10 Most Stupid Client Questions Ever!

Half a Head

One of my greatest pleasures as a web designer is getting the chance to refine my craft but, in contrast to that, one of my greatest burdens is the the number of ridiculous questions that clients have presented me with in the past! Given how long the Internet has been around, and considering the sheer number of sites on the web, you would think that everybody would have at least a basic knowledge of how it all works - but you’d be wrong!

Clients can’t always be expected to understand the complex stuff though - that’s why they pay a designer. But sometimes it would be so much easier if they’d just get a grip!

You’ll need a large spoonful of patience if you’re not going to start alienating your own clients though, because you’re the one with the knowledge. Treat them gently, especially if it’s the first time that they’ve had a web site built! If you know what to expect though, then it should help you deal with the questions when they come!

1. How can we get to the top of Google?

Some people seem to want the moon and the stars on a platter, but Search Engine Optimisation is important for some clients, and your answer wont be made any easier by all the people claiming that a site’s rank can be improved overnight.

It’s often easier to explain how search engines work, and to point out that it can take time and patience to do well with them - and remember that there’s no such thing as a magic bullet!

2. That’s not it. Can you show me something else?

A confused client means an irritated designer. Working for a client is a two-way process, and when clients dismiss everything you offer and go off on one about their own ideas then it can end up being a very long meeting.

Listen to your clients, but make sure you give them direction at the same time - decisions have to be made at some point!

3. Can we give all our visitors their own password to enter the site?

Some clients really do have strange thoughts when it comes to security, but they often don’t realise how problematic those ideas might end up being for their visitors. Many clients will see the web as highly insecure, and think that they’ll be hacked as soon as their site is live.

A calm explanation on what it’s all about should soon sort them out.

4. I don’t like that button. Can you make me 50 alternatives?

I personally have problems choosing between ‘YES’ and ‘NO’ buttons, so quite how a client thinks that 50 choices will help is beyond me!

Once you’ve established a relationship with the client, they should only really need a few concepts to choose from, and if that’s not happening then it’s probably in your best interests to give them the boot.

5. Can you get DVD video to load instantly, but without streaming it?

Sometimes a client will ask for something that is quite literally impossible - often because they have a decent budget tied into the project.

Money can only buy so much though, and some things just simply can’t be done (yet anyway) so gently explain the available options, and let them decide what they’re happiest with.

6. Can’t you just take the content from someone else’s site?

Er, no. Some clients have no concept of copyright whatsoever, and see anything online as free for the taking, but web content is (unless otherwise stated) protected by the same copyright laws as printed content - make sure you drive this one home before you and your client get into seriously hot water!

It’s sometimes worth asking your client if they’d be happy with somebody else taking their work?

7. Can’t you make it look more like a PowerPoint presentation?

Some clients, particularly those in the business world, love PowerPoint and want everything (including their web site) to be just like it. Despite how different the web is to a desktop computer, it may still take subtle persuasive skills to show your client the benefit of a proper web solution.

Besides, we all know that PowerPoint sucks.

8. My son managed to build his site in a weekend - why can’t you?

How about because you want a 5000-page site with a full content management system, but your son’s effort consists of just a single page with a video clip of him mooning.

Some clients really don’t appreciate how long web development and the creative process takes, so simply point out that quality takes time and that you’ll keep them frequently updated on your progress.

9. How much is a web site?

I’ve lost count of the number of times that a prospect has called me, and asked this question before they’ve given me any background on their company or told me what they want to achieve online. This situation often arises because the prospect has seen a site offering an ‘instant online presence’ for a fixed price - usually a sign that the designer offering it isn’t much good!

You’ll need to do some questioning of your own to work around this one! Try to get the potential client to give you something you can work with, but don’t be flippant if they ask questions like: “Will two hundred get us a site like eBay?”

10. Why can’t all the text be in Comic Sans?

Despite the initial desire to answer this with swear words, you need to remember that the artistic incompetence of some clients can be astounding. Perhaps Devils Hands Comic Sans is the company’s corporate font (it happens), or maybe they like it because it’s what they use on internal memos?

All you need to do is bring out your best designs, and make them change their mind as quickly as possible!

I hope you enjoyed my little selection! Have I perhaps missed one that you get asked regularly, or would you like to know how to deal with one question in particular? Let me know! :)

[thanks to Zep, Aaron, Charity, David Airey and Tara for their valued comments on my previous post]

98 fantastic comments...

  1. Lisa June 13, 2007 3:28 am
    MyAvatars 0.2

    My most recent: “I really, REALLY like your personal blog. I want mine just like it. I want the photos displayed just like on YOUR site. I want the navigation menu in the top EXACTLY like YOUR site. Oh, and how you do the titles - -do that too… and the sidebars, exactly like that. The colors too - - I love your colors..”

    By the end of the meeting, I’m offering them my first born - - what the hell, I say!

  2. Zep June 13, 2007 6:11 am
    MyAvatars 0.2

    That was fun, thank you! It’s always amazing how unknown the art of typography is. I had the Comic Sans experience too, but regarding the whole corporate design!
    The customer pointed out that Comic Sans is “different” and “fresh”. The only other fonts he could name where Arial and Times, because ‘Verduna’ doesn’t count in my eyes. (BTW: If there is a Comic Sans, is there a Comic Serif too?)

  3. Paul June 13, 2007 9:46 am
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    Lisa,

    So… What you need to do is create a WordPress theme that looks exactly like your personal blog, and then charge people for it over and over again! The money you get from this should free you up for long enough to redesign your site… ;)

    Oh, and I’m with you on giving up the first-born. And the second. Oh, and the third too. :)

    Zep,

    Why create a Comic Serif when the original font sucks so much? It’s like making a new racing car, and calling it the Lada Sport. ;)

  4. MyAvatars 0.2

    Nice thoughts, well, not nice thoughts but a good post. ;)

    One I get over, and over, and over…

    “Here’s a 20k jpeg for the full size 2 metre banner image.”

  5. Paul June 13, 2007 11:38 am
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    LOL! There’s also the opposite: “Here’s 10 DVDs of photos for our staff page. They should be ready to upload.” ;)

  6. Tess June 13, 2007 12:55 pm
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    Hey Paul,

    I had a meeting with a client the other day and started off having to explain your first point to them, which was not as simple as I thought it would be… Would you mind if I just send them over to your website next time I’ll get all the tough questions in, so the client can read this post? Would make things so much easier… ;)

    ps, I also had to answer questions #6, 8 and 9 after some time. [I wonder: is there some kind of ‘client standard’, it can’t be coincidencal…]

  7. Paul June 13, 2007 1:10 pm
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    Feel free to send the problem clients over here, but they probably wont identify with the stereotypes! ;)

    Perhaps there’s a book on Amazon called “How To Be a Difficult Client”?

  8. Tess June 13, 2007 3:01 pm
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    [noticed my typo in my previous comment, should be coincidental]
    I reckon some of them will be so in denial don’t you think?

    I’m surprised to see that designers end up having to deal with the same issues, I just wonder why that is, perhaps you should write a book about it? :) [I’ll be the first to buy!]

  9. Paul June 13, 2007 3:22 pm
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    How about “Confessions of a Web Designer”, or “Dummies Guide to Crap Clients”? :)

  10. Char June 13, 2007 3:57 pm
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    Paul - I have had all of those clients! Yikes! How about the clients who still are asking for blinking text or cartoon-y animated gifs?

  11. LaurenMarie June 13, 2007 4:58 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    This definitely got me nodding “Yup! Been there” from the get go. I think #2 and #6 are the ones I have to deal with the most. I never thought about asking them how they would feel if someone else used there stuff. Good point!

    Gaaaah! #9! I always want to tell them “$10,000. And if it’s less, you’ll be happy.”

    #10 - and change our logo to Papyrus!

    Hehehe, @Char, I had many coworkers bugging me to put a link to almost every page on the homepage because “everyone who comes to the site wants this page, and this page and this page… but this one in particular!” I got so fed up hearing it all the time that I put a big blinking button on the home page with the “this one in particular” page. I know, I’m bad, but they were actually pleased!!!

    And as to the book, I believe there is already one written for the designer on dealing with clients.

  12. Paul June 13, 2007 5:26 pm
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    Char,

    You forgot marquee scrollers! Out of all the nightmares that Microsoft has lumped us with over the years, marquees are the worst!

    LaurenMarie,

    LOL! Papyrus is *definitely* another typeface that should be consigned to the depths of Hell… ;) Good tip on the book!

  13. Tess June 13, 2007 6:25 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    [quote comment=”518″]How about “Confessions of a Web Designer”, or “Dummies Guide to Crap Clients”? :)[/quote]
    LMAO, I LOVE the latter… You would do a great job!

    Thanks LaurenMarie for mentioning the book, will look into that! [just for fun]

  14. Tara June 14, 2007 8:07 am
    MyAvatars 0.2

    Great set of questions that we have all heard at one time of the other, I like the way you write too. I was trying to think of any other questions I have been asked, but either I can’t remember or you’ve got them all covered!

  15. Paul June 14, 2007 8:25 am
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    [quote post=”53″]I like the way you write too[/quote]

    Aw shucks… I think that’s the first time anybody’s said that! LOL!

  16. MyAvatars 0.2

    I second Davids image gripes.

    Can you send my a copy of your logo please?

    Can’t you just copy and paste it off the website?

    Erm, no.

  17. Paul June 14, 2007 11:41 pm
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    LOL - yeah I’ve had that one loads of times too! Glad to know that these aren’t questions that only my clients ask!

  18. Randa Clay June 15, 2007 2:01 pm
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    How about the clients who believe firmly that putting music on their site enhances the user experience? Or, who believe that a flash intro screen is a must-have? Ughhhhh!

  19. Paul June 15, 2007 3:30 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    You know something? I made a rule a couple of years ago to stop doing intro screens. They’re totally pointless and a waste of time - so I just started saying ‘no’ to clients who asked for them. When I’ve explained the reasons behind it, most clients have agreed with my point of view - so I think I can officially call myself an ‘Intro-Free Freelancer’. :)

    Just as the background music thing was starting to lose popularity on websites, along came MySpace - and sent everyone back to the dark ages! ;)

  20. ssc June 16, 2007 11:49 am
    MyAvatars 0.2

    Great topics.
    I’m a freelance designer in Turkey and i see that the stupidity of questions that clients ask is universal…

    I am really having difficulties in explaining things to my clients like;

    1-copywriting
    2-intro animation
    3-at least 3 background music

    etc.

    Well, i really got used to these type of situations but i believe that something must be done to protect the creativity…I’m not really satisfied with the results for most of my work but i have to (financial issues)… I really wish that someday we (designers) will be trusted. I feel useless when a client decides what to put on the site and what will it be look like. And believe it or not they usually decide the colors of their site because of their football teams or what their 13 year old child think of…

    Thanks Paul, i feel better….+)

  21. Paul June 16, 2007 1:03 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    Hi Sarp,

    Thanks for your comment! I’m glad you enjoyed the article… :)

    I have found myself that some clients respect me more if I assert my influence over what they ask for - so I give them very good reasons not to have an intro, or background music. Perhaps you could try this with your clients?

    You are not alone though! :)

  22. ssc June 16, 2007 1:20 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    +)

    Thanks again Paul…I just got an e-mail from one of my clients while reading your comment.

    It is about how a web page design should be like +)

  23. Doug Rosbury June 16, 2007 5:21 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    I don’t have a website. but please allow me to say: It’s peoples sense of self importance and lack of humility that makes them ask stupid questions. If i were to contract with an expert to set up a website, Iwould go mind my own business and leave the expert alone to do his or her work. people
    cause their own stupidity with a lack of trust and insecurity. Myheart goes out to you. I recognize my own dumbness when it comes to computer technology, so i try to stay out of the way of people who know what they are doing. One dumb question please. Idownloaded a cuckoo clock program and
    then tried to delete it because the cuckoo wouldn’t stop cuckooing but after I went to my uninstall page and deleted it Ithought it was over, but guess what even if i stop it by rebooting it will start again and keep on going. what should i do? thanks, Doug

  24. MyAvatars 0.2

    […] Daniel Paul […]

  25. MyAvatars 0.2

    […] [thanks to Lisa, Zep, David Airey, Tess, Char, LaurenMarie, Tara, Aaron, Randa, Sarp and Doug for their comments on my (surprisingly successful) previous post] […]

  26. inspirationbit June 17, 2007 3:29 am
    MyAvatars 0.2

    Not Comic Sans, but a not so better alternative - one of my clients loves Curlz MT and Kristen ITC. She also insists on saying “click here for details” for all her links (I got tired of fighting with her about it). And she wants me to track how many people actually viewed and read the email newsletter she’s sending out every month.

  27. Paul June 17, 2007 3:43 am
    MyAvatars 0.2

    I quite like Curlz actually - so long as it’s not overused! ;)

    I totally appreciate all the reasons behind why anchor text linking it better than the “click here” method. Having said that, I do sometimes wonder if the old way is better when it comes to sites that will be viewed by the uneducated public. After all, if they’re still looking for “click here” links then shouldn’t we be providing them? Maybe it’s just a question of educating the uneducated!

    I can help you with tracking how many people have viewed an email if you’re interested? There’s no way to tell if people are actually *reading* it though…

  28. Shey June 17, 2007 4:11 am
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    Excellent resource for those looking to get a website built and quite funny for designers.

    Thanks!

  29. Paul June 17, 2007 4:13 am
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    Never thought about it being useful to potential clients Shey - thanks! :) Glad you liked it!

  30. Kokesh June 17, 2007 8:02 am
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    Oh yeah… Comic Sans. That font must have some special magic I see. From time to time I am also asked “And how would it look in Comic Sans” :)

    Thanks for this article!!!

  31. ssc June 17, 2007 9:14 am
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    Hi Paul;
    Can you tell me how can i know, how many people view my mail???

    Thanks…

  32. Paul June 17, 2007 11:58 am
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    Thanks for your comment Kokesh! I love your Huskies! :)

    Sarp - drop me an email (address on Contact Me page) and I’ll explain… ;)

  33. MyAvatars 0.2

    Did this article get a lot of traffic, Paul?

    I’ve had quite a few visits from the comment I left alone!

    Good work. ;)

  34. Paul June 19, 2007 1:25 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    LOL - yeah, just a bit! I got Stumbled four times, Dugg seven times (page 1 on Upcoming), front-paged on Spotplex, and second-paged on Reddit. ;) I was getting about 10 hits a second at one point!

    Take a look at the article views at the top… 21,482 as I write this! :) The traffic’s still coming in, but it’s dropped off now!

    I plan to post about the experience actually - so watch this space!

  35. Akila June 23, 2007 12:04 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    What a relief to know that client’s can be equally stupid all over the world. My favourite - has been suggested to me by all clients who fancy they ‘understand design and all that’ - is ” can’t we use a picture, really light, across the background, and put text on it?” For some reason, this ugly and unreadable device is hugely popular amongst Indian clients.

  36. Paul June 23, 2007 12:40 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    Thanks for your comment Akila!

    It would seem that every designer has the same sort of clients as I do - regardless of their country, spoken language or industry! It is quite comforting to know that we all go through the same sort of questions with them! :)

  37. Harshit June 23, 2007 2:47 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    OMG … bloody hilarious … along with a resounding horror and disgust from a reminiscent past …

    My latest (even though I’m not into web dev at the moment) : “There are lots of people making money with a website, I want to do the same. Lets keep it simple.”

    Me: “So what’s your plan?”

    Him: “You tell me what we can do”

    Me: “Rat a tat tat”

    Him: “let me ask you, why aren’t you doing it then?”

    Me: (Thinking) “Ugh! do you have a clue what you’re talking about?”

    Him: “There’s a 14 year old who makes websites and is paying his way through uni”

    Me: “Is he a pro? No … thus the extra cost”

    He was referring to those gimmicky people selling rag-tagged e-books and a crap-load he gathered from these get-rich-quick-with-internet seminars.

    Sent him a break-down cost for the project as about $1400+ for 2 weeks work, he never got back …

  38. Paul June 23, 2007 3:45 pm
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    Glad you like the post Harshit! ;) I’ve always believed that you get what you pay for - both when I’m buying something, and when I’m selling my services!

  39. MyAvatars 0.2

    […] days ago I wrote my 10 Most Stupid Client Questions Ever post - and on the same day Tara from the Graphic Design Blog submitted the article to StumbleUpon. […]

  40. MyAvatars 0.2

    Haha, yeah I can relate to a few of those, but thankfully not most. I certainly don’t want a client who’ll insist on Comic Sans!

    I had a small estate agents ask me about a website after I did a logo for them. They thought it’d be ok to grab useful images found from browsing through Google Images, as well as nabbing text from competitors and “chopping it up a bit”!

    Boggles the mind.

  41. Paul June 25, 2007 8:48 pm
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    Thanks for dropping by Damien!

    It never fails to amaze me just how many people have no concept of copyright… If it’s online then just help yourself, right?

    I worked for a company once who insisted that everything on their site (images and textual content) was to be taken from the site of their main competitor - and manipulated a little. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you who won when the competition found out and took them to court!

    You have an excellent blog by the way - it’s been added to my feed reader! ;)

  42. Simonne June 26, 2007 8:07 am
    MyAvatars 0.2

    Ha, ha! It seems there’s an universal client spirit out there! One of the most peculiar client desires I’ve met was to make it possible for the visitors to change their background music, by selecting melodies from a list (the site had nothing to do with music). And another one: “please make a different background for each page, because I want my site to look beautiful”.

  43. Paul June 26, 2007 12:33 pm
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    Thanks for your comment Simonne! :) Different background images for each page is probably OK - but I’ll bet that they wanted high-quality (huge filesize) pictures, right?

  44. Vivienne Quek June 26, 2007 12:35 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    I wrote on David Airey’s blog recently that I got a client who asked me “Why do you charge so much when it should take no more than 20 minutes of your time”. My reply might be a little arrogant:” It only took 20 min because I have 20 years of knowledge and experience to back me up.” I don’t believe I should provide free service when it’s not minor grammar errors to be corrected or that the simple design adaptation is really a major overhaul.It’s exactly this reason thatI got a list of 24 questions as a guide for copy brief from a professional writer.

    Paul, I’m sure you and other designers can relate to “Can your enlarge my logo much bigger?”, “Why can’t I have a few different design concepts to choose from?” and the most recent that made me smile was: “Can I have my logo done within the next 48 hours? I need to make a presentation next week.”

  45. Paul June 26, 2007 12:43 pm
    MyAvatars 0.2

    I like your attitude Vivienne - the client often doesn’t appreciate that part of what they pay is for the designer’s experience - because the design process is about more than providing just a product!

    Your article on selecting and briefing a copyrighter is very handy - in fact, I’ll be passing a link to a client of mine later today, as he is in that position at the moment!

    48 hours doesn’t sound too bad to me for a logo - depending on what was required of course! I had a prospect phone me at 2:05pm the other day, and ask if I could produce an HTML email template for him by 3pm… ;)

  46. Griff June 27, 2007 4:18 pm
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    Good comments, heard ‘em all over the years that’s for sure. As well as:-

    ~Can you post the site to me when it’s finished?
    ~What? You want me to create the About Us section?
    ~Do you really think we should use the same colours and logos as in the rest of our company?
    ~Why do you need to come and see us?

  47. Paul June 27, 2007 6:25 pm
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    Thanks Griff! Definitely with you on your first example - I spoke about the Lo-Tech in a past post!

  48. Jem June 27, 2007 9:58 pm
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    I’m getting #8 a lot at the moment. My biggest problem is that, certainly at work, I’m just the developer (someone else does the designs). Because the clients don’t see and don’t understand the code, they think that changing something on the website means a 30 second fix that the designer will apply with his image-whizzery. I had to remind the last client that I existed at all…

  49. Paul June 27, 2007 10:05 pm
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    That’s weird, because I’ve experienced that the other way round - with the backend guy getting the kudos, and me being ignored! ;)

  50. Griff June 27, 2007 10:43 pm
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    Jem, small point but nobody is ever “just” something, that is negative, everyone has a role and it’s important. I get it though, I work mainly in dreamweaver, usually tables based etc and then you get “Can you change that bit…?” The answer is of course yes because the client is paying (the wages) but THAT change might take me a whole template rewrite! What do you do? How do you get across to someone that doesn’t know, nor wants to know, that the small change they perceive is actually quite a bit of work?

  51. Paul June 27, 2007 10:51 pm
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    That’s a good question! Personally, I find that simply talking to a client about it works in 95% of cases. There will always be those clients who just “don’t get it” - but most (my ones at least) are intelligent enough to appreciate the work involved. Maybe I’ve just been lucky in that respect? ;)

  52. Griff June 27, 2007 11:06 pm
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    Paul, how do you feel about being a mentor?

  53. Griff June 27, 2007 11:08 pm
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    I may have some work for you……

  54. Paul June 27, 2007 11:11 pm
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    I assume you don’t mean the son of Alcumus? ;) Sure… Drop me a contact form and we’ll take it from there! :)

  55. Buu June 28, 2007 3:55 pm
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    Oh how I hate comic sans. I hated it when I was 9(I was an artistic kid) and I hate it even more now.

  56. Sean June 28, 2007 4:58 pm
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    “Can you give it more pizzazz?”

    That was my favorite question ever.

  57. Paul June 28, 2007 5:32 pm
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    Thanks for your comment Buu! Perhaps somebody should start an ‘I Hate Comic Sans’ club? ;)

    Cheers for dropping in Sean! According to the dictionary, Pizzazz is the fifth album by R&B/Pop singer Patrice Rushen. Maybe you should have bought them a copy? ;)

  58. Akila July 5, 2007 1:50 pm
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    Any clients out there in the world who drive designers mad because they believe in astrology or numerology or feng shui? A fellow designer told me a hair-raising story about a corporate identity he was working on - the project was nearly finished when the client’s astrologer told him that the logo colour was not auspicious and should be changed to something totally different. the client, of course, felt that this was a simple matter which ought to take a few seconds. Now I live in fear of the same thing happening to me.

  59. Paul July 5, 2007 4:57 pm
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    Now that’s a new one on me! I don’t think any of my clients have ever based design decisions on astrological input… Thanks for that Akila! :)

  60. Andy July 10, 2007 9:39 pm
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    Not particularly helpful. Not particularly funny.

  61. Paul July 10, 2007 11:16 pm
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    Oh, there had to be one… LOL!

  62. wanderingspace July 13, 2007 4:59 am
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    client: “the other characters all have hats that reveal their profession except for the landlord. Can you put a landlord hat on the landlord?”

  63. Paul July 14, 2007 6:31 pm
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    I prefer not to call any clients request or question stupid. If they knew all the answers they wouldn’t be asking us. I don’t think there is such a thing as a ’stupid question’, there are however, many stupid answers.

    We try to hold onto our secrets because those secrets make us money, yet we critisize the client who does not know the secrets and laugh at their attempt to educate themselves by asking what us gurus call ’stupid questions’.

    With any luck, those stupid question asking clients will not find their way to this list and decide that they prefer dealing with a less condescending vendors.

    I wonder just how many stupid questions you asked when learning your trade. In retrospect, I know I asked several.

    Just an observation.

    Regards

  64. Paul July 15, 2007 12:25 am
    MyAvatars 0.2

    Well, thank you for your observation Paul.

    I’ve never held on to my trade secrets because they make me money. I’m a staunch and outspoken supporter of the open source movement, shared training, and the free exchange of information.

    When you’ve gained a bit more experience, perhaps you’ll realise that there is a vast difference between creative writing and client management.

    I’ve been in the freelancing game for a very long time. I’ve never had one complaint from a client, thousands of referrals from satisfied customers, and several clients who’ve gone on to be personal friends - things that wouldn’t have happened if I was the secretive, condescending guru that you seem to think I am!

    Just an observation.

  65. Bad Questions July 15, 2007 9:57 pm
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    […] clients asked bad questions, it happens. Although the title of the post I am linking to is “10 Most Stupid Client Questions Ever“, I think it is helpful for clients to read this list of […]

  66. Mark July 16, 2007 4:45 pm
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    “How much is a website?” definitely has to be at the top of my list. I constantly get emailed being asked this question.

    The other day i got an email asking “How much will a website cost with Myspace functionality in it”….

  67. Paul July 16, 2007 7:09 pm
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    To which you should have replied “a million pounds”, and asked where to send the invoice! ;) Thanks for your comment Mark!

    I love your blog design by the way - and you’ve done some great work recently too (I think my fave is Afrigator). You’ve got a new reader! :)

  68. Mark July 17, 2007 9:54 pm
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    Hey Paul, I’ll remember that answer for the next email request.

    Thanks for the compliment btw. Your in my feedreader as well.

  69. kirk July 17, 2007 10:19 pm
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    I got out of the biz in ‘01 but back then you’d get questions like “why is the font so big, its all messed up” only to find out later that they had the text size set to “I’M BLIND” in their browser settings.

    Alot of problems came from them looking at my designs in AOL 1.0. it was a nightmare.

    this was fun to read. thanks.

  70. Paul July 20, 2007 12:17 am
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    Hi Kirk! I’m glad you enjoyed it! :) LOL @ the text size thing!

    I remember AOL 1.0 (shudder). ;)

  71. MyAvatars 0.2

    […] Enderson, freelancer dedicado al diseño gráfico y al desarrollo de sitios Web nos comparte en su Blog en el irreverente estilo del humor inglés algunas experiencias por las que todos hemos […]

  72. Rich August 22, 2007 2:54 pm
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    Two quick updates please, can I have my menu links at the top of the pages instead of the side of the pages. And, Can you make my links change color, maybe red or burgandy with white colors?

    This was an 80 page site! I guess stating that it is quick justifies a lower fee? haha

  73. Paul August 24, 2007 4:39 pm
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    Defenitely..! If a client describes something as “really easy” or “really quick” then you know it’s going to take hours/days/weeks to do for them!

    Thanks for your comment Rich! :)

  74. MyAvatars 0.2

    […] 10 most stupid client questions! - Funny and sadly true. This site lists the questions we have all faced as designers and the perfect answers to stay in control of the situation. […]

  75. Guy McLaren October 1, 2007 6:20 pm
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    1. How can we get to the top of Google?
    Thats easy, quality content and not expecting to do it on a short tail in the beginning. This costs more.

    6. Can’t you just take the content from someone else’s site?
    Of course you can, but I won’t build it. Have a look here at blogspot…

    8. My son managed to build his site in a weekend - why can’t you?

    I can but then you take the standard template, no design ideas or silliness.

    9. How much is a web site?

    “This situation often arises because the prospect has seen a site offering an ‘instant online presence’ for a fixed price - usually a sign that the designer offering it isn’t much good!”

    Wrong, its because the designer has an entry level package that works off of a standard template or even a custom designed template for a little more.

    “Will two hundred get us a site like eBay?”
    $ 200 will get you the basics, sites like eBay costs more.

    10. Why can’t all the text be in Comic Sans?
    Lets have a look at your corporate identity.. You like comic sans don’t you? Of course we can use it here on the logo, and in the header over here, but lets be real its not that easy a font to read, lets make the text an easy to read font, why don’t we?

    Me thinks too many designers try and take over. It is the clients site after all, Give them what they want.. don’t you think, within reason of course.

  76. Guy McLaren October 1, 2007 6:22 pm
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    Oh yes the 80 page website needing a menu change, surely you are using an include for your menu and navigation systems?

  77. Paul October 1, 2007 6:37 pm
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    Thanks for commenting Guy! I always give my clients what they want - but sometimes the thing a client wants most is to be guided! Perhaps we’ve just had a different quality of client? ;)

  78. Alex October 7, 2007 7:43 am
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    It’s is so true.

    I have a list of 1,500 similar questions.

    I have a web designer that works for me. He does the design, I make the leads. He punches code. I schmooze and answer these beautiful questions. We’re both happy.

    You seem pretty good at what you do. Let me know if you ever need new design leads. I have them streaming in. Too many leads…

    Funny questions are funny.

  79. Paul October 7, 2007 3:23 pm
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    Thanks for your comment Alex - I’m glad you liked the article, and cheers for the compliment too!

    Actually, I’ve had to turn prospects away recently - such is the level of work coming in! It’s not something I like doing for obvious reasons, so I’ve been thinking about forming a little collective of designers and developers, to spread the work around! Drop me a mail if you’re interested!

    Cheers!

  80. MyAvatars 0.2

    […] My most popular post (80,000 views) is this one […]

  81. Eric October 31, 2007 4:13 am
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    I like the article. It is so important to be able to speak technical to the level of non technical users. It kind of sad they don’t do any research before asking questions like this. Some one could really take them for a ride. Great Post! Thank you

  82. Paul October 31, 2007 12:13 pm
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    Thanks for your comment Eric! Perhaps somebody should write a translation book to help clients and designers to communicate more effectively? ;)

  83. Tara October 31, 2007 12:22 pm
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    Are you sure that isn’t the book you mentioned you are writing ;)

  84. Paul October 31, 2007 12:24 pm
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    LOL! Would you like some chips with your fishing? ;)

  85. Dario Berardi November 14, 2007 10:54 am
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    you forgot one question!!! CLient: ” COULD YOU MAKE MY LOGO THE WEBSITE, BIGGER?MM NONO BIGGER THEN NOW, BIGGERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

  86. Paul Enderson November 14, 2007 7:55 pm
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    Thanks Dario - that’s a good one! :)

  87. alex November 17, 2007 1:06 am
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    Hehe- check out www.makemylogobiggercream.com.

    I once met someone who told me that a Dyslexic charity had done research which showed that dyslexic people find Comic Sans one of the easiest fonts to read. Personally I wouldn’t pee on it if it was burning.

  88. Paul November 18, 2007 3:51 am
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    Thanks for that link Alex - that’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in weeks! :D

    LOL @ “I wouldn’t pee on it if it was burning” too! :)

  89. Guy McLaren January 10, 2008 5:45 am
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    Alex, My clients are on the whole less technically literate than some, Some are more confusing but I have the attitude that says “Never bullshit the client” I also turn away clients that cause more trouble than they are worth.

    It took two years to get rid of one client that I told straight out please take your site elsewhere or pay me on time. I never had any further miscommunication till new management took over. I suspended, got paid and told them to go away.

    I am a professional, I expect a certain level of input from my clients and if they don’t follow through, I dump them.

  90. mehmet February 11, 2008 5:05 pm
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    we can hear this questions everytime in this siber world:)

  91. Aldona February 13, 2008 1:12 pm
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    What is the big deal with Comic Sans? CS I can handle. Verdana I would like to throw out a window.

    I’d love to collect some of these questions and make a humour page of them. Feel free to send me some. The more dumb and weirder the more I laugh.
    ————-
    Here’s one I heard:
    Client: I know you put my site up last night right?
    Designer: Right
    Client: Well I put my name in to Google [John smith] but it didn’t come up.
    Designer: You site is called ‘Flowers and Food’ [in other words something totally different to the name]
    ————-
    People really don’t understand the web do they. But I guess it’s our job to help them. *Note I did make up the name of the site and the client (just so I don’t get fired for putting this up).

  92. Juan Tejeda March 7, 2008 4:08 pm
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    These guys really hate Comic Sans :)

    http://bancomicsans.com/home.html

  93. David March 20, 2008 2:50 pm
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    I found this the other day:
    http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/comicsans-googlespoof.html

    Enjoy!

    David

  94. colin preston July 1, 2008 12:17 pm
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    That reaaly funny, I have had number 8. My son managed to build his site in a weekend - why can’t you?, all the time. The unniest one I have had was, half the site is missing! They had scrolled down and did not realise. I am new to this site, you have some ggod posts, I will be reading more

  95. Jaimie July 30, 2008 10:22 am
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    Came across these comments in a fit of despertion as I looked for solice on the web after dealing with a particularly “stupid” client. Everything you say is true! I feel a lot beeter now and are ready to face the world again.

  96. McIntyre August 11, 2008 8:22 am
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    I have bookmarked this article. I always appreciate another good set of tips. Great post, wish there were more blogs like this around! Have a wonderful day and happy blogging.

  97. jack January 17, 2009 8:33 am
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    >>My son managed to build his site in a weekend - why can’t you?

    This is very funny and it really annoys if a client says like that to you !! grrr !!

  98. BlackHatForum January 25, 2009 7:39 am
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    “How can we get to the top of Google?”

    im sure we have no answer :)

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