But we don't want to see Todd's passion being sucked out of him, do we?? Bad enough when a seriously paying client does it, or a deserving charity, but in-laws? No way...
Here, Todd - have a morale boosting early halloween pressie: http://www.mediation.co.uk/coffeetime/bat_4.html [ click on the bat ] Well, it might give the rest of you a smile... Now...what was I actually going to do this evening... ah yes, finish tomorrow's client presentation... thank god web development saves me from having to do either consultancy or research full time! :-) Franni >You are welcome Todd.. Web Development is a passion of mine. Having been in >all aspects of the puter world I have never done anything for the money >alone. I do it for the challenge of stretching the capabilities ever >farther. >If you look at developing freelance as a passion, an art form, than the >money will come naturally. >If you look at the money and chargeable time as the definition of your >creation, eventually your clients will see it and you will lose. > >On this board you see both ends and quite a few in the middle. >Ciao, >Brett > >-----Original Message----- >From: Todd Richards [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 3:17 PM >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [wdvltalk] RE: [OT] Problem with service after the sale - LONG > > >Thanks Diane, Franni, David, and Brett! Your suggestions and advice >have helped me look at this all much differently. This list has been >extremely helpful in my venture! I'm sure that I will be requesting >some more assistance as I continue to try and expand my knowledge! :) > >Todd > > >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Diane Schips [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >>Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 3:41 PM >>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Subject: [wdvltalk] RE: [OT] Problem with service after the sale - LONG >> >> >>Way to go Franni! >> >>Todd, if she's been getting hits, and you've shown that she >>has, than the >>new advertising medium she has wisely invested in - a website- >>is paying >>off! If she's running email only specials that have been >>going well, then >>that is further verification. I'm not sure what she means >>that she's losing >>money on it. Does she feel she's losing money on her Yellow >>Pages ad as >>well? Even though it can't begin to provide the info a >>website can? Or >>doesn't she understand the value of advertising? >> >>Yes, databases are often used in user updateable designs, and >>no, it isn't >>overkill. You could also, if she uses IE or the latest flavor >>of AOL, build >>a Word like interface for her. I would recommend a database >>driven site >>though, she can make less of a mess with it. And I agree with >>Franni - if >>she doesn't have the time, than neither do you, unless she's >>willing to pay >>you for it. As for the leads she's promised you, consider >>them a carrot >>dangled in front of your nose, because that how she views it! >> >>Good Luck. Don't forget the help you can get here as you work >>on your list >>of things to do/research. >>Diane >> >> >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Franni Vincent [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >>Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 12:55 PM >>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Subject: [wdvltalk] RE: [OT] Problem with service after the sale - LONG >> >>>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.unsub%% >> >> >>____ . 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.unsub%% >> > > >____ 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.unsub%% > > >____ � 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.unsub%% >-- >This email was forwarded via the University of Cambridge alumni email system >Visit http://cantab.net/ to update your forwarding details ____ � 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]
