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My Brother/Friend/Father-In-Law is Building It for Me...
by Babs Rudlin - SEO Consultant

I hear these words nearly every week, either in a condescending tone from a potential client (very annoying), in a frustrated tone from a new client or in some cases it is yelled at me from across the room in desperation!

Lets look at these cases in turn as I feel that we can all learn from them, myself included.

"I don't need you! My husband is a webdesigner!"

I can hear the mockery in the lady's voice, I feel about 'this big' (you can't see what I am doing but you know what I mean). Basically this type of response is not uncommon - but it is MEAN! There is no need to be rude when someone speaks to you in person, or by phone.

In the case of the lady who 6 months ago laughed in my face (not literally I was on the telephone at the time) I recently went back to see what her husband had designed for her....

I was not impressed - the site was there but only just. Lost of ugly font, no artwork and no content to speak of (just lots of text such as 'lamps will go here', 'cards will go here') apart from a phone number and a link to the "Webmaster". I have no idea which web company this gentleman works for - but this quality of work would not be acceptable at Fiery Phoenix.

"Thank Goodness I found you - my Father-In-Law was looking after my Site!"

This again another common theme, having used the services of a friend or relative my clients seem to have found that it just isn't working out for them. Everyone also seems to think they are the only person to whom this has happened; yet I hear this all the time from a wide variety of business areas.

Mainly the complaints about said friend or relation are:

"I can't get them to do anything!"

"The first version was fine but I need it changed now"

"They keep saying they will - but nothing happens"

"It's like hitting my head against a brick wall... I say what I want then they go of and do something completely different!"

"I'm too embarrassed to tell her not to do it. She is not as good as she thinks and I don't want to hurt her feelings... "

My personal favourite...

"They haven't spoken to me for 10 years and now I want to change something they have given me a huge bill and refuse to do anything until I pay it!"

In this case the "friend" pulled the site without warning leaving the individual concerned high and dry.

It it a pity that family and friends cannot always be relied upon to produce the goods when needed. However that is always a risk when getting something for nothing, or almost free. If their business is web design their paying clients will always, and from a business point of view, MUST come first.

If you are lucky enough to have reliable friends and relatives who will do as you ask, when you ask, you are fortunate indeed! (Although a rare breed).

For most it seems that the 'cheaper option' isn't always the easiest and certainly not the best for your business in the long run.