by twersk
8 replies
I have switched from doing site work for lawyers to site work for small retail businesses and I am finding a common and disturbing theme...

People are paying me for work, but when I am ready to deliver, few seem to either have access to their ftp or cpanel info or they don't really make the effort to get it to me in the first place. I find myself calling people to ask them for information over and over because I feel like, if I don't, they will get buyer's remorse and chalk up their payment to me as a bad investment that they will just write off...thus never using me again or referring me to others...It's like I am using valuable time as a babysitter.

Am I missing a step? What do you guys do...prey tell!!

Go WF!
  • Profile picture of the author Sue McDonald
    Ask for that information up front and don't take on the job unless they can provide it to you. That way they are responsible for their own information.
    Don't was your time searching for it because at one time or another they would have been given that information by a webmaster.
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  • Profile picture of the author DianaHeuser
    twersk,

    Before taking on the job, ask them for their hosting provider details. It is much quicker for you to contact the hosting provider than to try and get your client to give you the information. You have to remember that most of our offline clients are really technologically challenged. Make it easy on them and on yourself and pro-actively get the information.

    Will save you hours of stress

    Di
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    • Profile picture of the author butters
      I have had this experience, one of my offline clients bought the domain name but they didn't buy it, a friend of a friend of a friend bought it! Oh the pain of chasing down that person so they could transfer the domain over, oh the pain!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author twersk
    I see what you guys are saying...but the problem is that I am prospecting for this business...they are not coming to me...and I am operating in a sales environment...where I was taught to get the sale first...which makes sense, doesn't it? I haven't tried it yet, but I don't know how I would ask for ftp information as a commitment to a closed sale as opposed to a Paypal invoice (which seems to work.) Not arguing...I promise!

    Do you guys get the sale that way? Thx for responding...
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    • Profile picture of the author DianaHeuser
      Originally Posted by twersk View Post

      I see what you guys are saying...but the problem is that I am prospecting for this business...they are not coming to me...and I am operating in a sales environment...where I was taught to get the sale first...which makes sense, doesn't it? I haven't tried it yet, but I don't know how I would ask for ftp information as a commitment to a closed sale as opposed to a Paypal invoice (which seems to work.) Not arguing...I promise!

      Do you guys get the sale that way? Thx for responding...
      Perhaps when you are quoting/prospecting mention to them that you can only complete your side of the bargain if you have access to certain information that will allow you to complete the project.

      Every quote I send out has a delivery time stated, on the condition that the following information is provided e.g. cpanel, ftp details etc.

      I also stress that the project will only START when I have received all the information.

      Di
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  • Profile picture of the author twersk
    I get the soon-to-be-client on the phone and have my Paypal invoice ready to go. I call...I send email...they are in an easier position to take out a credit card, then ftp info
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    • Profile picture of the author twersk
      Diana...I understand what you say there. That is the easy part...but then what do you do when they still haven't called or emailed you with the info? We all know how to cover ourselves with terms and conditions...but there is an emotional and irrational side as well
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      • Profile picture of the author DianaHeuser
        Originally Posted by twersk View Post

        Diana...I understand what you say there. That is the easy part...but then what do you do when they still haven't called or emailed you with the info? We all know how to cover ourselves with terms and conditions...but there is an emotional and irrational side as well
        I understand but that's the nature of business. You are dealing with people

        You just have to make is as easy as possible for them to provide the information.

        So here's what I do. Once they accept the quote, they either click on the 'Buy Button' within the email or they click on the Buy Button on my website.

        As soon as they have paid, they are redirected to a form that they need to fill in (redirect is setup in PayPal). Here's an example of a form that people using my product launch services get sent to when they buy:

        Done for You – Information Required | The Nitty Gritty for Non Geeks.

        You could customize it for your offline clients including who their site is hosted with.

        Just an idea

        Di
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