How to Ask Clients for Feedback When You Don’t Get the Job

Q:

I quoted a project, but didn’t get it after 1 round of quote revisions, with the explanation they are going with someone cheaper. I asked if this was based solely on cost or also on creative style, and whether they would share who they chose, but they didn’t say who they hired. I think I didn’t scope the job properly, misunderstanding the importance of their tight budget. How do we ask for feedback on a job we didn’t land? How do we get the answers we need to quote better next time?

A:

Ways I’ve gotten the most INFO back from clients after not getting the job: 

• Asking during a one-on-one in-person meeting or on the old-school telephone. 

• Putting forth a close-ended, fully loaded question, allowing them to answer “yes or no.” 

• Sharing new, inspired ideas, new thoughts for next time, to intrigue them to use you, like how you will do this with a lower budget. 

• Don’t ask right away; give them at least a week or two for it to become official. 

• Explain truthfully why you are asking and what you want to learn from it.