The client I'm meeting today is either serious, or is blowing smoke up my ass...no middle ground.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

A good friend who I've known for over 35 years...I got him his first job, and he rose from a guy in the warehouse to the CEO...is working at a new company. Same industry, new playground. He's the VP.

He knows the company's Website is an embarrassment for a number of reasons I won't go into here...it just has a weak, wordy, needy, "too eager to please" tone.

He orchestrated a meeting between the president and I for 2:00 today. Originally it was scheduled for 10 and got rescheduled. There's a 50-50 chance I'll get a call today before 2:00 rescheduling it again.

The president is waffling between "I want a new Website and know I need one" and "I can't spend the money."

I looked up the company on Manta. Their estimated yearly earnings are between $1.5 and $2 million.

He needs a solid Website with an even more solid marketing foundation. There is also an opportunity for back-end programming. He has an online information management / ordering system that his clients use, and on the current Website, the "Log In" button only leads to his home page.

So by the end of the day I will know if he's serious or not. I know my friend has been lobbying for me consistently behind the scenes. If he brings me in and I transform the business it will be a feather in his cap. I'm ready...I just don;t know if the owner is fishing or wishing.

If you have any spare good vibes, I could use them.

:toast:

[Mr. Ected]

1. Could you offer him a graduated program

To induce him to jump on NOW, but sparing him the apprehension of spending big bucks?

No one wants to spend money these days.

Perhaps if you could get him on-board in the short-term, you could prove your worth over the long haul and ultimately have your cake and eat it too.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. That's what I hope to do...

...his biggest issue isn't that clients can't log in via his Website...it's the fact that he lacks a clear, simple, direct message that speaks directly to the needs of his current and potential clients.

So I hope to present a "Phase 1" and "Phase 2" approach (or beyond).

[Richardo]

2. "Go - and do good things."

This is what my company's CAO told me when I pitched a savings initiative to her last month. And so I pass it along to you. :D

[nuxvomica]

3. Sending vibes...

For Amerigo Vespucci's business, his friend's career, and, last but not least, to reduce the total number of clunky websites on the internets. ;-)

[Call Me Wesley]

4. Good vibes coming!

I know how that feels ...

[Yavin4]

6. Here's How You Should Pitch Building A New Website To Your Client

Show him his competitors' website(s), and make him understand that in order to be competitive, he needs a much more advanced website just to stay in business.

Also, tell him the value of the business intelligence that he will be able to harvest with a more advanced website. He will be able to know exactly what products are selling. Who they are selling to, and where they are selling. With this kind of information, he can build more sophisticated marketing campaigns.

In essence talk about the value of a new website for his business, and not just how snazzy you can design one.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

7. Excellent advice...

...I always approach it from the business standpoint, never design "first," because there are too many designers in this valley who simply lack marketing / sales experience.

His current site doesn't "look bad"...it's only when you start reading it that the problems become clear.

And regarding the competition, yes...he's a small shop in a sea of much larger competitors. The challenge here is not only how can he go nose-to-nose with them, but do them one better.

:toast:

[Yavin4]

8. Also, Talk About Using That Site For His Suppliers As Well

He probably has a lot of suppliers as well. How does he know that he's getting the best prices for his supplies? Well, maybe if he had some sort of competitive bidding through his website then he would be able to secure the best prices for his supplies.

[blogslut]

9. Break a leg!

:hi:

[rrneck]

10. Go git 'em! nt

[Amerigo Vespucci]

11. 50-50 chance just became a 100% chance...rescheduled for tomorrow

Got a call just a few minutes ago from my friend, two hours before I was supposed to be there. Thank God it wasn't any later than that because it's a one hour drive and the gas for the round trip comes to around $12.

So there's another 50-50 chance that the same thing will happen again tomorrow.

I spent the weekend and all of this morning preparing, psyching myself up, now I have to sideline that and shift gears and do something productive with the rest of my day and holy shit, am I fucking sick of this economy.

That is all.

:rant:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. My dear Amerigo Vespucci...

Ah, sweetie...

I am so sorry to hear this...

Hang in there........do something for you...try to rest.

I want to bang his head against the wall for having done this to you, of all people...

:hug:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

13. Thanks CP...I am trying to look at today's events philosophically, in the big picture...

...maybe I needed more time to prepare, you know?

And maybe I would have been a bit "anxious" if I'd gone today.

I don't know...the older I get, the more pragmatic I become, and the more I feel like things that are supposed to happen happen when they should, everything else happens at a later date or not at all.

:toast:

[kimi]

14. Best wishes and vibes

From what I've gathered from your posts in the past, you seem to be a consummate professional and very detail-oriented. And, of course, you look like a Man in Black. :) Knock em out!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

15. Thank you kimi...I am humbled by your kind words.

I work very, very hard for my clients. I've had three of them now...who do not know each other and have never spoken...speak highly of the "passion" in my work. I love it when my clients say that, because it's just what I do, just what I am. When they see it and feel it, it is rewarding beyond words.

And they're right. I go to work, relentlessly, to push my clients' success right through the roof...and beyond.

And yes, when I go there tomorrow, they WILL be getting a visit from a Man in Black.

:-)

:toast:

[WinkyDink]

16. It's the end of the day here! I hope he was serious!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

17. Yes, I emailed him...

...and I got a very encouraging response.

The owner's excuse for not being available today was legit...it didn't make me happy, but I can't argue with it.

So I will have to say "to be continued tomorrow..."

...but there is reason for optimism.

:toast:

[quakerboy]

18. Break a leg

But yaknow, not really a leg. But break their brains with the power of your presentation. You know that what you have for them is good. All you have to do is let them know it too. best luck.