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    <title>The nGen Works Blog: Five early warning signs of a difficult client</title>
    <link>http://www.ngenworks.com/blog/detail/five_early_warning_signs_of_a_difficult_client/</link>
    <description>Here are nGen&apos;s five signs to identify prospects that could be difficult clients. Read them carefully and you could save yourself some heartache.</description>
    <dc:language>en-us</dc:language>
    <dc:creator>carl@ngenworks.com</dc:creator>
    <dc:rights>Copyright 2007</dc:rights>
    <dc:date>2007-09-05T19:59:00-05:00</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Comment by Scott Clark</title>
      <link>http://www.sitecreations.com/blog</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[excellent....

I humbly add my "40+ Warning Signs" post from June... 

<a href="http://www.sitecreations.com/blog/2007/06/41-warning-signs-raise-yellow-flags-on-your-web-project.html">http://www.sitecreations.com/blog/2007/06/41-warning-signs-raise-yellow-flags-on-your-web-project.html</a>]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-11T22:56:34-05:00</dc:date>
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      <title>Comment by peter arkwright</title>
      <link>http://www.businessservicesuk.com</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Having been burnt a few times I am always weary about the "we will pay later" line.]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-11T08:32:47-05:00</dc:date>
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      <title>Comment by SEO Consultant</title>
      <link>http://www.kesphelps.co.uk</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Had my first ever "Work for free and we'll give you a cut of the profits!" last week.

They only wanted 4 days per month from myself.

I've read before to be wary of this kind of offer, so told the client I would require paying for my time.

Conversation died on the spot. Have heard nothing since.

This post has helped to confirm I made the right choice.]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-10T06:19:38-05:00</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Comment by Carl Smith</title>
      <link>http://www.ngenworks.com/blog</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Excellent addition, and one that often works in combination with #4. 

"If you do this for me, I can send you dozens of people who need free websites just like I did."]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-10T05:26:57-05:00</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Comment by itispals</title>
      <link>http://www.buckleupnow.com</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Very True. 
I would like to add one more point too.
"You do this web site for me, and you know i have lot of clients who would need web sites too. The interpretation is that you work for me either free or at the lowest price and you can make money from my clients"...
So watch out for these kind of clients too...]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-10T01:08:36-05:00</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Comment by Carl Smith</title>
      <link>http://www.ngenworks.com/blog</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Rich, cashflow is always king. There is nothing harder than saying no to work when you are broke and have nothing. While we took a few projects we shouldn't have, we thought of it as financing our future. We always kept our eye on the next client. That said, when you take the wrong project you lose opportunity time. And if you have a decent  stack of cash to sit on you have to be selective in who you work with.

Mike, first of all congrats. I love that they have to have skin in your game too. I think I'll try that next time. If it was a hybrid, cash plus, I may think different. I haven't had that one come across yet.]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-07T21:24:49-05:00</dc:date>
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      <title>Comment by Mike Myklin</title>
      <link>http://www.myklin.com</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[#4 has made us quite a bit of money in the past few years but only because we insist that the client "have some skin in our game", too. We always insist on a cash payment to go along with a percentage of sales for a period of time. Plus, we must be convinced that their business model is good, their product is good, and finally, that their customer service is good. Being able to sleep at night with a clear concience is priceless.]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-07T18:49:00-05:00</dc:date>
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      <title>Comment by Rich Brooks</title>
      <link>http://www.flyteblog.com</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Great list! Sometimes when cash flow is tight, it's tough to say no to a client. However, saying "no" frees you up to say "yes" to a client who's going to be good for you.

I've found that it's important to be "true to yourself." You have to have a method to building effective Web sites (or whatever you do) and stick to it. Clients who aren't interested in doing it that way are often better suited to work with another developer. 

If you do need to take the business, but the client can't work in your manner for legitimate reasons, come up with a new method that you both can agree to.]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-07T15:00:40-05:00</dc:date>
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      <title>Comment by SEO Consultant</title>
      <link>http://www.shimonsandler.com</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA["They want you to have some skin in the game."  

Oiy vay!]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-07T13:13:31-05:00</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Comment by Carl Smith</title>
      <link>carl@ngenworks.com</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[CVOS, I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, it's bigger than just SEO. Anyone who says "I know what to do I just need someone to do it" is a dangerous prospect because they rarely will let you use your expertise and will always think your prices are too high. RUN!

Jim, good job asking for the contract or even a signed estimate. That definitely sends the unqualifieds scrambling.

Jane, I know they've gotten burned by it. Sadly those consultants are also some of the ones who come looking to partner and act just like the people who burned them. (Man I'm starting to sound cynical!)

I'm going to do a post next week on identifying good prospects, we've had a bunch of those too.]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-07T07:53:41-05:00</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Comment by CVOS man</title>
      <link>http://www.netpaths.net/blog</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[And lets not forget the people who say: Well I've read a lot about SEO and I know what we need to do, all we need is someone to adjust our meta tags.]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-06T20:44:29-05:00</dc:date>
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      <title>Comment by Jim</title>
      <link>jim_witness@whoever.com</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[I just had a client who tried the we'll-pay-you-for-your-marketing-efforts-if-we-get-an-ROI-in-a-month. Asked for a contract and they declined. Reading the above comments it sounds all too familiar.]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-06T18:08:10-05:00</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Comment by Jane</title>
      <link>http://www.seomoz.org/team/jane</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Very good advice. I especially like the warning against the "we'll pay you later" tactic. I'm sure countless consultants, contractors etc have been burned by this one.]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-06T15:26:38-05:00</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Comment by Rhea</title>
      <link>rhea_drysdale@yahoo.com</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Conversation about the article here:
<a href="http://sphinn.com/story/4836">http://sphinn.com/story/4836</a>]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-06T15:24:48-05:00</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Comment by Rhea Drysdale</title>
      <link>http://www.rheadrysdale.com/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[	<p>{body}</p>]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Great list! I've experienced several of those in the past whether I was in-house or doing freelance work. It's always nerve-wracking when a relationship falls apart, so these are some super helpful tips on weeding out the bad seeds.]]></content:encoded>
     <dc:date>2007-09-06T13:55:52-05:00</dc:date>
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