Wise Women List Archive File
Getting Content from Clients
does it ever happen when you're working with a client that they are slow
about getting back to you and you can't proceed without their input?
i was giong to hear about some documents tomorrow and the conversation was
pushed forward to friday.
not wanting to offend, but to go on the record saying: dudes, why is this
taking so long?
I'd flip the question:
"Does it ever happen that clients are actually timely about turnarounds?"!!!!!
(This is why today I'm finally having time -- too much of it -- to read
emails.)
I even started building into my proposal an incentive to finishing on
schedule: I state that if the completed site is approved on [date] the
final payment will be reduced by 10%. Hasn't seemed to work too well...
What does sometimes work is reminding them that if we get seriously behind
schedule due to their dithering, their project may receive lower priority
than subsequent projects.
Don't despair,
I just closed a file last week that I had opened in April 2000. The client
never even gave the ok on the initial design...
I've often said that 95% of the time we spend on projects is spent
waiting for client input, with the other 5% actually spent on design work.
You may find it helpful to state that a project on hold for more than five
business days will be removed from the production schedule, or more than
ten days, cancelled, with all outstanding fees and expenses invoiced and
due for payment upon receipt of invoice. Also state that projects on
indefinite hold will be removed from the production schedule and that you
will not be able to guarantee completion of the project. You could also
throw in something about rush situations caused by client dithering
billable at double or triple or quadruple your normal hourly rate.
Regardless of what you say, you'll probably still end up waiting. But at
least you'll have a way to invoice projects before completion.
>I'd flip the question:
>"Does it ever happen that clients are actually timely
>about turnarounds?"!!!!!
LOL!!! [You] hit it right on the head here...I find I spend a lot of time
reminding people of dates, times, etc. I now put it in my palm so that I
remember to remind them-I will especially watch clients that have been
late in the past and know when to bug them. I always remind them in the
email that if they want something done by a particular date I need their
cooperation in order to do it-we don't work alone ;)
The way I've handled this is in my contract, my clients have 6 weeks to
get me 100% of the content. If they haven't, whether the site is finished
or not, the balance on the site is due. They are then put at the "back of
the list" in my schedule. I tell them this up front and tell them don't
sign the contract unless they are pretty much ready to proceed and feel
they can get their stuff to me inside of the window of time.
I don't even give them this much time....my language go something like
this:
50% deposit to even begin thinking about it.... *g*
design completed within 30 days with whatever I have to work with...if
they are missing stuff, there are "hold spots" 50% balance due at 30 days
second 30 days to make any further additions, changes, etc free of charge
after the second 30 days, any changes are charged at my contract hourly
billing rate
it's really a great motivator.... they sign the contract and in 60 days
are on the clock.... try it...it works....
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