RE: FN-FORUM: am i being too soft or harsh?

date posted 1st June 2006 11:06

Thanks all. Mac has accurately stated my fears. My clients are typically =
45
to 70 years old and are generally proud that they've mastered email and =
can
search for stuff on google.=20

I think a gentle word is in order...

kind regards
Paul Bryant
=20
http://webdesignSME.co.uk

=20
=20

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL REMOVED] [EMAIL REMOVED] On Behalf Of Mac
T.Wheeler
Sent: 01 June 2006 11:43
To: FN-FORUM / [EMAIL REMOVED]
Subject: RE: FN-FORUM: am i being too soft or harsh?


I've tried the whole admin tool route, more or less a very cut down CMS.

The problem is you end up with more phone calls because they don't know =
how
to use it properly. What would be a 5 minute phone call and then a 1 =
minute
text change on a static site becomes a whole round of 'How do I do =
this?'
type questions.

Keep it simple if you can and swallow those annoying little alterations,
it=92s easier than trying to educate your client on the process of doing =
it
themselves using a CMS :)

Why not charge a yearly retainer type fee? Something small that will =
cover a
couple of hours time per year making small changes? Obviously make sure =
to
pin down what exactly is included in the fee, obviously a major site
re-design would fall outside of the scope.

Mac.

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL REMOVED] [EMAIL REMOVED] On Behalf Of Rus =
Foster
Sent: 01 June 2006 11:25
To: FN-FORUM / [EMAIL REMOVED]
Subject: Re: FN-FORUM: am i being too soft or harsh?


> However, I have a particular client who has begun to request changes=20
> to their site on a regular basis. Their site has been running for=20
> about a =3D year now but in the past month, they have suddenly started =

> asking for alterations. For example, I have now changed their fees 3=20
> times in less =3D than
> 4 weeks. Today, in an email thanking me for the last change, she has =
=3D=20
> asked for something else to be done. Now, ok, each alteration=20
> literally takes =3D less than a minute. We=3D92re not talking about =
major=20
> issues here. But it is a complete pain in the arse. And if every=20
> client did it, there certainly =3D would be a problem.

I would say make it clear to the client that these little updates are =
ok.=20
If they aren't taking more than a minute, whilst annoying you will win =
out
in the long term. If you are going to have to revamp the entire site =
then I
would say charge them. A simple email, not being harsh just explaining =
this
should be ok. Prehaps also ask them why prices keep changing in the =
first
place.=20

What about pitching some sort of basic admin tool where they could do it
themselves?

Rus

--
e: [EMAIL REMOVED] : t: 01635 281120 | google: [EMAIL REMOVED] Unix =
Admin
work from =A340/hour or $75/hour http://www.a2b2.com - UK and US =
Dedicated and
Virtual servers http://www.a2backup.com - UK Based backup provider



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