Do NOT Let Anyone Do This to You

No One should make you feel this way about your Business!

This article was inspired by a consult with someone this week. What happened on my call this week was something I have experienced many times over the years. A client comes to me for advice on their marketing and their website and in the process, I find out that they don't have control of their website, and even worse, the person who is in control is not listening to them and not doing the requested changes.

This really bothers me because in today's world your website is one of your business assets. And for those of us who do not have a brick and mortar location, it is our brick and mortar store.

When your web person has all the access, all the logins and it is exactly like someone else having the keys to your store and in this case - not letting you in. This is WRONG.

I am not saying that all website people are bad, but as the business owner you need to have some semblance of control on your business.

Yes, the web designers are the people with the expertise, but they should be working in conjunction with you not against you. The case I ran into this week, the owner was asking for changes the person would not do. When we did a review what the web person would setup for her worked against all principles of email marketing and list building which is what the client's goal with the change was. She knew what she wanted, and the person would not do it. What they did was very antiquated and outdated and would never accomplish the client's goals.

This is wrong... your web person needs to be a partner.

When we do websites for clients, we open all the accounts in their names. It is the way I do business. I know that one day they may want to move on, (or I might) and without any access, this can be hard to do. It is not the only way, it is my preference. Many web designers do host accounts for their clients which is fine as long as you follow my two rules below.

If you are working with someone who has all the control on your website, this is fine as long as two things happen:


If you do not own your own hosting account and domain registry, your web person MUST give you a full and complete outline of their backup plan should something happen to them. If they have all the access and cannot access the website on your behalf what will happen? (This is your entire business, your livelihood, you need an answer and a plan.)

When they work with you it needs to be a partnership. When you ask for something they must give reasons why they suggest, or don't suggest, making certain changes you ask and request. They must listen to you and your concerns.

This kind of website - owner relationship is NOT fine if you are not getting these 2 items fulfilled.

What really stood out this week to me was that the person I was talking to was made to feel really small when it came to her website. Small and Inconsequential. It was awful. She felt less smart, less knowledgeable and worse, doubting her abilities.

We build websites, help clients setup email marketing systems, blogging, and social media, and I am certain I have never made a client feel like the lady I was speaking with this week. But I make this promise, I will certainly be on the lookout as to how I do interact with clients and how they feel afterwards.

No one, even if you are indeed clueless about the technical things in life, should feel like this when it comes to their website and business. If you are, I suggest you get a second opinion.


 By Kathy Colaiacovo


Article Source: Do NOT Let Anyone Do This to You