If you run a service-based business, you probably have some horror stories to tell about bad clients and projects that have gone wrong. There are some things you can do to better manage client expectations, which can help keep these problems to a minimum: Read More »
Collaboration
Recently, I stumbled across a new service called Alice that lets you buy all of your household essentials online. Alice is awesome, and as soon as I figured out just exactly how awesome Alice was, I couldn’t wait to tell everyone I knew about the service. Read More »
Enter Bearhug, a new “customer engagement platform” that provides businesses with something better than a basic support ticket customer feedback system; an app that enables them to hear what customers are experiencing and saying and actually do something about it. Read More »
When running a business, it can sometimes be hard to draw the line between being of service and being taken advantage of by customers, clients and other professionals. Here are a few ways to reinforce that line. Read More »
OK, so it’s over one month later, and I finally got a car. I’m actually pleasantly surprised by my final day of car shopping. The first go-round was quite frustrating and ended with me giving up, but I’m happy to report these latest lessons… Read More »
This week has been a bit of a challenge. I’ve been haggling with car dealerships over purchasing a new car. I’m sure I don’t need to explain how frustrating that process has been, but I will say that I’m surprised at the customer service lessons I’m… Read More »
I’m not suggesting you crack open your computer to fix it, but with a few of the tactics outlined in this post you can solve many of your computer problems on your own. Besides, wouldn’t you rather solve your problems instead of waiting for a… Read More »
With technology such as remote control applications hitting the market, tech support and customer service roles can increasingly be performed remotely by anyone with the right skills, a computer, a phone line and a reliable Internet connection. Is tech support or customer service the web working… Read More »
As web workers, we are at the end of a supply line that brings together Internet connections, software, services and operating systems produced by large multinational corporations. We’re the 21st-century equivalents of the general store proprietors of an earlier age: we choose from a vast array… Read More »
Many freelancers, especially at the beginning of their careers, may find themselves working with very difficult clients. When this has happened to me, either I helped change the client’s working behavior or stopped working with them altogether. While I always aim for the former approach, sometimes… Read More »
You can’t please everybody. There’s a reason why that line is a cliché. I’ve yet to hear of a freelancer who never encountered a client who was disappointed in their work. Some clients keep their frustrations to themselves or simply stop working with you. Others, however,… Read More »
Shortly after posting a recent article about Google Documents, I was emailed by a director in the Google Documents team requesting more information on how I use the service. Additionally, a post about Google Gears spurned a blog comment/email discussion… Read More »
