When does it go from following up to annoying?

[Erik Anderson]

How many times do you followup with a client about a job discussion that they initiatedbefore it crosses the line into harassment/annoying?

Briefly:
In early December an event organizer I've worked with in the past, and by all accounts have a good business relationship with, requested photos for web work and office prints. I put up a gallery for him of some selections, emailed him the link, followed up by phone a few days later, then once or twice more (just prior to Christmas) and waited until the holiday season was over to bother him. I emailed him again the week following Christmas to confirm his receipt of the email with no reply. Admittedly we've never 'talked' via email, it's always been in person or over the phone. I've been calling about once every 3 days to followup since there was talk of getting this done in January.

Sooo, how many phone calls should I continue to make? Am I just being persistent? A good businessman? Showing my tenacity? Or just pissing him off?:confused:

[Mike Ditz]

Well, now it is early January and you have called/emailed how many times without a response. If you subtract the week or week and a half with Christmas and NewYears it sound like you are bordering on being a pest.
Give it break. If it happens or not won;t really depend on you calling him every couple days. Call him twice more before the end of the month and then move on to other projects.

How many calls wou;d you like from a vendor about a project that may be on track, on hold or cancelled until you get pissed?

Like in any relationship, seeming desperate rarely is a good thing.

[Erik Anderson]

Well, now it is early January and you have called/emailed how many times without a response. If you subtract the week or week and a half with Christmas and NewYears it sound like you are bordering on being a pest.


Most of my clients comment on my promptness and speed in returning communications, but I could see where some might find it annoying If I had to 'justify' anything, it would be that mid-January was the launch date is (was?) mid-January and wanted to ensure that I had enough time to prep the web photos and process, print, and frame the prints. However, I'm done my due diligence, if not more.:o


Give it break. If it happens or not won;t really depend on you calling him every couple days. Call him twice more before the end of the month and then move on to other projects.


I can deal with that. Good point


How many calls wou;d you like from a vendor about a project that may be on track, on hold or cancelled until you get pissed?


Well, I deal with the opposite in that the majority of people don't provide feedback or followups, so perhaps I tend go to the other side to provide what I would want.


Like in any relationship, seeming desperate rarely is a good thing.


True, I don't want to come across that way either. Another good point.

[Mike Ditz]

You've done what you can. It's their lack of follow up that you have no control over. Maybe something else came up that needs their attention. I've learned that I cannot worry more about the client's project than the client does.

Sometimes no news is good news, sometimes no news is the project was cancelled, they hired someone else (aka, "we are going in a different direction...") or they lost the client...

patience, grasshopper.

[Jacob Leveton]

the gallery is on your server / website, right?

try moving the gallery so that the link you sent him doesn't work. See how long it takes him to follow up with you and ask what happened. If never, then he already saw what he wanted to see. If he asks you what happened, tell him you made some adjustments or something along those lines... but at least you've re-established communication!

[Thomas Maranda]

I tend to be a little more persistant. Being ignored just drives me nuts.

[Mike Ditz]

the gallery is on your server / website, right?

try moving the gallery so that the link you sent him doesn't work. See how long it takes him to follow up with you and ask what happened. !

It's always good to childishly piss of your clients intentionally. It'll really make you look good if mr. client goes to show someone else at the office the shots he wants to use and they aren't there because the photographer took his toys and went home...
Grow up guys, it's not personal, its not all about you. It's business, people are busy are doing many other things than worriying about your photos and will get around to it or not. Playing games is not going to make you look very professional...

[John Thawley]

the gallery is on your server / website, right?

try moving the gallery so that the link you sent him doesn't work. See how long it takes him to follow up with you and ask what happened. If never, then he already saw what he wanted to see. If he asks you what happened, tell him you made some adjustments or something along those lines... but at least you've re-established communication!

Perfect. Brilliant. Astute. Did I mention immature?

[Jim Sykes]

Wait, is it a drift client??? Then maybe Jacob's idea will work. He probably knows inside information that allows him to make that suggestion and have it work.

[Erik Anderson]

I'm going to assume that Jacob made that post in jest, and leave it at that. I don't want to thread to go downhill!

Thank you for the suggestions. Like a bird, I've let it go. If it comes back, great; if it doesn't, I'll hunt it down and kill it. :)

[Morgan J Segal]

Giggle http://forums.dieselstation.com/style_emoticons/default/happy2.gif

[Erik Anderson]

I'm pleased to announce that the bird came back. Between the day job and trying to get a new business running, he's been running pillar to post. He called this evening to apologize and we're meeting tomorrow to discuss in further detail, the work involved. Per our call this evening, it sounds like it's even more than originally anticipated, but I remain cautiously hopeful.

Thanks for all the advice and to quote a legendary songwriter: Relax. (Frankie Goes To Hollywood) :D

[Thomas Maranda]

Glad it worked out for ya.