Podcast: | (Duration: 57:27 — 78.9MB)
Panel
- Charles Max Wood ( )
- Eric Davis ( )
- Evan Light ( )
- Jeff Schoolcraft ( )
Discussion
- Non-payment/Late payments
- Lack of Communication
- Working for a client is like a dating relationship
- Subcontracting
- Blame
- Local vs. Remote
- Corporate Culture
- Find clients who are willing to learn
- Communicate before you fire the client
- Watch out for people who push back on non-negotiables in your client
- The client must sign a contract
- It makes a difference if the client appreciates your work
- If things become emotional, just nod and say “Thank you for the feedback.”
- Watch out for long silent spells
- Zero Bullshit Policy
- We want clients to be more like business partners rather than masters (with us as servants)
- The Shrink Principle
- Have a website
- 3 day reminder from the billing system
- F*** you, pay me.
- Make sure you get a deposit
- Be helpful and professional
- Punctuality for meetings
- Overused relationship metaphors
- Fire them as soon as possible if it can’t be saved
Picks
- (Evan)
- (Jeff)
- (Jeff)
- (Jeff)
- (Eric)
- (Eric)
- (Chuck)
- (Chuck)
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
What is your position on signing DNAs with a potential cusotmer?
Since everyone’s DNA is unique, I’m for it.
I have a mutual NDA in my standard contract to help ease client’s minds. I try to avoid one-sided ones as much as I can (e.g. where consultant can’t talk about the client but the client can talk about the consultant).
So great to hear a discussion on these payment issues, as it is something that can really derail someone that is just starting out, or has only one major client. I have my first client that is overdue on 2 invoices, so this podcast is very relevant and helpful.
I like the F#$% You, pay me video from Mike Monteiro, and feel that it does a great job in bolstering one’s confidence as to how to deal with this type of issue, and knowing that it is part of being a professional.
How to deal with late payment is an interesting thing, with some legal implications, some of which are so complicated that it encourages people to just go with an “early payment discount” instead.
I like that you also touched on the fact that you bill for ‘missed meetings’, or other events where you set aside time for them, and they may not have used it wisely. I’ve had a few issues where clients said they were surprised that I invoiced them for the 4hours of calls and emails over a 2 week period. I don’t bill for ‘chit-chat’ time, which is usually the first 15mins of a call, but I will bill for time spent on a 3 way call, waiting for the 3rd party, or time spent reading/answering emails in a long thread. I would like to hear more about how you set your clients expectations regarding your time. (how quickly should they expect you to respond, what you will and won’t bill for, etc)
Great stuff guys,
I am curious how you guys deal with the following scenario:
You have a client, you like the client, you like the idea of the project! But the client wants to go about it the wrong way. In this case, the client wants to implement all these “amazing” features that are going to add no value to the project. No matter how much you explain it to them, they want these features. The good news, you will have work! The bad news, you know its not going to help the project.
Whats your experience?
They’re going to spend the money anyway. Take the work. But continue trying to find ways to influence the customer.
Also, sometimes, it is important to realize that, unlessyo have worked for a wildly successful business, your suggestions may not be as spot on as you think. Be humble. I’ve found this to be a useful lesson for myself.
You have a youtube channel?