while I was with my client. I have a business owner that I am training to set up her social media, starting with facebook. It was on-site so I was at her store. I prefer to use existing technology since that is what she will use. I do, however, take my tablet, laptop or ipad, and my camera, with me just in case.

Today we took pictures using my camera. Found out that the SD card for some reason did not work with her computer using Vista. Plan B: use the ipad to take pictures. This time the pictures would not post to facebook (she had logged on facebook with the ipad, not my first choice) because ipad does not have flash, it wanted adobe flash. Plan C: Use the android tablet, but, the pictures were on the ipad! send pics to her email. Then her computer decided it wanted to go really, really slow; and it had to do 19 windows updates!!! So then we have the pictures but she has to decide what order she wants them in, and what the captions should be. After 5 hours the project was complete. But,, she only wanted to pay for 2. I did agree mostly because there were so many "issues" that I did not want to appear that I was the problem. Sigh.

I really hate it when things don't go smoothly but I always have plans B,C,D etc.. for that reason. Then I worry that my credibility is compromised. I am also prepared for those clients who are budget conscious and have limited resources ( her computer had no virus protection, she was using a neighbor's wifi, and she had Vista OS, ugh!).

So any similar stories or words of wisdom? If this happens too many times I could start to lose my confidence.

thanks for "listening"
diana

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Diana Buchanan
When You Don't Have the Time

Diana,

I would not be too stressed as it was because her technology was out of date. The neighbors wifi just cracks me up!

When going live for any services, whether presentation or meeting I take my own technology for that very reason. I do find out ahead of time what technology they have so I can keep a leg up on any hiccups. However if I am doing a one on one I always meet virtually (usually through GoToMeeting) to avoid these types of issues and keep the clock where it should be.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Frankly, I never use client's technology for this reason. I can control mine. So, I take my laptop etc. with me, or even better, use meeting software, or PC sharing software, to have meetings remotely.

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Michele Wilcox
Vineyard Virtual Services

It looks like you made the very best of this situation! Scary/funny to think someone would be in biz without their own internet connection, and without antivirus software, since the cost of this is minimal. At least you know to vigorously scan anything she emails you! I would also wonder about the future reality of getting paid if someone is cutting corners so severely and isn't able to afford the basics.

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Virtual Bankruptcy Paralegal
www.bkprep4u.com

Anyone who has "plans B,C,D etc" would not lose credibility with me. You tried a bunch if different things to get it to work. I think that shows problem solving & creativity.

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

I think as long as you kept up a good "face", as in kept the mood light with all the problems and kept smiling through it all, you would not lose any credibility. And as someone else said, her technology was so out of date and the client must of realized that was a big part of the problem.

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Trudy Del Brocco
TVA Tru-Virtual Assistance

Great job, Diana. You worked through all of the issues and ultimately gave the client what she wanted. It was definitely a learning experience and you came away with quite a bit more knowledge. My perception would be that you see a project through to the very end - no loss of credibility whatsoever.

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Leslie Sansone Williams
LeslieSansoneWilliams.com