A question to webdesigners.

DianaHeuser

12 years ago

I give them full access. It is not my site

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RichPargeter

12 years ago

Originally Posted by DianaHeuser

I give them full access. It is not my site

Yes I agree. Always full access.

If they do break the site then you could charge a fee to fix it for them or fix it for free to build loyalty and good customer service.

Thanks
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Morten V

12 years ago

Originally Posted by DianaHeuser

I give them full access. It is not my site

Originally Posted by RichPargeter

Yes I agree. Always full access.

If they do break the site then you could charge a fee to fix it for them or fix it for free to build loyalty and good customer service.

Thanks for the answers!

Thanks

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maline

12 years ago

No I just give them editor rights. Im sorry but maybe it are my clients. Most are not very good with computers. But wordpress editor rights all THEY need.

I dont see any reason why they would be able to install plugins, change theme or change widgets. Things will only go wrong from their!

Of course, if they would ask I would give them. But most never heard of wordpress so they dont know what options their missing.

Thanks
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Morten V

12 years ago

Originally Posted by maline

No I just give them editor rights. Im sorry but maybe it are my clients. Most are not very good with computers. But wordpress editor rights all THEY need.

I dont see any reason why they would be able to install plugins, change theme or change widgets. Things will only go wrong from their!

Of course, if they would ask I would give them. But most never heard of wordpress so they dont know what options their missing.

Yes, that's what I've been thinking. A lot of people have never heard of wordpress and are not good with computers. So giving them limited accsess makes it easier for them.

But again, I like the feeling of giving them full access so they can do what they like. As stated earlier, it's the customers website.

Thanks
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maline

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Vatndal

Yes, that's what I've been thinking. A lot of people have never heard of wordpress and are not good with computers. So giving them limited accsess makes it easier for them.

But again, I like the feeling of giving them full access so they can do what they like. As stated earlier, it's the customers website.

My clients don't have any idea they have limited access, because they don't know their also other options.

So to them its full access.

Besides that I just hate to explain all those stuff to my clients, like what are plugins and what are widgets and how to use them. Because IF they see those options, they will ask!

Thanks
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Morten V

12 years ago

Originally Posted by maline

My clients don't have any idea they have limited access, because they don't know their also other options.

So to them its full access.

Besides that I just hate to explain all those stuff to my clients, like what are plugins and what are widgets and how to use them. Because IF they see those options, they will ask!

That's true.

Thanks

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DianaHeuser

12 years ago

Maline,

What happens if you get knocked over by a bus? Then they have no way of accessing their site.

We have absolutely no right to keep that information away from a client. We were trusted with the site and it's development but we do not own it.

It's really that simple.

As for them messing it up - you should have a backup of the site when you hand it over to them. That's your responsibility as the designer.

I have seen way too many clients who have lost all the work they paid for because the previous designer vanished off the face of the earth and they cannot access their sites.

Di - who feels really strongly about this, just in case anyone did not pick this up

Originally Posted by maline

No I just give them editor rights. Im sorry but maybe it are my clients. Most are not very good with computers. But wordpress editor rights all THEY need.

I dont see any reason why they would be able to install plugins, change theme or change widgets. Things will only go wrong from their!

Of course, if they would ask I would give them. But most never heard of wordpress so they dont know what options their missing.

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Morten V

12 years ago

Originally Posted by DianaHeuser

Maline,

What happens if you get knocked over by a bus? Then they have no way of accessing their site.

We have absolutely no right to keep that information away from a client. We were trusted with the site and it's development but we do not own it.

It's really that simple.

As for them messing it up - you should have a backup of the site when you hand it over to them. That's your responsibility as the designer.

I have seen way too many clients who have lost all the work they paid for because the previous designer vanished off the face of the earth and they cannot access their sites.

Di - who feels really strongly about this, just in case anyone did not pick this up

That's a good statement! Thanks.

Thanks

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rosetrees

12 years ago

Originally Posted by DianaHeuser

Di - who feels really strongly about this, just in case anyone did not pick this up

I agree. I give all my clients a document with the details of their registrar account and password, their hosting account and password and their Wordpress log-in details.

Most never use them. I have some clients who do like to maintain their own sites, and many who panic at the thought of even logging in.

Before handing over a site I take screenshots, a backup of the database as it exists at that time and a backup of all the theme settings.

I have had too many clients who have been let down by a previous designer/decided they didn't like the previous designer/whatever else - who haven't had access details. Some we've managed to get into and in some cases we've had to register new domains and start again.

As Di says - the site belongs to your client. I make sure mine have all the necessary details, so that if they decide to change web designers there shouldn't be a problem.

I would add that I always register the domain in my client's name, not mine (I've seen too many sites registered in the original designer's name with no way of getting at the domain to renew it/repoint the nameservers etc) as well as the hosting. If they don't have a registrar account, the very first thing I do is open a Namecheap account for them.

In fact, I make that one of my selling points - that everything is registered in their name and they will have full access details. For many, especially those who have been let down by a previous designer, this is a big plus point.

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Sandra Martinez 12 years ago

Are you providing a full package with service or only the website?

I provide a document with all the passwords, including the administrator password for the site, for their files. But I do create accounts with restricted powers for the everyday activities.

This way they can´t mess up.

When you provide ongoing service, you will notice that unless you charge per hour any additional service, they will shoot an email instead of searching their files anyway.

You should also do a backup and send it over to the client. I also keep the backup in my files for 5 years.

Sandra
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maline

12 years ago

I think I'm a bit misunderstood here. First of all I do this for the protection of my clients.

Some know this some don't know this. I have a very good relationship with my clients, and I really do know the stories of website designers who let clients down for sure.

I mean most sites I build are for companies who are let down by previous web designers. But you know why, because they hired some cousin or neighbor to do the job. Not because they don't have login information! They did got all the information from the previous designer, like FTP and such. But guess what they are not a web designer so what are they going to do with it?

You know how I do it? Clients call me or e-mail me when they need to change a side bar or something like that. You know why? Because Im the web designer, I know how to do that stuff. And you know, if its a little change, which only cost me 10 minutes. I don't even charge them. And guess what, clients love me for doing all that stuff for them! They never want to get back to some "cousin" where all things where complicated and they had to do everything for them self.

So some say I better just send them all the FTP info or let them have access to stuff they don't know nothing about, and thats better? And send them documentation? I have to read this one more time. A client who reads documentation??? Where can I find those clients!

I guess you never had much clients then. But my clients call me and would never even want to read anything.

Maybe the difference is, that I work with companies and not work for persons, and those companies don't even want have all passwords and such. They want me to do it! I mean 50% of the companies I work with don't even want to post their own news.

Don't get me wrong, I use Wordpress for 99% for the websites I build. Because I love to easily edit things. But maybe it are the companies I work with, but their all lazy and are really not missing anything.

And I got hit by a bus? Guess....what... I have a company. Im not alone.

Thanks
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DianaHeuser

12 years ago

Originally Posted by maline

I guess you never had much clients then. But my clients call me and would never even want to read anything.

Maybe the difference is, that I work with companies and not work for persons, and those companies don't even want have all passwords and such. They want me to do it! I mean 50% of the companies I work with don't even want to post their own news.

Never make assumptions about another person's business when you don't actually know the facts

Di

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Morten V 12 years ago

Thanks for all the comments. It really gave me the information I needed.
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- Daniel Evans 12 years ago
  
  I'll always grant full access. It wouldn't even cross my mind to hold back the features of a website from a client but then on the flipside, it wouldn't cross my mind to do work for free to rectifiy a problem resulting from a careless move.
  
  Daniel
  
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Karen Blundell 12 years ago

Originally Posted by maline

I guess you never had much clients then.

Maybe the difference is, that I work with companies and not work for persons...

lol, too funny. You think you might know about someone's business based on what you see online, but what you see and what really happens can be two totally different things.

Never assume anything, because you know what happens when you do.
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- maline 12 years ago
  
  Assumptions, not really, just experience.
  
  Everyone who does web design and had many clients. Know a lot of clients mess up their site.
  
  Come on, do some even know wordpress has a plugin section? Do you even know that installing the wrong plugin can mess up a website or leave it open for hackers.
  
  We can teach them everything, give them videos, documentation or what ever. But installing the wrong plugin and its *POOF*.
  
  My clients have access to the most important stuff, which means, they can change forms, changes images, change pages, posts, edit or delete, they can even switch between pre-made different side bars,which I set up for them), navigation (. What else do they REALLY need? Besides like I said if they ask for it, I will give them full access.
  
  Just warning you guys, if you a reseller hosting or something, and one of your clients got hacked, because he has some plugin installed, and because of that he got things on their website that are forbidden. Your host can close your account. And all your clients will be offline.
  
  If some of you think, what I'm doing is wrong, I can only say, you will see.
  
  Thanks
  
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rosetrees 12 years ago

Originally Posted by maline

Maybe the difference is, that I work with companies and not work for persons, .....

Most () of the companies I work with are run by, or employ, "persons".
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DianaHeuser

12 years ago

Rose,

I do exactly the same

Di

Originally Posted by rosetrees

I agree. I give all my clients a document with the details of their registrar account and password, their hosting account and password and their Wordpress log-in details.

Before handing over a site I take screenshots, a backup of the database as it exists at that time and a backup of all the theme settings.

Thanks

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buildablogsite

12 years ago

I would honestly give them full access when they pay for the site in full

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dsouravs

12 years ago

lol..why will u keep ur clients bonded to you.

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Karen Blundell 12 years ago

Diana is absolutely right. The client paid for the site so you should give them access, full access.

If you don't want to answer their questions for free, you can offer them WordPress coaching @$25 per hour or more.

Now you are even more valuable to the client, because you can teach them what they need to know.

Of course, you should make it very clear that if they want on-going support after their site design is completed, it will cost them - monthly, per support call, however you want.

That's what's called a back-end sales funnel. Threat your clients well and they will use you again, and pass your name around.

I have a lawyer client in Toronto who has given me work for the past 3+ years. He never balks at my prices, gets me to do his upgrades and other WordPress tweaks, and pays me the moment the works is done, no fuss, no muss.

You want more clients like that. So that is why you give them full access, treat them with respect, offer to teach them how to use WordPress, for a fee, and if they insist that you help them out for free, tell them firmly, that you charge for your time.
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mosthost

12 years ago

Make sure you hash out all details like this with the client beforehand. Also, have a legally binding contract. Otherwise, you might be surprised at the disputes that could arise.

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RichPargeter

12 years ago

IMHO you have to totally honest and open with your clients.

What if down the road they do their research and find out about all the other options available in WordPress... don't you think the question "Why didn't you tell me about these" will crop up?

If I was the client I'd be thinking what else am I not being made aware of.

Surely it's for the client to decide if they think they're competent or not with plugins etc. If they're not that's a prime opportunity for you as the designer to say okay I can help you with that and charge them accordingly.

You could even charge a monthly maintenance fee!

Thanks

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Tadresources

12 years ago

I'm not a webdesigner, but I've worked with many of them and have a couple as friends, and in my experience you should hand over the reigns unless there is another agreement in place.

It may be frustrating when the client goes in and messes something up (I try not to touch anything if I can help it) but it's their site and they paid for that right.

I have had agreements where I've kept a designer in the loop so I can hire him or her again in the future to make updates. I really don't mess too much with that stuff if I don't have to.

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carrotdogs

12 years ago

It depends, I wouldn't want to be given full access and then end up messing up the site. If I am not given full admin rights then I feel more comfortable knowing that I'm not going to accidentally do anything to harm the site. But the designer shouldn't hold back from giving out full access if requested

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funkynassau

12 years ago

I am the owner of a WP site that was created by a small biz I hired. They set it up so that I had access to some parts of it and not others. Part of the reason was to keep me out of things I could screw up - not a bad idea, really! The other part of the reason was so that I would come back and have to pay them to do things, so they'd make money. I was also kept out of things that I would not screw up, which I didnt like.

I had a one year contract with them and towards the end of that I found a new web guy who said he'd help me with my site. He gave me access to many of the things I didnt have access to previously. The only thing I cant get into is the PayPal setup and that's ok, I dont know how to do it, and he does, so he does any changes to that part.

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erichammer

12 years ago

I'm starting up a business and will be giving them full access as well. However, I'll also be providing dozens of training videos which they can refer to in order to learn everything they need to know about using WP.

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Morten V

12 years ago

Originally Posted by erichammer

I'm starting up a business and will be giving them full access as well. However, I'll also be providing dozens of training videos which they can refer to in order to learn everything they need to know about using WP.

Yes, I will also be doing training videos for clients.

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Sandra Martinez 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Vatndal

Yes, I will also be doing training videos for clients.

step by step docs work better for me. I did both and settled for the last one, but test ad see for yourself.
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- Morten V 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Sandra Martinez
  
  step by step docs work better for me. I did both and settled for the last one, but test ad see for yourself.
  
  Not a bad idea. In case of changes is much easier to change a doc than a video
  
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Fernando Veloso

12 years ago

We give them different options:

We do updates for X per month, or X per hour.
They do updates and when they break everything, we charge the usual fees to get it back on track.

Sometimes we agree with clients to "remove" sensitive stuff from their panel, so they just see the Post/Pages and thats all - but we update their WP version, plugins, etc etc.

Honestly, vast majority of people just want the site done and they prefer someone else updates it.

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Morten V 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso

Honestly, vast majority of people just want the site done and they prefer someone else updates it.

I can imagine that. So my thoughts are to give them two accounts, one admin account and one posting account. That way they don't get left out and can choose what to do.
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