Comments on: The Good Client vs The Bad Client http://www.intothemountain.com/the-good-client-vs-the-bad-client/ Real People. Real Stories. Real Success. How not to fly your business into the mountain Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:18:28 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Na http://www.intothemountain.com/the-good-client-vs-the-bad-client/comment-page-1/#comment-175 Na Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:35:35 +0000 http://www.intothemountain.com/?p=1025#comment-175 I'm already following a sort of 'Arts Hub' plan. As I saw the content side of my site grow, I've decided to make it separate, and focus on 'shop' and 'blog' (my version of 'job' and 'news'). At the moment, I think I'm struggling with finding a good plan/balance between producing products, and producing content. Especially as I also need to market my products more. I know my patterns sell really well, but physical puppets need a boost in marketing. So if I get sales from either the content or the products, they kind of help each other in terms of being financially self-sustaining. <br><br>... Anyway, it's all a bit muddled in my head right now, so a brainstorm with you guys would certainly help me a lot. I'm already following a sort of 'Arts Hub' plan. As I saw the content side of my site grow, I've decided to make it separate, and focus on 'shop' and 'blog' (my version of 'job' and 'news'). At the moment, I think I'm struggling with finding a good plan/balance between producing products, and producing content. Especially as I also need to market my products more. I know my patterns sell really well, but physical puppets need a boost in marketing. So if I get sales from either the content or the products, they kind of help each other in terms of being financially self-sustaining.

… Anyway, it's all a bit muddled in my head right now, so a brainstorm with you guys would certainly help me a lot.

]]> By: fionaboyd http://www.intothemountain.com/the-good-client-vs-the-bad-client/comment-page-1/#comment-173 fionaboyd Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:17:24 +0000 http://www.intothemountain.com/?p=1025#comment-173 It definitely sounds as if the interest is building. We'll have info up next week - maybe consider booking a 2 hour slot and brainstorming a range of options and discounting what's been tried already and refine to some revenue options that could unleash a bit more revenue potential. Anyway, food for thought. Also worth just being kind to yourself - you're doing good because the audience keeps coming! Now how to build out a bit from there and make it financially self-sustaining? It definitely sounds as if the interest is building. We'll have info up next week – maybe consider booking a 2 hour slot and brainstorming a range of options and discounting what's been tried already and refine to some revenue options that could unleash a bit more revenue potential. Anyway, food for thought. Also worth just being kind to yourself – you're doing good because the audience keeps coming! Now how to build out a bit from there and make it financially self-sustaining?

]]> By: Na http://www.intothemountain.com/the-good-client-vs-the-bad-client/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Na Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:44:40 +0000 http://www.intothemountain.com/?p=1025#comment-172 Good point: previously I tried doing a sort of membership only thing for $15 (lifetime access for more content) but it didn't seem popular. I know people would be interested in a magazine, but for me it's too much time/effort for not a lot of profit. Hopefully after a while the micropayments will work. Tinkering is definitely what I'm doing right now!<br><br>As for costs, that's my main concern. Last year saw a tripling of my site stats, and the only thing holding me back on increasing it is my bandwidth limit. I think I've upgraded my hosting about 4 or 5 times (had to move to US servers recently because I hit the limit on the Aus. plans!). So I know I can have a good content site, it's just a matter of making it pay for itself now.<br><br>I'll definitely be reading about your rates: I probably can't afford it, but will be keeping it in mind for sure! Good point: previously I tried doing a sort of membership only thing for $15 (lifetime access for more content) but it didn't seem popular. I know people would be interested in a magazine, but for me it's too much time/effort for not a lot of profit. Hopefully after a while the micropayments will work. Tinkering is definitely what I'm doing right now!

As for costs, that's my main concern. Last year saw a tripling of my site stats, and the only thing holding me back on increasing it is my bandwidth limit. I think I've upgraded my hosting about 4 or 5 times (had to move to US servers recently because I hit the limit on the Aus. plans!). So I know I can have a good content site, it's just a matter of making it pay for itself now.

I'll definitely be reading about your rates: I probably can't afford it, but will be keeping it in mind for sure!

]]> By: fionaboyd http://www.intothemountain.com/the-good-client-vs-the-bad-client/comment-page-1/#comment-171 fionaboyd Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:09:43 +0000 http://www.intothemountain.com/?p=1025#comment-171 Hi Na, I think being prepared to experiment and test things out is really key. If you keep the costs down and tinker a bit and get some positive results, then you know that it's worth investing more time and a bit more money running with the change. However if it falls on deafening silence, tis probably best left alone. We'll have info up on the site next week about how to hire us for short term or casual advisory or coaching. Good luck with the challenges and never give up. Have added that post notion to my list. Hi Na, I think being prepared to experiment and test things out is really key. If you keep the costs down and tinker a bit and get some positive results, then you know that it's worth investing more time and a bit more money running with the change. However if it falls on deafening silence, tis probably best left alone. We'll have info up on the site next week about how to hire us for short term or casual advisory or coaching. Good luck with the challenges and never give up. Have added that post notion to my list.

]]> By: Na http://www.intothemountain.com/the-good-client-vs-the-bad-client/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Na Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:34:40 +0000 http://www.intothemountain.com/?p=1025#comment-169 That's true, and I've been meaning to ask your (you and David's) advice for a while now and keep getting distracted. Reading this stuff does help as it touches on a lot of topics I've been learning the hard way lately. <br><br>Basically my current situation is paying for an increasingly popular content site on puppetry; but not being able to afford it. I'm turning to micropayment tutorials and/or patterns to keep it going. It's new and I honestly am not sure how well it will work. We both know getting people to pay even a little bit is like pulling teeth. ... Anyway, I'm currently in the middle of splitting off the 'content' from my site and putting it on another one!<br><br>Definitely write a post about how to spot a crappy client. I seem to be very bad at it! :) That's true, and I've been meaning to ask your (you and David's) advice for a while now and keep getting distracted. Reading this stuff does help as it touches on a lot of topics I've been learning the hard way lately.

Basically my current situation is paying for an increasingly popular content site on puppetry; but not being able to afford it. I'm turning to micropayment tutorials and/or patterns to keep it going. It's new and I honestly am not sure how well it will work. We both know getting people to pay even a little bit is like pulling teeth. … Anyway, I'm currently in the middle of splitting off the 'content' from my site and putting it on another one!

Definitely write a post about how to spot a crappy client. I seem to be very bad at it! :)

]]> By: fionaboyd http://www.intothemountain.com/the-good-client-vs-the-bad-client/comment-page-1/#comment-168 fionaboyd Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:11:08 +0000 http://www.intothemountain.com/?p=1025#comment-168 You know that it doesn't really matter what you can afford, one always needs access to good advice. No matter how high you fly, there are always those around you who have knowhow in different areas that can help you. Good luck with your site and we hope that Into the Mountain can help throw light from time-to-time on how to make it exactly as you want it to be. Undercutting sucks and I'm on a mission to not ever engage with a bad client ever again. BTW that reminds me of how do you figure out the 'bad client' in the courting process - now that might be a post! You know that it doesn't really matter what you can afford, one always needs access to good advice. No matter how high you fly, there are always those around you who have knowhow in different areas that can help you. Good luck with your site and we hope that Into the Mountain can help throw light from time-to-time on how to make it exactly as you want it to be. Undercutting sucks and I'm on a mission to not ever engage with a bad client ever again. BTW that reminds me of how do you figure out the 'bad client' in the courting process – now that might be a post!

]]> By: Na http://www.intothemountain.com/the-good-client-vs-the-bad-client/comment-page-1/#comment-165 Na Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:04:19 +0000 http://www.intothemountain.com/?p=1025#comment-165 I wish I had the money to hire you guys: I definitely need to pick your brains about my own site. But then, if I had the money, I probably wouldn't need your help! :)<br><br>Your comments about good/bad clients are so true. The number of artistic projects that I've had fail or become frustrating have always been down to other people's expectations and undercutting true pricing. I wish I had the money to hire you guys: I definitely need to pick your brains about my own site. But then, if I had the money, I probably wouldn't need your help! :)

Your comments about good/bad clients are so true. The number of artistic projects that I've had fail or become frustrating have always been down to other people's expectations and undercutting true pricing.

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