿Qué haces si tus clientes en la Economía de los Creadores no te dan su opinión?

Despite doing all the above, if you are not receiving feedback, do this: a) Take a step back: Analyze how you have asked for feedback in the past. The tone, medium, approach? b) Create opportunities for feedback: It so happens that ones work is done, client goes back to their business and ends up either forgetting or missing out on reciprocating to your requests, despite several reminders. Do not go crazy following up. Create opportunities throughout the journey of engagement where clients organically provide feedback. c) Let the client know their inputs are taken seriously: Clients ignore providing feedback thinking that this is just one more addition to the testimonial list... Its a waste of their precious time. Prove them wrong.

My mantra is "everyone's got feedback, but not everyone voices it," so finding the friendliest way for clients to share that feedback is where we get to flex our conversation skills. Because every client is unique, with their own set of communication hurdles when it comes to giving and asking for feedback. Take, for instance, culturally in Central Mexico, clients with regional or local brands need more context to get to the heart of the question. But up in the northern states, it’s more common to see that you can shoot questions more directly. It’s not about making sweeping generalizations or falling into clichés, but rather acknowledging patterns of behavior based on data.

This is unfortunately a common situation for creatives and freelancers in the creator space. In my experience, this is how I've gotten the best feedback: Start by sending a polite follow-up email or message expressing your eagerness to hear their thoughts. Frame your request around the desire to improve and deliver value, emphasizing how their input is crucial for your growth and the success of the project. Consider asking specific questions to guide their feedback, making it easier for them to respond. If appropriate, suggest a brief call or meeting, which can often lead to more detailed and constructive feedback. Remember that most times they aren't ignoring you on purpose, they are likely very busy and just need a nudge.

To keep a tight grip on the workflow, a crucial moment is the setup at the start of the project. This step is key not just for setting clear expectations and scopes but also for documenting and ensuring visibility of the critical checkpoints and the means for tracking progress. For instance, locking in a schedule for weekly meetings or catch-up calls every Friday from the get-go can make the follow-up process smoother, depending on the project's scope and type. Depending on the client, we can tailor this tracking in a way that doesn't feel like "just another meeting" to them but rather a chill and friendly time to check in on how the project is progressing.

In my experience, we can easily work with tools alongside suppliers or colleagues, but many clients and decision-makers are still hooked on analog or traditional methods. So, the best move is to pick a tool that strikes a balance between functionality and agility for feedback, yet has a low entry barrier for newbies. It's a rewarding experience in the Creator Economy, as there are times when you get closer and build more trust with your client by doing tasks beyond what you were hired for. Like, sometimes you're the one who introduced your client to Notion, instead of just leaving them to figure it out on their own.

In addition to feedback tools, consider diversifying your feedback channels to accommodate various preferences and communication styles. Incorporate regular check-ins via email, surveys, or even quick polls on social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram Stories. Encourage open dialogue by hosting virtual Q&A sessions or creating a dedicated feedback forum where clients can voice their opinions anonymously if they prefer. Furthermore, leverage analytics and data insights from your platform or website to glean indirect feedback on client behavior and preferences, guiding your adjustments and improvements.

It depends on the project and what deliverables you've got to crank out, but one of my core principles is "the target audience is the jury." So it'll be key to use tools that give you clear metrics to gauge if you're hitting the goals you set out. But you can also explore the qualitative side: the emotions, opinions and reactions from the audience. In my experience, like when I wrote scripts for Tiktok ads, besides the KPIs and client feedback, I'd jump into the comments to get a pulse from the public. I'd look for gems like "I just watched a whole ad?", "Didn't expect to vibe with a commercial", stuff that clued me in on whether the message was landing.

Seek feedback from other sources. Utilize online communities, forums, or peer groups within your niche to solicit constructive criticism and insights from fellow creators. Engage in collaborative projects or seek mentorship from more experienced individuals who can offer valuable perspectives on your work. Moreover, leverage data analytics tools to track audience engagement, demographics, and content performance metrics. Objective data can supplement your subjective assessment and guide your decision-making process. Embrace a proactive approach to continuously improve and refine your content, even in the absence of direct client feedback.

To cut the stress from lack of direct client feedback, having a systematic workflow is key. Map out clear project phases, with client feedback as one piece in the results stage, but not the be-all and end-all for gauging success. Depending on the gig and what you've hashed out with the client, you can track metrics that show the reach, impact, and engagement your work is driving. That way, you've got objective ways to measure results besides just waiting on client input. The move is having that structured process nailed down, with defined phases and the right metrics clearly established to comprehensively judge performance.

Be lowkey cautious when seeking expert feedback, 'cause I've seen too many times how some creator economy communities turn into echo chambers or bubbles where critical thinking, collaboration, and realness get left behind. Not sure if it's just a Mexico/LATAM thing though? Creativity needs that brutal honesty, like Sir John Hegarty says: "Every McCartney needs a Lennon."

Here's a trick I learned from Alex Hormozi...give away stuff for free. People like free stuff. One of the things I've done in the past to gather data or solicit feedback is give away free services to a limited population on the condition they provide a testimonial. Additionally, in order for them to qualify for said free product or service they have to fill out an application. Guess what questions are on the application? That's right data points that I can compare and aggregate as feedback to create new products, services, or pivot. It's a win win!