The Bait And Wait

I had a conversation with a fellow business owner today and we discussed our pet peeves about the business of owning a small business.

We agreed that one of our more niggling peeves was when people inquire about business but don't follow through. Even more so, when they expect free services BEFORE making a decision to even choose our business as the one they want to use.

I for one, have a courtesy service called "the mock up", where after consulting with the customer (which in some places it COSTS to even consult) about what it is they want...I draw up 1-3 potential visions for the client to figure out what direction we're going in. YET...I've had people try and get the whole process completed (a full-on logo made to their specifications and completed vision) without even depositing the 50% required for me to consider them clientele.

That's not how it should be...and it's definitely not right. I have found this to happen more often than people even actually PAY me for my work. It's discouraging to get almost halfway through the process of making a logo and have someone decide they either

• 1) don't have the money to buy, or

• 2) don't agree with my pricing, or

• 3) move onto someone else without so much as a "Thank you, but I've chosen another designer".

This is what I'm affectionately calling the "bait and wait". The dangling of the promise of business and then the indefinite wait for someone to respond with genuine interest, followed by a business contract.

Try not to do this to your SBO. A lot of us are artists first and business people second, so even if we shroud our disappointment in a professional nod of understanding...it's deflating to find yourself ONCE AGAIN, putting in energy, time and creative juice to "wow" someone...only for them to walk away and give you no word as to whether they can or will work with you.

Just one more insight into the SBO experience, brought to you by me...

Kali Monroe

#business #followthrough #logos #customers #profit #pricing