>Thanks for the input Diane. Yes, I agree that it is time for me to >develop a means for the end-user to maintain their own site. I had >thought about this already, and would want to do it on my own time so >that I could use it for more than just her. So that is now on my list >of things to do/research. > >As for selling her on the value/concept of the site, I may be wrong but >I feel that I have done everything that I can. I have given her several >ways in which she can promote it (non-web related), which she has done >to some degree. The site is getting hits, and while the numbers are not >"Amazon" numbers, I was pleasantly surprised due to the size of the area >that she serves. I persuaded her to start up a small newsletter with >"email only" specials for people that signed up for it online. That has >gone fairly well. She is not really interested in a shopping cart, so >she is going to be somewhat limited on the area in which she can provide >business.
Nope, not so - anyone with relatives in your town/city no matter where they live is a potential client of hers if she targets them properly via that website. It's her virtual showroom, after all. People often use florists local to the person they're buying flowers for if they can find one - much easier when you can email & discuss what you want, rather than impersonally using Interflora or similar: for instance does she also offer baskets of fruit for delivery to people in hospital ( a nice touch a florist offered a couple of years ago)? I have also provided her with several additional things she >could add to her site to make it more personal and add value, and while >she jumps at the thought of the idea and what it could do, she always >comes back with "she is so busy and doesn't have the time for that right >now". Doing favours for in-laws is, unfortunately, often akin to inviting a vampire to sit on your shoulder... OK -to be brutal - so she doesn't have time to follow up your suggestions, then **YOU** don't have time to waste doing her creative thinking and having your creative blood sucked out of you. Be realistic: have you had even one lead via this work? If not, unless you're seriously into masochism,[ in which case I'm sure someone geographically local to you on the list could volunteer to whip you for your own good ] it's time to cut your loses. So in some ways I feel that it is a losing battle. I provided >her with the stats for one month, and then offered to roll that into the >"monthly maintenance agreement", but she was never interested in it. >She has several projects for the site through Christmas, then I will >probably have to sit with her again and propose her with her >alternatives from here on out. > The only sitting you should be doing is with a cold beer and a mirror... in front of which to practise saying "NO", and "I can do that, and it will cost you dollars". Firmly. If she continues to undervalue what you're doing, then take a deep breath and BEFORE christmas, canvas every florist in the area & in the next towns to you who either has no website, or has one you could improve, and SELL your creativity to people who'll be willing to pay for it. Just my twopennyworth.... Franni ____ � The WDVL Discussion List from WDVL.COM � ____ To Join wdvltalk, Send An Email To: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Send Your Posts To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change subscription settings to the wdvltalk digest version: http://wdvl.internet.com/WDVL/Forum/#sub ________________ http://www.wdvl.com _______________________ You are currently subscribed to wdvltalk as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
