How to politely talk a client out of music on their site?

Loves his MIDI files playing in the background...yikes

[alexcarter]

I am finishing redesigning a website for a client of mine. Their site was in pretty bad shape when I got my hands on it. I am finishing up the site now, and my client is asking me if he should change the music that plays on his pages. He "really likes "We Are The Champions" playing on his services page, but maybe change the others?"

How can I politely tell him that having that music on ths site is god-awful? lol

Are there statistics about music turning traffic away? The site looks like a million $$$ now, but having crappy MIDI files cue up with the site....(shudders)

[bcolflesh]

I’ve paid my webhosting dues -
Time after time -
I’ve done my validation
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes
I’ve made a few
I’ve had my share of embedded midi kicked in my face -
But I’ve come through.

[jimbeetle]

Welcome to WW.

How can I politely tell him that having that music on ths site is god-awful?

You can't, he has to experience it for himself. Send him links to five or so of the most obnoxious sites you can find, preferably ones where there's no on/off button.

Turn the volume up loud. Lock him in. Wait.

[pendanticist]

Ask him/her how they'd react to, say something from Gwar at three in the morning during a sleepless night of quiet surfing?

I used to have a list of sites that used music, which I would show to folks. Their instructions were to view these sites with no white noise in the house and with speakers on...late in the evening ( after the house goes to sleep ) and again in the early morning ( before the house wakes up ).

Pretty soon they saw the 'err of their ways....er, should I say heard?

It's one thing to love a song and incorporate that love in our lives, but not everyone likes the same music, much less any music at all when visiting a web site.

[Birdman]

Have them read this:

My Website Talks! [webmasterworld.com]

Sorry, I couldn't resist;)

[danieljean]

Conversion rates for sites that pull these stunts are horrible.

How will that affect linking? I imagine DMOZ might not even add a link. Oops, there goes pagerank...

If the customer doesn't get it, make them happy and add sound. And try to find smarter clients :)

[figment88]

why do you have to be polite?

[jamesa]

I had success getting rid of a flash intro splash page (that led to another splash page, argh) by telling them that splash pages are out of vogue now. Like fashion, gotta keep up. :)

At the very least, talk them into an off button. I tell clients that a lot of people surf from work. Audio is a major bust and nothing will get someone to close a window faster.

[bedlam]

Perhaps you could use the word 'copyright' to convince the client to remove the sound...

-B

[worker]

Try telling them that they should offer the music as an option to their visitors, but that it should be in the 'off' position by default.

They can place a big 'Turn on some cool music' button on the site for those that share their musical tastes.

[Hunter]

Polite, sorry can't help you there :)
As far as what to tell them, I'd tell them that if you snooze, you loose. If your playing music on your site when people land, well your just not paying attention.

[Robert Charlton]

This thread is a classic on the subject... Got almost as long as a Google update thread...

Background Music
Is it a good or bad feature
[webmasterworld.com...]

Some representative responses:

I hate it. I just hate it. Oh, how much i hate it. If i hear a midi sound at a web page i close it immediately. Seriously. No second visit.

Please dont do it :)

They slow things dwon also, well the ones I have come across. It makes me think of tacky.

users would prefer to make their own choice about whether to play the music

I think showing your client some quotes, and there are a lot of them, might help convince him. If not, he deserves what happens....

[alexcarter]

Well, the updated site I designed for the client is up and...well...check it out for yourself:

<de-linked>

[edited by: Travoli at 4:37 pm (utc) on Feb. 12, 2004]
[edit reason] sorry, no personal site links please! [/edit]

[balinor]

Alex, please read the Terms of Service [webmasterworld.com], as posting of URLs is not allowed at Webmaster World. Thanks!

[Blue_Wizard]

If your client is playing "We are the champions" on their site they are going to get slapped with fines for public performance royalties and copyright infringement unless they happen to have been in a band called Queen.
Financial penalties are usually a good motivator in talking a client out of doing something stupid.

[ergophobe]

unless they happen to have been in a band called Queen.

Which doesn't necessarily ensure they have the rights to web distribution of the MIDI, by the way. They probably have performance rights, but their label may still have all reproduction rights. But I suppose they weren't in Queen anyway....