Thread

A curiosity question…

Those of you who design websites, do you pay for the creation of a hosting account and then let the customer reimburse you or do you walk the customer through and let them do it themselves?

The latter - so everything is in their name from the get-go.

I had a client who had to take his previous developer to court to get access to his own site.

Most of our clients hate doing anything remotely technical. We manage their domains and hosting in our grid.

The latter - so everything is in their name from the get-go.

I had a client who had to take his previous developer to court to get access to his own site.

Ditto.

I’ll set it up for some clients, then hand it over and continue to work, so I have plenty of access, but the client needs to have full control over everything whether they ever use it or not varies from client to client.

I do all the set up, but once the site is complete I hand it over to them with instructions to change their passwords so I no longer have access.

I either walk the client through the process or do it for them with their credit card.  Once everything is configured, I make up a password list that includes everything they would need if they decide to turn it over to to a new developer, e.g. database and ftp login, etc.

Most of our clients hate doing anything remotely technical. We manage their domains and hosting in our grid.

How do you deal with their fear of “everything being in your hands” and therefor everything is your fault? Doesn’t this leave room for disputes if you eg. don’t deliver on the website design? It seems little easier to walk away from failed website project vs. entire domain registration email etc.

Anything you can share?
Thanks!

How do you deal with their fear of “everything being in your hands” and therefor everything is your fault? Doesn’t this leave room for disputes if you eg. don’t deliver on the website design? It seems little easier to walk away from failed website project vs. entire domain registration email etc.

Anything you can share?
Thanks!

Well their is always a fear but you really can’t think that way. We offer full service so we handle everything domain name, setting up emails, hosting, the design and the development as well as the updates unless they are on EE then they update it themselves of course. The one thing you have to keep in mind is your contract if you have everything spelled out then you don’t have to worry. The client knows what they are getting and you know what you need to provide. Also a key thing to do is under promise and over deliver just in case something funky would happen in the long run. Plus you need to build a relationship with your client so they trust you in every aspect of there business and yours.

Thanks pengwnfistoffury,
I had very similar thoughts as the few threads found on forums.
I think I have a bit of aftertaste of a self-hosted client who refuses to open ftp but rather uses email for file transfer…aghh the development speeds are…ehm.
So sometimes hosting for the client(<- thanks Roi for the post) may not be a bad deal even though a bit more work.
Thanks for sharing.

The one thing you have to keep in mind is your contract if you have everything spelled out then you don’t have to worry. The client knows what they are getting and you know what you need to provide.

While I certainly agree with the need to have a well-written contract, the fact of the matter is that written language is an imprecise means for conveying absolutes (hence lawyers).  Add to that the fact that some clients will always interpret things in their favor, and you have the basis for disagreement (hence lawyers).  Just an observation.. 😊

Also a key thing to do is under promise and over deliver just in case something funky would happen in the long run. Plus you need to build a relationship with your client so they trust you in every aspect of there business and yours.

I agree completely.  A relationship built upon trust and mutual respect will go a long ways towards avoiding unpleasant situations that might arise as a result of misunderstandings (ergo, no need for lawyers!)