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A little while back I joined a new program with CrossLoop, a service that allows Consultants, such as myself to have remote access to a customers computer (with permission and access code) to actually do the work required.
Well, I finally got my first customer through the service… ALMOST
I think I totally talked myself out of doing the job.
How did I do it?
I was notified through the CrossLoop e-mail notification feature that a potential client was interested in hiring me to help them remake their blog. “Totally” according to them.
They had a two column standard WordPress Blog and wanted a three column setup with some minor changes in color and move some features around a bit. Nothing too major.
I suggested they browse through the WP Themes and find a three column theme that they liked and install it. I even pointed them to a screencast I did on My Computer Back in Service to help them with the install. Then, we could make any other changes they wanted at a minimal cost to them.
Why did I do it?
It’s not that I couldn’t do the job, goodness knows I can use the work, but there were some things they could do for themselves for free, and I would help them with the more technical (and time consuming) things that they couldn’t handle.
Besides, I would feel guilty if I charged them for something that I gave away as free advice on MCBS.
What happened next?
Nothing. Absolutely Nothing.
Well, not on my end anyway. I did check the URL they had given me for the site they wanted help with and it had a three column theme. So, I guess they got most of what they wanted. The color scheme hadn’t been fixed, features were still the same, so maybe they changed their minds about some of the fixes.
I sent an e-mail to them to compliment them on their choice of layout and to let them know I was available if they still needed help with some of the other features they were interested in adding.
The end result.
Again, Nothing. No response to my follow-up e-mail, no phone call, not even a comment on the screencast post. Not even a Thank You. And, no billable services from me.
Maybe next time?
How would you have handled this situation? Would you have just done the work and charged anyway? Thoughts?
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by Joe Hauckes
6 Comments
I have an extensive web site of tutorials, and there are times where I’ve pointed potential clients at relevant pages, and they’ve done the work themselves. The questions that can be answered by reading my site are generally (a) not too interesting, and (b) almost too small to bother with, 1-2 hours. I’m not sure I mind letting these small fish get away.
Sometimes the would-be client will read the page, realize they’re over their head, and we turn it into a project; that’s usually for the more extensive topics.
I agree with Jon, that the small one-offs aren’t usually worth pursuing. With this client, you might have done the work, then spent more hours trying to get them to pay your invoice.
Hey Jon,
I don’t have as much as you do on your site, but I like to think it’s helpful. I think the most disappointment came from the fact that they were the first from that service and I didn’t really show them what I could do to help them with what they perceived as a problem.
Oh, well, maybe they will figure out they are in over their heads as some point and come back!?!
I may never know since they haven’t even bothered to answer an e-mail, huh?
Hey Debra,
It’s not so much the one-off as the FIRST-off. You are probably right about the payment thing since they haven’t returned or even acknowledged an e-mail regarding the service I DID provide.
Joe -
If they never followed up with a Thank You, and if they never replied to your emails, then you don’t want them as a client anyway.
Jon, agreed!