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What do you do when a client starts treating you like their lowest priority?
It depends on what you've agreed to.
But even if you have the worst agreement in the world, you still have some options.
A thread
It depends on what you've agreed to.
But even if you have the worst agreement in the world, you still have some options.
A thread
“The Case of the Slow-to-Respond Client”
Issue: What to do when a client does not respond in a timely manner during a typical progress/feedback project with a fixed price.
Issue: What to do when a client does not respond in a timely manner during a typical progress/feedback project with a fixed price.
Background
- you have an agreement with a client to provide a website (or logo, or marketing copy) for a fixed price
- you have a design concept in your head and you want to work with it a bit before showing the client for approval
- you have an agreement with a client to provide a website (or logo, or marketing copy) for a fixed price
- you have a design concept in your head and you want to work with it a bit before showing the client for approval
Background (cont'd)
- you might also need certain materials (images, reports, stakeholder approval, etc.) to complete your task and the client has agreed to get you these
- you might also need certain materials (images, reports, stakeholder approval, etc.) to complete your task and the client has agreed to get you these
The current situation
- you have delivered your first cut/draft and you want feedback/approval so you can continue with your design and ultimately complete the project and get paid
- you expect the client to review what you have sent quickly and then to send you their feedback
- you have delivered your first cut/draft and you want feedback/approval so you can continue with your design and ultimately complete the project and get paid
- you expect the client to review what you have sent quickly and then to send you their feedback
The problem (from your perspective)
- your client is not providing timely feedback
- several days go by without any word, despite emails
- they seem to have lost focus/interest
- other concerns seem to have pushed your project down in priority in their eyes
- your client is not providing timely feedback
- several days go by without any word, despite emails
- they seem to have lost focus/interest
- other concerns seem to have pushed your project down in priority in their eyes
The real problem
- you just don't know what has changed for them
- and you can't continue without them
- you are becoming alarmed that the client has soured on the project, or on your work so far, or on you personally
- anything you try to get movement makes things worse
- you just don't know what has changed for them
- and you can't continue without them
- you are becoming alarmed that the client has soured on the project, or on your work so far, or on you personally
- anything you try to get movement makes things worse
In a nutshell
- you and your client are no longer on the same side of the project
- the project is in jeopardy of not being completed
How should you deal with this?
- you and your client are no longer on the same side of the project
- the project is in jeopardy of not being completed
How should you deal with this?
Approach #1: Stop Work. Partially Bill. Wait to Resume
- find out what has changed (if you can)
- offer to postpone the project until their schedule allows for it to be properly considered
- submit an invoice for work to date (if allowed for in your agreement)
- find out what has changed (if you can)
- offer to postpone the project until their schedule allows for it to be properly considered
- submit an invoice for work to date (if allowed for in your agreement)
Approach #2: Stop Work. Wait to Resume.
- announce that you are putting the project on hold, pending feedback from them, as stated in the agreement
- announce that all due dates of deliverables have been moved accordingly
- announce that you are putting the project on hold, pending feedback from them, as stated in the agreement
- announce that all due dates of deliverables have been moved accordingly
Approach #3: Attempt to Revitalize Client Interest
- get excited about the project again! Envision it succeeding wildly!
- see if you can add to the project to make that happen
- arrange for a 15-minute meeting with the client and impart your vision and enthusiasm liberally
- get excited about the project again! Envision it succeeding wildly!
- see if you can add to the project to make that happen
- arrange for a 15-minute meeting with the client and impart your vision and enthusiasm liberally
Which approach should you use? ... it depends,
Choose Option 1 or 2 if you think the client will eventually get back to this project and you're willing to wait. You simply stop working on this project.
Choose Option 1 if you can bill for progress, otherwise choose Option 2.
Choose Option 1 or 2 if you think the client will eventually get back to this project and you're willing to wait. You simply stop working on this project.
Choose Option 1 if you can bill for progress, otherwise choose Option 2.
Note: If you don't have in your agreement now that you can bill for work in progress, be sure to add it next time. It gives you some leverage when this sort of thing happens
Please note that you should expect delays in this kind of work. Your client's priorities can change just like your priorities can change.
Choose Option 3 if you believe there is no hope of getting the client back on track by just waiting.
If you get excited and you communicate effectively the 'why', then show them how that excitement might be achieved, you just might get their attention and cooperation again.
If you get excited and you communicate effectively the 'why', then show them how that excitement might be achieved, you just might get their attention and cooperation again.
