webwoman - 6:35 pm on Jun 18, 2004 (gmt 0)

I agree with John-k. Advise against it, and then do it if they insist. It's the client's money.

I had a client who *said* he wanted seo, he *said* he wanted to generate leads from the site...but he continually asked for these corny graphics, outdated klunky designs, anti-seo things, etc. I continually 'educated' him, and he would listen politely to my advice, and then promptly ask for the same thing I had just advised against.

Finally I had a heart to heart talk with him and in the course of it I discovered that the website was actually a vanity site for him. He wanted his friends and family to be able to type his name into a search engine and his site to come up first. He would never say this or admit to it, but it was clear enough to me.

Once I realized this, I gave him everything he asked for. He recommends me to all his friends and thinks I'm just the greatest - even tho his website produces little to no traffic. There comes a point where you just give the client what they want...with warnings of course.

-webwoman