Comments on: Websites Are Like Buses… http://ionfish.co.uk/2005/11/websites-are-like-buses/ Stating the obvious since 1982 Mon, 09 Oct 2006 22:37:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Lauchlin http://ionfish.co.uk/2005/11/websites-are-like-buses/#comment-137 Tue, 15 Nov 2005 19:14:33 +0000 http://ionfish.co.uk/2005/11/websites-are-like-buses/#comment-137 Being the developer, you should stand firm in your deadlines. I like the idea above regarding just telling them, if you make me wait, I make you wait. For, in the long run, you are developing for more than one client, and they should know you have a business to run just as much as they do. If you stagger your deadlines and then give them a window of opportunity (i.e. making the deadline a few days long) , then you could have the time to devote to the one project. If the client needs it now, bump them up in priority and notify the other clients accordingly. It can be tough, as most clients always want priority, but if you clarify to your clients that these deadlines are in place so that you can provide a quality product, then they might adhere to those deadlines and alleviate this problem all together. Being the developer, you should stand firm in your deadlines. I like the idea above regarding just telling them, if you make me wait, I make you wait. For, in the long run, you are developing for more than one client, and they should know you have a business to run just as much as they do.

If you stagger your deadlines and then give them a window of opportunity (i.e. making the deadline a few days long) , then you could have the time to devote to the one project. If the client needs it now, bump them up in priority and notify the other clients accordingly.

It can be tough, as most clients always want priority, but if you clarify to your clients that these deadlines are in place so that you can provide a quality product, then they might adhere to those deadlines and alleviate this problem all together.

]]> by: Jeremiah http://ionfish.co.uk/2005/11/websites-are-like-buses/#comment-135 Mon, 14 Nov 2005 06:20:47 +0000 http://ionfish.co.uk/2005/11/websites-are-like-buses/#comment-135 I have run into this more times that I would like to admit. In the end the client just needs to know that they have a responsibility to this project the same as you. They need to hold up thier end regardless and if they can't. Tuff I have run into this more times that I would like to admit. In the end the client just needs to know that they have a responsibility to this project the same as you. They need to hold up thier end regardless and if they can’t. Tuff

]]> by: allgood2 http://ionfish.co.uk/2005/11/websites-are-like-buses/#comment-134 Fri, 11 Nov 2005 15:23:52 +0000 http://ionfish.co.uk/2005/11/websites-are-like-buses/#comment-134 Contracts are good, but in truth they only help some. From my experience, even with clients that have dedicate time to a web project, we eventually hit a stage (section, pages, etc.) that they hadn't thought about, and it takes forever to get content for it. I often, do temporary write-ups of pages and or sections just to get content in. The good clients, then just edit, write anew, copy and paste, etc. The bad, just complain that the content isn't the way they want it. Despite my, "well, your suppose to write something and deliver it." The problem often stems from smaller clients can't devote a person to a single job, which makes responsiveness, just darn flaky. Then as they're response overlaps with new projects, all of a sudden your feeling flaky, but the reality is their time line has passed, your just making secondary accommodations. Contracts are good, but in truth they only help some. From my experience, even with clients that have dedicate time to a web project, we eventually hit a stage (section, pages, etc.) that they hadn’t thought about, and it takes forever to get content for it. I often, do temporary write-ups of pages and or sections just to get content in. The good clients, then just edit, write anew, copy and paste, etc. The bad, just complain that the content isn’t the way they want it. Despite my, “well, your suppose to write something and deliver it.”

The problem often stems from smaller clients can’t devote a person to a single job, which makes responsiveness, just darn flaky. Then as they’re response overlaps with new projects, all of a sudden your feeling flaky, but the reality is their time line has passed, your just making secondary accommodations.

]]> by: ceejayoz http://ionfish.co.uk/2005/11/websites-are-like-buses/#comment-132 Thu, 10 Nov 2005 01:25:55 +0000 http://ionfish.co.uk/2005/11/websites-are-like-buses/#comment-132 Contracts. Mine specify a timeframe for both the work on _my_ end and the content to be provided on _their_ end. If they're late, they're going to have to wait in line until I'm ready to work on their site again. Contracts. Mine specify a timeframe for both the work on my end and the content to be provided on their end.

If they’re late, they’re going to have to wait in line until I’m ready to work on their site again.

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