If you’re into blogging or online business in any serious way, there will likely come a time when you will need an online service provider of some sort. Choosing to do business with someone online has some inherent risks that can end up biting you in the rear end if you’re not careful. Anyone can hang out their shingle online, show some work, and market their services and you have no idea if they’re really a reputable service provider. I regularly get emails from people saying they paid a designer to do their site, and gave them their money, and got much less than they were promised in return. These “designers” then just move on to the next victim and operate with virtual impunity. How do you protect yourself from something like that? 3 ways…
Get it in writing
If you are contracting for any service, online or otherwise, your best protection is to get exactly what is being promised to you in writing. What specifically are they going to do for you? What time frame will they complete it in? How much will it cost and will you be paying for part of the service up front? How long do you have to work the kinks out? If you have a WordPress theme designed, for example, most designers will set a given time frame after project completion for problems with the theme to be fixed at no charge.
Also, often as part of the quote or contract process, the service provider should give you their address and phone number. Check the address- is it real? How would you contact them if they stopped responding to your emails? If you needed to sue them for breach of contract, would you even be able to find them?
Check their references
When a company hires an employee, they invariably request and check references. In the same way, you are hiring someone to work for you and unless someone has referred them to you, you have no idea what they’re like to work with and if they’ll deliver on their promises. Any reputable designer, developer, or other online service provider will be happy to give you the contact information for several past customers. This is extremely important, and yet almost no one asks me for references.
Educate yourself
It can be difficult for those who are less technical to work in this online environment. Often, bloggers are great writers, but get a sort of “deer in the headlights” look when it comes to the more technical aspects of a blogging platform or web site, which is totally understandable. These people are particularly easy for these disreputable serivce providers to prey upon. It’s like a woman who doesn’t know much about cars going to Jiffy Lube to get an oil change and they tell her she needs a new air filter and some hose replaced. How is she to know if they’re telling the truth or just trying to take her money? If you know virtually nothing about the service you’re purchasing you are particularly vulnerable. Read WordPress For Dummies,
Another part of educating yourself is to get several quotes for the service. Find several designers you like, who are accepting new clients, and ask each for a quote. A standard number of quotes is usually 3-4 to get a good feel for what a good price is for the service you’re contracting for. Remember though, you often get what you pay for. The best people are in high demand – remember that stuff you learned about supply and demand in high school?
Has this happened to you?
Have you ever been screwed by an online service provider? If so, what would you do differently if you got a “do over”?
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Those are definitely top three things that should be on every client’s mind when hiring a designer.
I would also add another one: Chemistry and Professionalism.
If talking to a designer you get lots of inquisitive and insightful questions about your business and your site needs, if after talking to a designer you feel that you’ve actually learned something new about what you’ll need to have in your site and how you can benefit from it, if you feel the right chemistry sparks between you and the designer, if you’re treated with respect and professionalism, then you’re definitely on the right path.
Just don’t let the cheapest quote, the shortest time frame and ‘Yes’ to all your Can-you-do-that questions fool you.
And of course, ask to see the sample sites from the designer’s portfolio. But if that portfolio doesn’t include any sport sites and you’re after one, it doesn’t mean that that designer is incapable of designing one. However, if the portfolio or the skill set never included working on an e-commerce site and it’s what your site needs to have, you’ll be better off looking for someone more experienced with that kind of a job.
Thanks Vivien, for that addition. I totally agree.
Totally agree with your, and Vivien’s tips but as one of those web designers who ‘hangs out their shingle online’ (LOL) I’d say it’s gotta work both ways. I get a lot of enquires via my website (mostly tyre-kickers to be honest) but some have turned into paying clients, either a one-off project or on-going work. Much as I would always have a written agreement prior to commencement, I have to trust that the client will pay. Occasionally I request part-payment upfront (as a safeguard) but sometimes, when the work is required same-day or same-week, there’s simply no time to receive payment in advance. So it is chemistry and professionalism that comes into play – in both directions.
@Henrik – good point. While it’s never happened to me personally, I know it’s easy to get screwed by clients as well.
Unfortunately, it happened to me twice when I was running a marketing agency in London in the late 90s. And after the first time, we realized not even the courts could help since the clients in question had simply dissolved their original business entities on one day and started up again with a different name the next ie. there was no-one to sue in the eyes of the law! Thoughts of baseball bats did occur. Momentarily
These are great tips. It’s quite important to thoroughly research references and get a good idea of who you are signing up with.
There is a marketing company we have used that said oh by the way we will guarantee you top sponsored positions in your search terms for a lump of $4000 the company is wisdek dot com I want no link strength to go the liars.. we after several attempts to get them to do what they say just agve up.. My question or maybee word of advise to anyone is don’t listen to anyone that guarantees you a top sponsored listing for a whole year and says that they have special relations with google to get you more.. guess the old saying sounds too good to be true it probably is.. I like your posts.. this company is in canada and I am in the USA so there is no recourse and they know it… take a look at my site it will atleast give me some juice here I have looked at all of your links, so thanks and have a great night Patrick http://www.chem-dry.net/brownsIV.ga
I’ve previously found the need to outsource specific design work, but thankfully, this hasn’t happened to me.
Vivien makes a great addition to your pointers, and I’ve offered my own take in an article linked to through my name (choosing a logo designer).
Thanks for the tips – references are efficient.
http://www.swannetoscar.com
Getting it in writing doesnt always help.If the rogue doesnt do the work it is difficul to get the money back unless you use a third party.Quite often I have to deal with artists who are in other countries and our laws mean nothing to them.
habby dhillon
Thanks Randa for the useful tips about how not to get cheated by an online company. I was duped by some online outsourcing companes, but I learned a lesson. I now get my jobs done by freelancers or companies who have a good reputation on sites like elancer.com or rentacoder.com.
Wordpress for Dummies is really a great reference book for the beginners. Two thumbs up for this book!
Great article! One other idea, don’t forget about your friends. As in most things in life, word of mouth usually helps make sure all of the tips above come out successful.
Absolutely always work under the protection of a signed contract. It protects both parties should things start to go sideways.
Great little article. There are a lot more caveats, but these are some of the big ones.
Another note on references… don’t limit yourself to the hand-picked references provided by the designer. For all you know, it could be their mom and their best friend under fictitious business names. Check out their portfolio, and drop an email to some of the clients represented there.
Say something along the lines of “I saw some of the work X company did for you on their portfolio – it looks excellent. I’m considering hiring them myself. How did you find working with them?”
And there are tons of other ways to check up on them beforehand, too. A simple Google search for the company or designer’s name can yield some very informative results.
Testimonials pages are a good start too. Good ones provide names so you can track them to actual people.
http://www.sagemedia.ca
Great points. I never do web design work without listing everything in writing, so that expectations are correctly set – and met. If my work ever comes short of the client’s expectations, I make the changes necessary to make them 100% satisfied with the website. Most solutions on the web are made to be cheap and restrictive, though, which tends to disappoint, every time.
Absolutely get it in writing! I contracted a designer to create a new logo for us a few years ago, and after putting down a hefty deposit, the designer sent me a “proof” via email of a .bmp file, I didn’t like it, and never heard from her again. Unfortunately, I didn’t get it in writing, and I didn’t get my logo I needed or my money back..
I’m glad you wrote this article. I have an at home business and I hired a gal to do my zen cart for my shop. Well, needless to say, she did a lot of things, then had every excuse under the sun why she was late or didn’t get the email. I always get it in writing from now on.
I was able to find a great web designer. I hired Mike Cherim to design my Wordpress blog and he was easy to deal with, honest, and professional. Take a look at my site if you want to see his work.
I’d say the number one thing to look for is an honest up-front proposal/response from an outsourcer. Crazy promises or vague concepts equal trouble.
-S
I try to do as much research as possible on any business transaction I do online. You always need to be wary and if possible learn to do it yourself.
Great points. I never do web design work without listing everything in writing, so that expectations are correctly set – and met. If my work ever comes short of the client’s expectations, I make the changes necessary to make them 100% satisfied with the website. Most solutions on the web are made to be cheap and restrictive, though, which tends to disappoint, every time
I have always wanted to work right on my link building task..and yearning to see great SEO results for my blogs. I can see that your references here are surely great stuff to gather tips and advices on this regard.
I am involved in offshore web development since 2003 and found it a reliable business model unless you clear your online service requirements on start. So requirements finalization is necessary
The designer I worked with was awesome. I could not have asked for more. However, finding a local SEO expert was not possible and I ran into some less than honest people on the web.
Thank you for posting this information. I have not too long ago opened an online shop to sell my handcrafted jewelry, and while I know a lot about the creative end, I still have lots to learn about the business part. I’d much rather learn this way than the hard way!
I used the name of my blog–don’t ban me
I would like to comment on Web Hosting Providers. I have had my fill of experience over the past year and would like to report on them.
First, when you read online reviews of web hosting, check the source!
Many create their own sites and flood them with positive comments.
I have had a miserable experience with iPower–don’t use them.
So, I switched to Fused and they are great. The öwner of the company actually answers the phone and calls you back.
I have also had a positive experience with godaddy.com, even though I have read some negative feedback.
And know this…you need to learn all you can so you will not have to wait forever on tech support calls!
My two cents.
Cheers,
Richard
http://www.bedava-ligtv.com
Good tips. These tips can be use in other business. Recently, I imported some stuff from India via internet. In the beginning, everything is ok. All email and phone call are reply. But after D/P payed, production delayed and delivery are delayed until 2 months more. I got P/O in writing too, but not mentioned what consequence if delayed.
I have always wanted to work right on my link building task..and yearning to see great SEO results for my blogs. I can see that your references here are surely great stuff to gather tips and advices on this regard.
http://www.kepaze.org
[...] It does not follow however, that just because someone charges high fees, that those fees are justified and that they will be great to work with and you will get a high quality result. There are plenty of people out there charging WAY too much for what they provide. Get references, examine their portfolio, and do your due diligence in order to protect yourself. [...]
@Chanie – you are so right about the additional references. Great point. Googling them is another outstanding idea. Thanks!