I'm doing some market research on the biggest challenges of being a solo entrepreneur in the web development profession. Would love to hear from you: What are your biggest challenges? Bad clients? Not enough clients? Too much business one month, not enough the next? Doing your own bookkeeping (or any non-web related task you have to do to be in business)? Business partners (formal or not) that don't do what they say they are going to do? Thanks in advance for your candid responses! Terri Zwierzynski
I've been working for myself for eight years...I'd answer all of the above. Personally what I hate the most is sort of a combo of what you listed. Everything comes and goes and it's easier to deal with once you're use to it, but nothing annoys me as much as CLIENTS that don't do what they say they are going to do (and then can't admit they did something different). *sigh*
One thing that has really bothered me is those people that go to all the trouble of getting a quote from me and then don't even send any notification of whether they'll be using our services or not. I had 1 guy who had set up a meeting to discuss the possibility of getting a website and didn't even turn up.(no call either) Now that was a wasted 4 hours of my time!!
Terriz you mentioned in the intro thread you would post some articles ..I would like to see that. I need more on time management then on client relations..I have the best clients in the world. Because I am so good I can pick and choose Boy am a conceded. But it is true
Clients not getting you promised content Clients not doing what they say they will Clients changing their minds mind stream Clients having extremely unrealistic expectations Clients... Clients... Clients...
I find the greatest challnges are: 1) Fast changing environment - what is popular today will not be popular tomorrow without major modifications 2) Server environments - there are so many possible server configurations, and there is no end to supporting each and every one of them :; 3) Squeaky wheels - it seems like the people who try to get a good deal from you are often the same ones that request the most support.
One thing that has really drove me crazy just recently is my clients employees emailing me telling me that meta tags are important for the search engines lol. Man you can't beat that cheek!
I would suggest you put in writing what you will and won't do for specified price before you start and also suggest you receive a down payment on work before you begin. If you are hosting on reseller account get it in writing that web will be taken down on certain day if payment not received. Also discuss who is to register domain. If they register warn them what happens if they fail to renew. Be sure to come to understanding on maintenance plan for web as well. Good luck with your endeavor. Shannon
hmmmm let guess which of you guys uses pepper and tweezers to get the pages of your play boys wet? Because it's hard (if you remember that far back)to get the big picture when you have such a small screen.