Introduction
Heard the phrase "under-promise and over-deliver"?
This week, we'll take a close look at deadlines, and how breaking a
promise by over-delivering can convert a client into a grateful fan of
your business.
While we're on the subject of deadlines, I delve into the Web
goldmine--otherwise known as the SitePoint web site archives--to uncover
some great further reading in the SitePoint blogs and articles.
We've also extended the deadline of our Tribune survey: a copy
of The Web Design
Business Kit 2.0, valued at $247, is still up for grabs, so if you
haven't filled out our (very short) survey yet, there's still time!
Where have the SitePoint team and I been for much of the last week?
Well, I'll give the low-down on our recent conference adventure at Web
Directions South 2008.
We'll wrap up this issue of the Tribune by talking about the
giant that is Google. Was it really only a month ago that it announced its
new web browser? Can you believe that now there's breaking news concerning
a cell phone?
Enjoy the reading!
Miles Burke
tribune@sitepoint.com
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Summary
Editor's Perspective
Break Your Own Promises
A few weeks ago--September 5 to be exact--I ordered myself a shiny new
car.
The experience went along these lines. First, I did lots of research and
decided on my ideal vehicle make and model. Then, I went to the only
dealership in my city that sells this type of car.
I met one of the salespeople, we took it for a drive, I looked at all
the options and discussed all the features, and pretty much made up my
mind. This process took a few visits, and then we got down to negotiating
the two big questions: cost and delivery date.
Those of you who've worked in the Web for some time will have become
accustomed to expecting everything instantly, as I have; however, when we
reached this stage, the salesman had some bad news.
He first started by saying that it could take anywhere from two to six
months to take delivery of the car, depending on the model and options
that I decided on. After a few phone calls, he was pleased to announce
that he'd found the exact model and options I wanted on the other side of
the country, and that he could offer me a six-to-eight week window for
delivery.
I was crestfallen--I wanted the car right then, or next week at the
latest. Then I realized this really did boil down to just my own
impatience. I decided to go ahead with the purchase anyway, given that I
was already in love with the features and the idea of driving the car, and
placed my order.
I've been thinking about this experience over the last few weeks, in
terms of what a close analogy this situation offers to most web site
projects. I'm talking about the common scenario where the client (in this
case, myself) becomes sold on the concept of you doing the work, loves the
options you've offered them, and they want the finished product right
now--but of course, it's impossible to have that site or feature built
until after their ideal deadline.
I felt for the poor sales guy at the dealership, who could see my
disappointment, and resigned myself to the fact I wouldn't be getting
behind the wheel of this vehicle until mid-to-late October.
So you can imagine my delight when I got a call last Friday to say I
could pick the car up the following Tuesday, only three-and-a-half weeks
after I placed the order!
Not only has it made me super-pleased with the product, but very
appreciative towards the sales guy and the dealership. The cynic in me
wonders if perhaps they always intended to have the car sooner, but they
always add some leeway to their timelines, just in case.
The result of this situation is that they have broken their own promised
deadline by weeks, and their business now has a very big fan. With that in
mind, look at your own projects--how hard would it be for you to add a few
weeks or a month to the deadlines you promise, and then work hard as you
can to meet the original date anyway?
We've all heard that cliche about under-promising and over-delivering,
but when you're the client, it certainly feels like a great result! Try
this theory with your next project, and let me know how it goes--I'm very
confident that your next client will become your biggest fan if you manage
to deliver quicker than planned.
From the Archives
Managing Deadlines
In July 2004, Andrew Neitlich blogged about deadlines, and breaking
them, in Avoid
the top pet peeve in professional service delivery. He also elaborates
further, with three distinct examples, in a December 2004 blog post: The
importance of delivering and delighting clients, and why it is so
rare.
Akash Mehta touches on deadlines in his great article from earlier this
year, 8
Top Tips for Young Entrepreneurs. Akash has some great additional tips
besides sticking to your deadlines.
Deadlines and deliverables are an important component of project
management--in Meri Williams's great article from earlier this year, The
Principles of Project Management, Meri explains why we need to manage
client expectations. SitePoint has published a book by Meri with the
same name, which I have found to be a really good read.
SitePoint Tribune Survey
A big thanks to everyone who has completed our Tribune survey
so far. An unfortunate error crept into the last issue which resulted in
us publishing the incorrect link for the survey--thanks to the many of you
who wrote in to point this out! As a result, we're extending it the
deadline until next Wednesday. Here's that link one more time: http://sitepoint.com/launch/tribune08/.
The winner of a free copy of Brendon Sinclair's The Web Design Business
Kit 2.0 (valued at $247) will be announced in the next issue. Stay
tuned!
Web Directions South Wrap-up
I had the pleasure of spending time in the SitePoint HQ offices the day
before Web Directions South
2008, and then travelling to Sydney, Australia, with the team.
It was great to meet a number of readers over those few days and gain
feedback on the Tribune and SitePoint in general--on behalf of
the team at SitePoint, thank you!
Our fearless Managing Editor, Matthew Magain, posted two great reviews
of the conference, at Web
Directions South, Day One: Conversation Is King and Web
Directions South, Day Two: Crowd vs Community.
A highlight of the conference was the social events; in particular, the
evening event, WebJam. Talented SitePoint designer and Design View
editor Alex Walker penned a great write-up, WebJam
8: Smells Like Geek Spirits (and Beer).
A hidden gem on the web is the Resources section of the
Web Directions web site. It features loads of audio and slideshows
from previous conferences, and over the next few weeks, this latest
conference's materials will be posted for your interest.
Did I Say Google?
Only a few weeks ago, I postulated that the giant that starts with G was pushing
the envelope with its focus, buying so many start-up web companies as well
as launching its own web browser.
Now, the team at Google have announced the Android mobile phone. You'd
have had to be under a rock not to hear of it, with literally thousands of
blog posts, articles, and media mentions in the first two weeks. The
question of whether Google is losing focus is quickly fading against the
question of how it can maintain its recent velocity!
What will Google's next product look like? Send your speculations to tribune@sitepoint.com!
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I trust you've gotten something out of this edition of the SitePoint
Tribune, and that you'll trust me by exceeding your next promise.
Until next week, thank you for reading!
Miles Burke
tribune@sitepoint.com
Editor, SitePoint Tribune
Whilst at the Web Directions South conference, Matt got the opportunity
to chat with the talented designer behind popular web sites Digg and
Pownce, Daniel Burka. The interview reveals some fascinating insights into
the design decisions behind one of the most highly trafficked sites in the
world.
In this
tutorial, the third in Akash's series on learning Adobe AIR, you'll see how
to convert your own web application to a nifty desktop application. Along
the way, you'll also learn how to upload files, talk to the server, and
more. Take a quiz to win a free book!
The
emerging OpenSocial standard is a powerful new API for creating exciting
new mashups. In this tutorial, Jack shows how to mix Google Maps, Flickr,
and OpenSocial using Adobe Flex. Take the quiz at the end for your chance
to win a book!