Re: Advice for perpetuity?

I usually offer the advice on simple matters, but lead with something like "...are you looking for just a little free advice, or are did you want to hire me for in-depth help...?"

Most of them seem to take the hint...maybe I have been lucky?  Still, I have extra options I can use....like the old standby: 

"...I'm a bit tied up right now.  Would you please email me a description of the problem, and I'll try to send you my opinion..."

Of course, I don't intentionally put off the average client who is polite and rarely bothers me.  The ones who meet your description, however...asking for deeper help with no offer of recompense...well, sometimes they have to wait until I have some time free to look at their issue...:)

D

On Tue, 22 May 2001 16:32:22 -0500
"Judith C. Kallos" <webmaster(at)theistudio.com> wrote:

:Howdy, all!  ;-)
:
:Since the list has been so quiet as of late I thought I would stir things 
:up. ~:-)
:
:The problem comes with sites I developed literally 2-3 years ago or folks 
:whose only income to my company is that they host sites with one of our 
:partners.   The site owner calls only when they need advise on how to 
:integrate their free or low cost bells and whistles, are stumped on some 
:sort of Web development or marketing issue or require assistance in 
:configing their email program for their new DSL or connectivity (Isn't that 
:what their provider's tech support is for?).
:
:I do not mind at all assisting with the configuration of software for 
:clients in good standing - I do that all the time.  However, I really do 
:not think because you develop someone's site years ago or because they host 
:with one of our partners that entitles them to ongoing, unlimited Web 
:development tech support or "what if's" for perpetuity. 

...

HTML: hwg-business mailing list archives, maintained by Webmasters @ IWA