How to survive “Difficult Times”?
Difficult times are just a part of living. Difficult times are present for everyone. So how do you or your organization overcome difficult times? While our agency does not concise of any medical or legal authorities, we do employ the following strategy for overcoming difficult times.
But what are difficult times? Business is usually centered around loss opportunities. What is a lost opportunity? Missed opportunities are generally the foundations of difficult times. In our agency, we had four loss opportunities within a two-month span. They included the following.
First Loss Opportunity
Our agency was contracted to create a website and marketing strategy for a non-profit. We negotiated the price for the project and the monthly fee for the marketing strategy. The prospective sent us the down payment and the project was delivered in a timely manner. The down payment check cleared and the prospective provided images, and content. Once the project was completed, the prospective sent us the final payment. The check did not clear. We reached out to the prospective and advised the check did not clear. We were advised that the prospective had received a check and it had a hold on it. The check was supposed to be good within a week. We left the site up, and waited for a week. We contacted the prospective’s financial institution to see if the check was good. The check was still not good. When we reached out to the prospective, the number was not active. Their email bounced back.
We sent a certified letter to the prospective and took the site down pending the final payment. We have not heard from this perspective.
Second Loss Opportunity
Our agency was contacted by an organization to create a website for their side job. Per our contract language, we only work for organizations and not individuals. This lead was a colleague of one of our employees. We agreed to take on this project. We secured the down payment and built out the prospective’s website. The prospective indicated that they did understand WordPress, and would not need our support service. During the final revision stage, the prospective continue to send us additions and not updates. We quickly realized that the perspective was still gathering content and did not know how to update a WordPress website.
We asked for the final payment, as these updates should have occurred prior to the final revision stage. The prospective refused to pay, and would not forward the final content.
Third Loss Opportunity
Our agency was contacted by a non-profit organization to create a website and mobile application. The project was to begin within a couple of months. We contacted the non-profit for the down payment and were notified by the founder, that they would not be in a position to begin the project. The founder’s parent was diagnosed with a serious illness. The founder was going to be the parent’s main caregiver and the non-profit organization was looking for a new executive director. The executive director would be responsible for the organization, including the digital platforms.
Fourth Loss Opportunity
Our agency was contracted by a faith-based organization about creating a website. We sent a contract and down payment. Nothing was received from the prospective within a couple of weeks. We reached out and were advised that the contract would be signed, and payment issued within a few weeks. After about three weeks, no contact or payment. We reached out again and were told that the contract would be signed, and payment issued within a couple of weeks. These responses would be forwarded to our agency for the next several months. We closed the file and advised the faith-based organization that the quote has expired. We would not be in a position to work with them without a retainer. We have not heard from this perspective.
Overcoming Disappointment
While our agency has not closed the door on any of these perspectives, we are in business to creative digital platforms. Our agency fell back on our daily routines to move toward more opportunities and did not dwell on these lost opportunities. One of our values, is not all projects are for us. Our agency still reviews our practices on successful and non-successful projects. We will send out questionnaires to perspectives about their experiences and how we can get better.
Conclusion
Growth comes from learning from the good experiences, as well as, the bad experiences. Our agency measures and analyzes all areas of business. We do this to make sure that we are presenting the best product, and service. If your organization needs a digital presence, then feel free to contact us at info@jdswebdesign.biz or 678-718-5489.
Image courtesy of Kateryna Hliznitsov.
JDS WebDesign is a Web Design and Brand Marketing Agency located in Marietta, Georgia. We create AWESOME on line presence for Start-ups and Influential People/Organizations. To learn more about us or how we can help you and your organization, you can contact us or schedule a meeting.
Join our mailing list to keep up with JDS WebDesign and find get tutorials and information about how to improve your website or business.
Get Your Mobile Application TODAY!!!
Unlock your next state of growth. Mobile applications that change minds & deliver more!!!
CLICK THE RED BUTTON BELOW TO GET STARTED!!!
