Let`s say a customer asks you to take pictures on their homepage and you find that the images are protected by copyright. Telling your customer that you can`t use them is in the best interest of you, your customer, and the person who created the images. Not only is it advisable to conclude commercial contracts in writing, but certain types of contracts must also be written to be enforceable. These include (but are not limited to) contracts for the sale of real estate, real estate leases for more than one year, and agreements to settle someone else`s debts. In addition, some contracts for the sale of goods under the Unified Commercial Code – such as the sale of goods for a price of $500 or more – must be in writing. Customers have no idea what really goes into designing a logo or creating a website. You trust that you will guide, educate and facilitate the process. If there is confusion or misunderstanding, especially about what they receive for their investment, it will be your fault. The customer will get angry, confront you, and not referencing anything in writing can be almost impossible to save this relationship. Other problematic requests can include spam behavior, hidden links, “invisible” text, and similar deception tactics. In some cases, your customer may not even recognize the problems with what they have asked for.
I can`t tell you how many times I`ve thought about this story while dealing with different types of clients. “Leave it blank, John!” I`m going to take a picture by replying to an email. (Of course, “John” never hears me say that.) Whatever the problem, it usually has nothing to do with leaving form fields blank, but I know what I mean. I am dealing with a client who lacks education on one aspect of web design or website functionality. Some customers will rely on your expertise and follow your example to solve the problem easily. Others may insist that things be their way. In this case, there is nothing wrong with avoiding further conflicts by yielding. One of the ultimate advantages of written contracts in commercial transactions is the ability to accept confidentiality and secrecy provisions for the protection of classified information. Under the Agreement, the parties concerned are required by law to keep secret the transactions involved and the information exchanged between them, and the party in breach of this confidentiality agreement would be held liable under the Agreement. Therefore, it is really important to be clear in your contract what you offer and what you do not offer so that you can properly define the scope and price. A formalized customer agreement is the way to do this and can be used as a reference point if confusion arises throughout the process.
Remember that if you approach your customer agreements in a firm, fair and friendly manner and use them as a positive reference document for clear communication, you will create a solid foundation for long-term success and customer satisfaction. One evening, I get a call from Cathy. She is panicked about a form she has to fill out in a music book program. The form is pretty standard and contains optional fields that she could leave blank if she wanted to. But Cathy doesn`t know and can`t understand the concept. “What should I do with it?” she asks. “Leave it blank, Cathy,” I replied. “But he needs [any irrelevant information]!” she shouts. “Leave it empty, Cathy,” I said again. In my experience, it is really possible to work in partnership with your client. This allows you to explain your design decisions and better understand your customers` business and user goals.
The ideal relationship is a matter of collaboration, not confrontation. — Paul Boag Use it to set clear expectations and boundaries with customers so they don`t email you on Friday nights and get angry if you don`t respond on Saturday morning, even if they see you online via social media. Despite your best privacy advice, design efforts, and security measures, there may be times when a future customer tries to blame you in the event of a privacy dispute or security breach. You can take preventative steps in advance to reduce your own potential liability, such as: Ultimately, if a customer`s website goes down, they`ll contact you to get answers or to blame someone. You can save yourself a lot of time and hassle by advising against queries that hurt search engine optimization (SEO) or conversion rates as soon as they appear. This article does not replace professional legal advice. This section does not establish an attorney-client relationship or an invitation to legal advice. If a client takes up a large portion of your time, you also have less availability for other projects. If meeting a customer`s requirements interferes with your ability to generate revenue or meet other obligations, it`s probably not worth doing so. The more you can educate your customer, translate computer/internet jargon into everyday plain language, and allow your customer to learn more about web best practices and the benefits of regular updates (news, product updates, blogs, social media, etc.), the more you will be considered an important business partner.
— Jared White Think about what the most unrealistic, misinformed, and persevering customer you can imagine could ask for. .