A website client of mine and I met at a restaurant so he could give me photos to put on the site and tell me what he wanted. (I do work from home and often find it more convenient if I drive to a restaurant or coffee shop nearer to the client.)

There, we discussed the pages he wanted, the pictures and video he had for me to go on those pages, etc. The contract that he signed stated that the content was his responsibility, not mine.

Over the course of six months, I consistently had issues getting content from him. He would say, “Oh, that photo was on the thumb drive I gave you,” when it actually wasn’t. I basically built the site with some of his photos and, initially, much of my text content. The six months basically went like this:

Me: “I was wondering if you had the content I need for that page.”

Client: “I am pretty busy right now. I will get it for you tonight.”

A week later:

Me: “Hey, did you happen to get the content for that page I mentioned a week ago?”

Client: “Sorry. Got held up on a big job. I will have it for you this weekend.”

Then, another week went by, and still nothing.

So it went for months. When I was finally down to the last bit of wording I needed for the final page, I sent the following text.

Me: “Hey, if you can give me the text you want on the [page], we can be done with the site.”

Client: “No, we are not done. It is done when it is exactly how I want it. I am not paying you to not finish! To be honest, I don’t even like the site. Are you even licensed to build websites? I could have had this site done a lot sooner at a lower price, and they would have done all the content. Why did I have to do all the work to get you content? And why did we meet at a restaurant? A real business wouldn’t operate like that.”

Me: “…”

This would be a justified homicide, right?

Client: “Great, I like the website design you made, but can you make it nicer?”

Me: “What do you mean?”

Client: “I mean, with nicer colors or shapes.”

Me: “Define ‘nicer’ for me.”

Client: “Something like what you did, but a bit more nice.”

Me: “I’m sorry, that doesn’t quite make sense.”

Client: “I know, it should be, ‘…like what you did, but nicer,’ but you asked for me to make things clearer.”

I’ve been working with a web agency for a long time as a project manager.

We had one project at a very late stage; the website was almost finished, and we only needed textual material from the client, as he indicated that the current website material would be replaced. The client clearly instructed me not to upload the new website with any old information, so we waited for new information to arrive.

Several weeks passed, and one day, we received an angry call from the client.

Client: “Why is my website still not published?”

Me: “We’re still waiting for your new information, as you promised. Can we upload the website with the old information?”

Client: “No.”

Me: “Okay, then please send us the new information. and we’ll publish the website immediately.”

We had two or three similar calls within four months with the same question: why is the website still not published? Eventually, the client even threatened us with delay charges and fines.

After several emails, the client eventually agreed to pass communication over to one of his colleagues, who sent the information immediately, and the new website was finally published.

Related:
Please, Help Me Help You!

My employer asked me to design his website with an “eighties feel” but also wanted it “clean and modern”. After several proposals, he says he’s still not getting the “eighties feel.”

Client: “Eighties — like pirates and quill pens.”

Me: “Oh, you mean the eighteenth century.”

Client: “Yeah, eighteenth century, eighties, same thing.”

Me: “‘The eighties’ generally refers to the 1980s.”

I’ve been working with this client for several months building a website for them. I’m dealing with barely legible emails, attempts to change the hosting with a client who is Internet illiterate, and requests to change things just after I’ve finished them exactly to the previous specifications.

Finally, I think I’ve found my way out of this client relationship.

Me: “Just so you are aware, I’m pretty close to my due date, so I will be taking maternity leave for several months at least, and I don’t know when I’ll be able to do any work on your site. You may want to find a new designer to work with.”

Client: “I’ll wait.”