Potential design clients 101 - A response to Barefootsies thread.
 

Ive been doing some freelance design work for clients for a few months now. Here is my take on some of the issues Barefootsiees brings up. Most of the time issues and problems can be avoided.

Here are some helpful tips to potential design clients, whether you're thinking of using my services or not.


1. Know exactly what you want. Don't tell me to just make your site. Know what sizes, what shapes, what your target audience is, know what colors you think you might be interested in being used. Also be prepared to fill out a design questionaire before any work begins.

2. Respond to requests in a timely manner. If I say that I will have a mock up for you on Friday, make sure you are around to receive said mock up, and comment on it. That is the time to make changes. Not 5 days later when you decide to all of a sudden appear. And then to top it off, don't make silly threads about it like the designer isn't doing his or her job when you decide to be proactive. Just as the designer has to get you your materials on a set schedule, you have a direct impact on that schedule and the schedule of all of that designers clients. Whether or not a design company wants to admit it. When a client disappears and then reappears it does put a strain on your current project load.

3. For Christ sakes have decent content. It is so hard to design anything with shitty ass content. I have spend hours to correct an image only to have it scrapped by the client because he didn't like the chick.

4. You bet your ass you are going to either pay me up front or pay me 50% of the project before I start any work. This covers both you and I. I have been screwed one too many times.

5. I am not your "bitch". I am NOT your design whore. I am your design company. I have other clients besides you. Yes I do value your project, and I will always put 110% effort into all that I do. But please, I ain't nobody's bitch.

6. Add your own designers!!!!!!!


Yeah lets make a list here.... these 5 are Right off of the top of my head....

Let me add another....

6. If you get a quote, accept quote, make payment, please have all add materials and content ready to go. It really sucks when I have to wait 3 weeks to begin work. This once again puts a strain on my current project load.

On and I am not commenting on any of my current clients or projects. I am just speaking freely with tips that help make the whole design proccess run smoother.

what you said man... good points.. when i accept new clients i always ask for a full detailed specs before we can start or accept the project.

plus giving a rough quote or shitty instruction would bring some problems afterwards.. some clients wants to change everything after the details they sent was met etc etc etc.. so it might be better if you both ends would atleast talk briefly before starting the project. just my cents..

My favorite maxim when dealing with ANY client or contract is:

A lack of planning on your part will not result in a sense of urgency on my part.

;-)

Number 4...heh heh heh.

Giving most designers money upfront is like giving a crackhead a $50 bill and telling him to bring you a $20 rock AND your change.

sadly, these days, that is 100% correct

hehe, I just recently started watching GFY, and this kind of thing amazes me. I don't know if you guys realize this or not, but people in the mainstream don't tend to have the number of problems as you guys do with designers / developers. I've been developing for over 6 years, and have yet to have a single problem that I can remember that's actually worth bitching about.

If everyone's really getting screwed that much, it's really quite simple.

Design Projects

1.) Client, pay your deposit through PayPal. Simple as that, and then you're guranteed not to get fucked. If the designer does fuck you, then simply click on the "Refund" link in PayPal, and since the designer doesn't have a UPS or FedEx shipping# to refute the claim, you'll get 100% of your money back. If PayPal isn't an option, use escrow.

2.) Designer, don't give the guy full access to the HTML / CSS, etc... until full payment has been made. Do the work, take a bunch of screenshots of every page, and send it to the client in a PDF. Once he pays, release the work.

Developer Projects

1.) See #1 above.

2.) Developer, invest a whopping $10/month into a hosting account, and put all work on that. Do the work, put it on your server, and let the client fully play around and test it. Client knows the work is fully done, and is happy with it. Once full payment is done, release the work.

Come on guys, it's really not that complicated, and anybody looking for a legit deal will go for this. I've been reading all these threads about people bitching, and can't help but laughing. You're getting fucked because of your own stupidity, so don't blame the other person. I've been doing development for over six years, and have yet to have a serious problem. Then again, I usually find myself in a position where the client needs me more than I need them, so I guess that always helps. :)

the only issue with that is that most adult industry folks are terrified to use paypal or they have already had their accounts closed

paypal are nazis for closing adult accounts, and some people would just rather not chance it

I use it daily though without any issues, and I agree, it is a GREAT payment system unlike that "other" one

Sig spot, Ill be back after the fight...

Well then you are dealign with the wrong people.

I will not start any project with no money down. Hell it is getting harder and harder for me to start any project with less then 75% down. It is not a designers fault if you have been screwed before by a less then honorable designer/company. That is why you should stick with ppl that have been around and who have a reputation.

Pity. I've been looking for new designers.

Do you have a problem putting a deposit down on the work? Why is that?

I have a problem with clients wanting it all, plus a small child. When someone goes into a window store and orders a custom window, do they get to pay later?

No.

I figured since we're pretty established we wouldn't have to.

You think dealing with a few flaky clients is bad? Try dealing with hundreds of fraudulent webmasters and several flaky designers, developers, etc :pimp

P.S. I have no prob putting a deposit down on a reputable designer - just saying.

if a reputable company approaches me and wants work from me, I will do it up front......

it is a case by case basis, totally.....if joe schmoe from INSERTNAMEHEREbucks.com came to me, he pays up front

but if lauralee from TCG, or Sean from nscash.com comes to me, they get whatever they want instantly done, cause I trust them and know they will pay without any question

Exactly.

We just commissioned a reputable designer to do 5 sites - paid up front.

When dealing with an unknown - we're more cautious obviously.

But that was my point.

if you all ever need anything done with blogs/rss please let me know :)

Not saying anything bad about you or your company, but you would be surprised what some companies do. Established or not.

And just like Jace says, deposits are handled on a case by case basis.

If you need work done, hit me up on icq 35534250.

Oh and I hope you are not saying that I am an unknown. Been in this business since 1998.

Trust me, I wouldn't be surprised by anything. I've been through it all.

We wouldn't pay out over $1 million to affiliates per month and flake on a $2000 design :pimp That was my only point.

I would like to discuss some stuff with you actually - maybe sometime tomorrow :)

And thats what they all say, until the excuses start.

That's my point.

And thats why I like to get a deposit upfront.

Sorry to hear that man.

Rock on porn.com!!!!!

exactly

for instance, if you approached me, there would be no deposit needed, I have known and seen you around enough to know you don't fuck people over

for sure, make it Monday though....I have had family in since Thursday and am getting stir crazy.....tomorrow I plan on sitting on the back porch all day and getting shit faced

hit me up and add me to icq though, 102893553....or email if you prefer [email protected]

Not at all :)

I was just participating in the spirit of your thread :pimp

I am getting a server not found on http://www.porn.com/

is that normal? hehe

not happening to me ?

weird

Firefox can't find the server at www.porn.com.
* Check the address for typing errors such as
ww.example.com instead of
www.example.com

Weird indeed. I see the usual parked crap.

I specifically said MOST designers with certain people in mind. As for me, if a new designer wants to work for me, he does it with zero down and should do so with confidence. I have a reputation. People know me. I've been in this business for a long time and I've never stiffed anybody.

Ever.

Any designer with talent and a similar reputation would get what's fair from me, no questions asked.

Headless, this should pretty well cover it ..

http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showthread.php?t=700443