http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/ Eric Karjaluoto discusses design, brands and experience Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:01:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/#comment-4938 Eric Karjaluoto Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:18:53 +0000 http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/#comment-4938 Hi Iain, Glad to hear that you like the articles. It's nice to hear when people find them helpful. In my mind, you have to "trust your gut" on some occasions; however, it's important to find a way to verbalize these sensations. This can be difficult, but with time you do get better at it. I believe this to be a more persuasive way to gain a client's buy-in on an issue, as it gives them something substantial to fall back on. A feeling may not be enough to persuade them, until you've built a relationship and strong track record with them. Cheers! Eric Hi Iain,

Glad to hear that you like the articles. It's nice to hear when people find them helpful.

In my mind, you have to "trust your gut" on some occasions; however, it's important to find a way to verbalize these sensations. This can be difficult, but with time you do get better at it.

I believe this to be a more persuasive way to gain a client's buy-in on an issue, as it gives them something substantial to fall back on. A feeling may not be enough to persuade them, until you've built a relationship and strong track record with them.

Cheers!

Eric

]]> http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/#comment-4937 Iain Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:28:29 +0000 http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/#comment-4937 Eric, I've just come across ideas on ideas, and am very much enjoying reading your articles - you write very well. I am a web design of growing experience, but no qualification. When a client is making a decision that I feel will damage their performance, I try to generate supported arguments against their chosen route and for an alternative. However, sometimes it just comes down to a feeling - "based on my experience, I feel you will achieve a higher conversion rate with this approach". I'd be interested in whether you find yourself resorting to this argument at times, and how you think one can evaluate whether they have sufficient experience to direct a client such? Cheers, Iain Eric, I've just come across ideas on ideas, and am very much enjoying reading your articles - you write very well.

I am a web design of growing experience, but no qualification. When a client is making a decision that I feel will damage their performance, I try to generate supported arguments against their chosen route and for an alternative.

However, sometimes it just comes down to a feeling - "based on my experience, I feel you will achieve a higher conversion rate with this approach".

I'd be interested in whether you find yourself resorting to this argument at times, and how you think one can evaluate whether they have sufficient experience to direct a client such?

Cheers,
Iain

]]> http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/#comment-4936 Ryan Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:30:35 +0000 http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/#comment-4936 Wow! I have recently started running my own web business. Before I was just a developer/designer so I did not deal with clients on this level. I have been a "Yes" man for the past year and I feel as if it is both hurting the client and my portfolio. I am even afraid to show some of my work because I feel like the client ruins some of the look and functionality in such a way that its just overall a bad site. Thanks for the info!! Now I have the confirmation that saying "YES" does more harm then good. I have always wondered that. And yes, it gives you sleepless nights when you deal with clients who are uninformed. Wow!

I have recently started running my own web business. Before I was just a developer/designer so I did not deal with clients on this level. I have been a "Yes" man for the past year and I feel as if it is both hurting the client and my portfolio. I am even afraid to show some of my work because I feel like the client ruins some of the look and functionality in such a way that its just overall a bad site.

Thanks for the info!! Now I have the confirmation that saying "YES" does more harm then good. I have always wondered that. And yes, it gives you sleepless nights when you deal with clients who are uninformed.

]]> http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/#comment-4935 Guilherme Menga Sat, 13 May 2006 18:28:13 +0000 http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/#comment-4935 Great article! I've always thought about the practice that same way you described and sometimes I have even used that same doctor's analogy! amazingly though, not everyone (designers) agree with this point of view... and of course, go with the flow when a client asks them to do something they know it's not the right thing to do... Some designers are selling satisfaction, not solutions... maybe that's the problem... Anyway. Great blog! I've just discovered it and i've been reading it from top to bottom this last 2 weeks... I'll recomend it to everyone here in Brasil! Great article!
I've always thought about the practice that same way you described and sometimes I have even used that same doctor's analogy!
amazingly though, not everyone (designers) agree with this point of view... and of course, go with the flow when a client asks them to do something they know it's not the right thing to do...

Some designers are selling satisfaction, not solutions... maybe that's the problem...

Anyway. Great blog! I've just discovered it and i've been reading it from top to bottom this last 2 weeks...
I'll recomend it to everyone here in Brasil!

]]> http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/#comment-4934 Andrew Mon, 09 Jan 2006 18:06:16 +0000 http://www.ideasonideas.com/2005/12/the-customer-is-always-right/#comment-4934 Bravo! In my past dealings with my clients, I've had some of the same experiences. While I still run into the 'time wasting' clients every now and then, I count my blessings with regard to the relationships I've built with my better clients. You have to know what to avoid to know what's worth keeping. Well, I just wanted to say kudos for making this web-site. ;) Bravo!

In my past dealings with my clients, I've had some of the same experiences. While I still run into the 'time wasting' clients every now and then, I count my blessings with regard to the relationships I've built with my better clients. You have to know what to avoid to know what's worth keeping.

Well, I just wanted to say kudos for making this web-site. ;)

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