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That client who asked for 3 revisions before I started
Had a potential client last month want a detailed outline of every deliverable before signing anything. I spent 4 hours putting it together then they ghosted. Now I treat excessive pre-work questions as a red flag, has anyone else had this happen?
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white.keith4d agoMost Upvoted
The 4 hour outline thing hits close to home. I had a guy ask for a full mockup of three different design directions before he'd even agree to a rate. I spent a weekend on it and he came back saying he "went another direction." Now I tell them I can do a 30 minute call to talk through the big picture, but detailed outlines come after a signed agreement and a deposit. Keeps the time wasters away.
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viola_garcia563d ago
Yeah that outline thing is exactly what happened to my buddy who does graphic design. Some guy wanted a full brand guide before even talking about money. He spent a week on it, sent it over, and the dude just said "thanks" and never replied. My buddy checked back a month later and saw the guy had a new logo that was basically a cheaper ripoff of his work. That's why I always tell people to get something in writing first. A 30 minute call to feel them out, that's fine. But detailed work? That costs.
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the 30 minute call thing works but how do you get them to agree to that without them thinking youre being dodgy? like i run into people who act like if you wont do free work upfront you must be a scammer or something. what do you say when they push back on that?
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coleman.hannah3d ago
That bit about the three different design directions before agreeing to a rate is exactly what I read in a small business blog last week, they called it "spec work" and warned it's almost never worth your time. Your 30 minute call rule sounds like a solid way to filter that out.
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