How to tactfully rid your SEO business of penny-pinching, unreliable and abusive clients.
3 Comments
3 Comments
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Comments
Nice one. You know, it’s these kinds of experiences that make your written contracts become more precise over time. Honestly, the worst one is the client who is gung-ho to get going and then takes 3 months to get you the text for their about page. It’s just agonizing. On the clients who want extras once the project begins, though, the answer is simple: that’s not in our original contract, but we’ll be glad to accomplish that for you as part of a second phase of development. You’ve got to make them stick to what’s written down, and what they’ve paid for, and then write up a new contract for all of the extras, once the original contract has been fulfilled. My, my...it took me some time to realize that! Miriam
Lee Oddens post http://sphinn.com/story/4686 on quizzing potential SEO clients could be a good way to avoid those clients from hell.
Having been in the software development business for a long time I’ve learned that the following are must haves before engaging on a development project: 1. Detailed Requirements Document. If you want one I will share a great template 2. Detailed Quoting / Estimating. Again, if you want one I will share a great template 3. A solid project plan preferrably in MS Project, or atleast in basecamp, or some sort of task tracking app. I currently use AutoTask. Note: track your work progress, and forecast incomplete work. Also track costs over time. 4. Contact with "The Decision Maker". Not just a manager, but the one who is really calling the shots. In a small company, it’s the owner even if they have delegated to an office manager. In a larger company it may be the CFO - you never know who. You just gotta investigate until you find out and that means asking alot of questions. If you have this setup - and it’s not that hard to do, then you’ll have no problem controlling an unruly client, even if they are irate on the phone :) Finally, my tip on firing an SEO or PPC client - raise their rates to cover your costs. If they don’t like them transition them to your favorite SEO / PPC partner whom you feel can handle the clients requirements.