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How do you handle this?

by SubUrbanHype
4 replies
Is it not a good idea to tell a prospect that if you don't know how to do something that you have a network of people you utililze to get the job done. Because I met with a prospect today and he asked me if I was a really good in coding, and I told him the truth and said I am ok at coding, but I have a few friends who are programmers that I use to do my coding for me when need be. And he seemed concerned by that. Was that a good move on my part by being truthful with him or should I have just said I was great at it just so he would feel comfortable since he would never even know? Or should I have just worded it different?
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    I wouldnt have said "friends".... I would have just said "My designer does all that...why was there something something special you want to do that requires some special , non standard coding skills"?

    and direct the question back to him.



    Originally Posted by SubUrbanHype View Post

    Is it not a good idea to tell a prospect that if you don't know how to do something that you have a network of people you utililze to get the job done. Because I met with a prospect today and he asked me if I was a really good in coding, and I told him the truth and said I am ok at coding, but I have a few friends who are programmers that I use to do my coding for me when need be. And he seemed concerned by that. Was that a good move on my part by being truthful with him or should I have just said I was great at it just so he would feel comfortable since he would never even know? Or should I have just worded it different?
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    The problem with your response was that you used the word "friends". To a business owner that means,

    Some one who's first interest is not some business owners project, even if its not true.

    You might have said,

    I know coding but I am no expert, I have a team of seasoned coders who take care of the heavy duty coding when my clients projects require it.
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  • Profile picture of the author SubUrbanHype
    Yeah I figured I just may have worded it wrong. I am getting the hang of how to talk/sell myself to these business owners. Thanks fo your imput.
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  • Profile picture of the author Russell Hall
    Yes,.. I agree that the inference that "friends" help you out just places you in a very amateurish light.
    I would have said something like "actually I'm a very capable web programmer, but I'm no rocket scientist and these days I just give instructions to my team who do nothing but eat, breathe and sleep this stuff all day long,... rest assured,- anything that you need a website to do we can accommodate that and then probably add some suggestions on top of it".

    That way you've not lied and you've presented yourself in a professional manner and assured your client (or prospective client) that he's in very good hands.

    Cheers,
    Russ :-)
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    Mvlti svnt vocati, pavci vero electi - Many are called [but] few are chosen

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