This is a recent IM conversation I had. Names, email address and websites have been changed or removed so you can’t identify anything from it.

I love IM, but I’m now wondering if I should promote it here on this blog because lately I’ve ended up having a lot of strange conversations like this. I know IM is informal, but I don’t think that this is the way to introduce yourself on a business level.

As a designer, one of the most important things I can do in the initial stages of a project is ask lots of questions. This is not just to help me find out what the client is wanting, but to find out if they’re ready to be coming along to a designer. Oh, and to help me gauge whether I would like to work with the client.

I love working with clients, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes the amount of apparent unpreparedness and ‘web-babble-jargon’ gets too much. Needless to say, I never got that email. I guess I asked too many questions and wasn’t prepared to send a mock design for free.

Anyways.. onto the conversation..

William

you are a blog designer?

Me

Hi, yes I am

William

ok what area of the globe and what timezone are you in?

Me

I’m in New Zealand, it’s 6:10pm Tues..

William

ok I may need a template for a new application

Me

for a blog?

William

take a look at our technology first go to www.——

William

a blogsite not a blog - it would not be for the blogsite I just refered to but another one

Me

Ok, can you explain what you mean by a blogsite not a blog?

William

technology - try visiting mine go to google and type in “——”

William

I neede a face put on this one www.——

Me

ah - so you’re running multiple blogs on the same system?

William

it must be very claen and corporate with server side integration for dynamic content as well

William

we have a contract with google api

Me

Ok, so you’re running this on your own cms?

William

so the design for the —– blogsite is not that simple due to the technology. my guy is sick and not available

Me

What’s it coded in?

William

if you want to show me something with a —object— and a clean white face maybe orange and black i would be interested in looking

William

what the blogsite is pure xml or do you mean something else

Me

I’m just trying to understand what you meant by the design isn’t simple due to the technology. Usually a design can be done by a designer then incorporated into the CMS by a programer

William

the service is not just about production is also about channeling the —item— and acheiving text discoverability

William

we can do this due to the flexibility of our platform coupled with the channels that highly trafficked like “——” keyprhase at google

William

when we produce an —item— the client gets alot for his buck like being displayed in our channels as well as their own with one production we take that —item— and channel into highly visible blogsites as part of the service therefore I need room to display this info on the front page not easy if you consider all the links on both sides of the blogsite you see we do not need to tie a website to the service

William

send mr something to look at —@—

Me

Have you visited my portfolio?

William

yes

William

two messages need to be delivered to the surfer or prospective buyer 1. all inclusive production services such as —insert long list— etc 2. then immediate Internet Visibility this delivers a great deal of value to the client

Me

So you’re just looking for a design or for programming?

William

design only

Me

Ok, so you have a project brief you could send me? Design requirements?

William

I will tomorrow

Me

thanks

William

k