Something my old mum used to say invariably made us laugh, in our daft, childish way.
"Hey" she'd say "Get down from climbing that tree! Get down, I said. You know you're not allowed to climb trees. Don't ignore me! Get down ....... OK then, climb the tree but don't come running to me when you've broken your leg".
Ho ho, we'd chuckle, wondering how we were supposed to run with a broken leg. Do all mums say that, I wonder?
But it's funny, that phrase "don't come running to me when ..." pops into my mind on a daily basis; sometimes several times a day.
For instance, don't come running to me when ...
... you don't use our recommended printer, you use your cheapo chap down the road - and your printwork looks awful.
... you insist on various things on your website which are against our advice - and your site can't be found in search engines.
... you art-direct your advertising - and you don't get a single inquiry.
... you don't have your menu properly engineered - and you don't sell the menu items you want to.
... you insist on a flash-only website - and you can't be found in web searches.
... you ignore your blueprint - and you find that a new law insists on text-only versions.
... you choose your own colors - and color-blind people can't see your project properly.
... you let your nephew who 'knows about computers' or your IT guy work on your site - and he destroys it.
... you don't pay attention to our browser testing - and find that your site doesn't work for your neighbor with an old computer.
... you administer your own domain name - and you let it expire.
... you decide on the pagination of your brochure - and the spreads don't correspond.
Oh, you know that there are a hundred more examples. But you also know what I'm trying to get across. We love our clients to have input into their projects. If they suggest something that isn't right for them, we'll let them know; argue, if necessary.
But when it comes down to it, if the client insists, we have to listen. If the client wants something that we know is wrong, and they can't be budged from their opinion, well, we have to bite the bullet.
But remember, DON'T COME RUNNING TO ME.
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