Client input is either a really great resource or just a pain in the process. For me it goes both ways, some clients offer input that is useful and important to the design while others need something that will either hurt their image or is impossible to give. In this article we will give you the pros and cons of each type of client as well as how you can redirect bad clients in a way that will help you in your process.

Good clients have their cons just like bad clients have their pros. Just because a client fits the bill as a typical good client does not mean that they will not give you a hard time in the long run. Use the article below to help you decide if a good client will go bad or a bad client is able to be molded into a good client.

Good Vs. Bad

What does it mean to be good or bad? We all have our own ideas about what makes a client good verses what makes a client bad. My idea for a good client is helpful, willing to take critical views of their ideas, and knows that we know more about the internet and web design then they do. My idea of a bad client is that they are to picky and seldom ever change their ideas no matter how tasteless or impossible.

The Good

Here is a brief overview of a typical good client for me. They give me links and text that helps me visualize their company image and what their website should look like. These clients have content they can provide that is original, checked for writing errors, and helpful to your overall goal.

A good client seldom complains because they give you such a good idea of what they want that they know what to expect. They have approved mockups and realize that changing the design scheme 1 day before project completion is a bad idea and would make the website designer's life a lot harder. A good client provides their own content long before the deadline.

Pros for Good Clients

• Always provides content
• Always gives constructive input regarding the design and the process
• Always uses email unless their issue is important like "site down", etc
• Always allows the creativeness of the designer to flow without constant supervision
• Always keeps with scheduled deadlines regarding payment and content
• Always makes change known before deadline for project

Cons for Good Clients

• Sometimes they are to picky and do not allow you to actually design
• They send emails for every single issue they have no matter how mundane
• They have a set idea for costs since they have calculated what a project should cost based on the content provided

The Bad

Here is a brief overview of a typical bad client for me. They usually provide you with content either late or incomplete. They expect you, since you are the designer, to be able to make their $1,000 website function and look exactly like the $30,000 website their established competitor has (with over 50 years in the business and a complete customer following), don't forget they want their competitor's customers to switch the day after the site is published. A bad client changes their mind with every website they compare their's to and in turn needs you to implement these changes on schedule and below budget.

A bad client is not all bad though. Usually if you catch them early enough with a good contract and a good design you can easily turn them into a good client....but if you miss that window you may just have to let them go and move on to a new client. If you can mold their ideas and opinions into something that is productive for you then you may very well have a good client in the making. Sometimes a bad client is always a bad client regardless of what you do....they will never be happy or content and you should let them go quickly before its to late. As unlikely as it sounds, we have complied a list of pros for a bad client.

Pros for Bad Clients

• Open to your opinion if you show them that your idea is worth while
• If they are stuck to a contract then they can not manipulate you into busy work
• NO is the easiest answer regarding a bad client, if they don't like it then most likely they would not have been beneficial for you anyway
• Bad clients are rare, unless you do not make them sign contracts or you say yes to everything

Cons for Bad Clients
No need to list these, just read the above paragraph.

The Ugly

Now, I know that most designers run into a "ugly" client every now and then, but they are even more rare then the bad clients. An ugly client can not only ruin their project but can ruin your reputation. A ugly client begins as a good client that provides all content on time and allows you to open be creative and keeps the project on schedule without tying you up to much.

Eventually they begin to turn bad by comparing the original contracted work with their competitors finished products. In this comparison they see flash or javascript that they think would be attractive to their website. Of course it would be, but the fact remains it was not contracted work. The idea that a simple thing like a flash menu would not cost to much and the website is completed now make them become unwilling to pay extra because the website is finished and the new implementation is so easy.

They no longer listen to your suggestions on good design practice and now they want to incorporate a music player that automatically plays without the possibility of being turned off (hidden from the user). In the end a ugly client gives you ideas that if incorporated into their website would either make it a train wreck you do not want to have in your portfolio or your lack of cooperation makes them back out of the agreement completely (forfeiting their down payment and you lose the final payment).

Luckily we have only had one client that turned into an ugly client but they were quickly let go forfeiting their down payment and saving us a tarnished portfolio. With our other clients we have had better luck then some.

Comment below with your good, bad or ugly experiences.

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POSTED BY:ERIC
GOOD, BAD, UGLY, CLIENTS, PROS, CONS, TIPS

Comments -- Add Your Own

1

Curly

October 22, 2009, 12:44 pm

I have had all good customers. I hope I never run into a bad customer or and ugly one for that matter.

2

Moby R. F

October 22, 2009, 12:51 pm

I have dealt with an "ugly" customer before....it is better to just drop them and move on. THey can hurt your business as well as your reputation. My ugly customer did not want to honor the contract after 3 months of work. They wanted newer stuff every day and I just couldn't keep up with them. I let them go...they were mad, but it saved me alot of headache. Thanks for the article.

3

Eric

October 22, 2009, 1:16 pm

I am lucky now. The one client I had that was ugly did not last long. Luckily I cover my company with a good solid contract to prevent a bad client from taking advantage of a bad situation.

I would like to take the time here to personally thank all our clients. Without them this article would have never been written. We have some of the best clients any company could ask for.

4

Bubba

October 22, 2009, 1:25 pm

So....when you gonna show us that contract you got? I would like to know where to start mine.

5

Eric

October 22, 2009, 1:30 pm

Maybe tommorrow. I will create an article just for you Bubba.

6

Bubba

October 22, 2009, 1:33 pm

That would be great. Thanks

7

Damien

October 22, 2009, 2:46 pm

Clients. Can't live with them, can't live without them. In ten years of web design I have had the good, the bad and the ugly. For so many different reasons as well. No client is the same and a new client is always a learning experience. Even if you are learning the hard way. Cheers.

8

Eric

October 22, 2009, 7:26 pm

I couldn't agree more. With my experience the good out numbers the bad anyday.