High Heel Designs

I have never been able to figure out what the hell I’m supposed to blog about here.

I mean, I know technically it should be about design-related and industry issues and I’ve tried mightily, but because I’ve been personally blogging online since 1997 (yes, REALLY), I can’t get over the urge to blog personally here.

So I get started on an on-topic post and suddenly find myself veering off into Personalland.

To make matters worse, I have slacked off in my personal blogging since I started designing websites for escorts (six years ago), so one of my biggest outlets has suffered.

Pondering …

Starting IMMEDIATELY, I will be enforcing the free change policy. Your change request MUST be in my email box by 5pm CST on Wednesday evening to be added to that week’s free updates.

If you have a request that you want taken care of BEFORE Thursday, you WILL be charged my regular $30/hr fee, paid in advance, before you are added to the bottom of my current project list.

If you have a request that must be taken care of immediately, you WILL be charged the $60/hr “Rush Rate”.

As always, any emergency situation that puts a client in danger and jeopardy takes precedence over all.

We have all been affected by the economy. Your cost of living has been affected, just as mine has. Everyone loses potential clients when our website is operational (unless of course we are doing OTHER advertising besides our website, which we should be). I have many of the same bills, expenses and responsibilities that you do.

Your rates are non-negotiable. So are mine.

I have three clients who charge less than $250/hr. It takes me nearly TEN HOURS to make what the rest of you make in ONE HOUR.

Title: Vacation
Description: Available for emergencies
Start Date: 2009-08-15
End Date: 2009-08-30

I am now offering basic Mobile Design of your site at High Heel Designs.

Am also getting fired up for my 4th of July giftie to myself: Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd @ Summerfest in Milwaukee! Whoo-hoo.

This will be the third time I’ve seen each of them – first time together.

Yay – go me!

You get what you pay for, first impressions count and you ARE what you eat.

I realize I run the risk of alienating potential future clients, but no disrespect is meant in any way, shape or form. And the possibility exists that I may put a stop to the behavior that’s driving me crazy.

Okay – here’s the first thing. I provide a service, much the same way as many of you do. I am a woman, a wife and a mother, a business owner – much like many of those I do business with – PLEASE DO NOT try and haggle my prices or my business practices with me using the economy or personal troubles as a reason.

I am fully aware of the economy; the truth is that my prices are WELL below the going rate for the quality of work that I provide. I’m sorry that your doctor/laywer/babysitter/previous designer did you wrong or sucked you dry – REALLY, I am.

I’ve been in similar predicaments.

But I am NOT going to cut my prices or work out a deal with someone I don’t know just because they are having a bad stretch of luck.

Oh yeah, it’s Christmas at my house, too and I have a large family to buy for. I didn’t buy any books the past couple of weeks so that I’d have money to spend on Christmas gifts.

???

Please don’t ask my opinion of your website then insult me when I GIVE my opinion. I didn’t seek you out. You asked me what I thought. I gave you a thoughtful, professional opinion based on my experience and expertise.

What? You’d rather I lied to you? Really?!?

Please don’t get pissy with me because I won’t change my business to suit your needs. I will not use copyrighted material without permission on your website. I will not accept a form of payment that I don’t currently accept. I WILL NOT work without a 2257 notice on your site.

My time IS as valuable as yours.

I troll the boards every day, just like many of you. We all read and sympathize with the posts from providers who are offended when clients complain about prices; we all read and are angered by the posts from hobbyists who tell providers that they charge too much. We sympathize and we are angry because you and I are the same. We are providers.

Please treat me with the same respect as you would have from YOUR clients.