If not answer with an absolute “No”.
I’m not a sales person and I find it very hard to say no to customers if it means killing the deal. Often, this is very true when I was younger, I’ll get so eager to do a job, I’ll say yes unreasonable demands. Fortunately I’m a bit older and that means I’ve learned to say No to people. It’s a good thing to because looking back, I can see this giant pile of money and success I might have reached sooner had I learned to be more assertive.
Can You have my site ready by the end of the week?
This question only seems to appear on thursday. I don’t know why, but that’s when I hear it. I’ve learned to not make this promise. EVER. The reason why is because websites often take longer than a few days to churn out. Yes, a design is possible in a few days. Content and fine tuning and programming can often run into months if there is issues that crop up in the first few days. Sad, but true. I typically try to get a site live in 3 weeks or less. Similar to a TV production, I spend one week in pre-production, one week producing it, and one week editing. Now while I recognize my clients have an immediate need, sacrificing my health, peace of mind, and freedom to be with my family is not something I will set aside. I don’t think any reasonable person will ever set aside family.
Can I reach you anytime?
Never, ever, EVER give out your personal cell or home number. There are only a few exceptions, but I’ve learned life goes a hell of a lot easier if people can’t call you at 2am to discuss the color of their links. The reason is pretty obvious. I’m not an on-call, 24 hour plumber – I’m a business person with several active customers at any given time. I’m also a person with a personal life. The only times I’ll share my number is when I am working on a project that requires constant, direct feedback or I find that my client needs personal attention on their project.
Can I pay you based upon the success of my site?
This is another way of asking for a free website. The answer is almost always a No. The reason why is the same reason venture capitalists won’t dump millions into dot-coms anymore. Because the person asking for this has no business plan, marking plan, or an investor with venture capital.
These projects fall into the realm of speculation and are highly dangerous because of the little to no return on my investment into it.
Can you handle all of my hosting and domain registration?
With this, I explain to my clients that I will not be the one hosting the site, but I can make the arrangements and provide them with the contact information. I do this because it’s affordable for myself and my clients (if they take web design service from m, I’ll often give them hosting and domain registration at cost). I also make it clear to them technical support questions should be directed to their hosting provider, not me.
Can you create a mock up to demonstrate the site?
In the last few years, I haven’t run into this question. Oddly, it’s my step father who takes it upon himself to pitch websites for me, that keeps suggesting it. I promptly shoot it down by pointing out that web design isn’t the same as an auto show and I’m not a fashion artist. What I do is grab a sheet of blank paper and a pen and start talking about the site and drawing up a design there. Then we build from there.
Mock-Up’s are pretty much doing work for free (as a mock-up must be a function site) and if the client rejects it or backs out, leaves the web design with no money and time wasted. No industry will do work without getting paid under the assumption that they might get paid.
These little questions are sources for heartache for many web designers who eventually become disillusioned with their trade and end up being exploited. There are many more,of course, and I’ll save those for a later article. Until then, be smart about your work and understand why you do it.
