| 10 Tips for Dealing with Sub-Contractors | | | | single operator is often a bad idea because they are |
| I have had a lot of dealings with offshore developers | | | | overwhelmed, overworked, and are trying to juggle |
| over the years, and yet yesterday stepped in my own | | | | several projects at the same time, thus yours may not |
| mess kit as we used to say in the military. (Actually | | | | get the attention it deserves. I suggest you interview |
| we didn't say it exactly like that, but this is PG rated | | | | the prospect over the phone. If they are not reachable |
| article.) And after all of the experiences that I have | | | | by phone (Skype is free, and easy to use) then you |
| had over the years dealing with contractors and | | | | may want to rethink the pro. And if you are having an |
| foreign companies, you would think that I would have | | | | issue with the difference in languages, don't allow that |
| known better. But I was in a hurry and the rest is for | | | | to influence you. You can tell a lot about someone's |
| you, the reader. Before I give you the tips, I'll give you | | | | excitement over a project, their commitment, and |
| the story. And let me say on the outset, this advice is | | | | integrity just through voice infliction. And if the language |
| for anyone, and can happen anywhere, in the U.S., U.K., | | | | issue is too large for you to deal with, then make that |
| wherever... | | | | a part of your pro search. Don't waste your time, or |
| I had several mentors that I respect tell me that we | | | | theirs. In most cases, I believe that text through IM and |
| needed to change up our website home page. So I | | | | email can get you what you want, but if you are |
| hired a company to do that that I knew of, and | | | | looking for a long term relationship, don't start off on |
| respected. After 4 weeks, all I had was a PSD file | | | | the wrong foot. |
| (Adobe) and an apology that they could not do the job | | | | 4. Check the Pro's Work. Take a close look at the |
| because they had gotten really busy and lost their | | | | projects they are showing you, and make sure that |
| primary webmaster. So, I went on a search to find a | | | | the work aligns with the projects that you are wanting |
| new company. I have used for a number of years and | | | | done. If their style of artistry does not impress you, you |
| had pretty good luck with them, so did a search and | | | | are not going to be able to extract something out of |
| selected a company. I had the company take the PSD | | | | the professional that they cannot produce, thus you |
| and convert to a wordpress template (that I had | | | | are not going to be happy. |
| selected) The first time, they converted the PSD to a | | | | 5. Communicate Through the Service. Make sure that |
| WordPress template (that they wanted to use). This | | | | all communication with the professional is done through |
| was not acceptable to me at the time, so I informed | | | | the Workroom of the agency. This builds a case for |
| them, it had to be in the template I wanted to use. My | | | | future arbitration, or change orders, and protects both |
| intention was to have the 5 main pages in a special | | | | the professional and itself. |
| theme I wanted to use. I would then transcribe all of | | | | 6. Escrow the Funds. Do not under any circumstances |
| the pages to the new theme. Well, after 2-3 more | | | | pay the professional any other way than through the |
| weeks the professional handed me the site in "my | | | | escrow of the agency. The agency can handle the |
| template" with the 5 pages completed I requested. (I | | | | funds, and the release of the funds. If you have a |
| was very happy and released the funds to the pro) | | | | written agreement with the professional that spells out |
| When I started to convert some of the other 565 | | | | the project, once the project is done, the funds should |
| pages on my site to the new theme, I rapidly saw that | | | | be released. If the professional is unwilling to release |
| I would be working on this for the next 4 months! So I | | | | the work to you before payment is released, choose |
| went back to the pro and asked them for a quote to | | | | another professional. A reputable professional with a |
| simply change the "existing" home page on the site, | | | | good track record won't worry about getting paid, |
| and decided I could live with the rest of the site and I | | | | they'll worry more about your project. If it is a large |
| would move on, working on SEO and other more | | | | project, you may have to schedule releases of |
| important issues. The professional wouldn't even give | | | | payments based on performance, but I strongly |
| me a quote. I think they thought I was nuts, and | | | | oppose any form of prepayment. The agency can |
| decided that they had better fish to fry. I was willing to | | | | always step in and arbitrate the incident if there is a |
| pay them as much as I had already paid them for | | | | dispute. |
| pretty much the same work, but they obviously | | | | 7. Put a Time Limit on the Project. Ask your |
| passed. So I went in search for a new firm, and this | | | | professional if the timeline you have proposed is |
| time, but a bit more thought into EXACTLY what I | | | | reasonable. In most cases, I don't think it is necessary |
| wanted the professional to produce. | | | | nor reasonable to put a penalty on timed projects. But |
| I used a professional on I gave them explicit | | | | if you do, you should also build in a bonus program of |
| instructions (along with the PSD) and told them that | | | | the same amount if the professional delivers early. But |
| they could upload the home page to the site once it | | | | I do strongly believe that you should agree upon a time |
| had been inspected and confirmed, that all of the links | | | | limit for when the project should be completed. |
| worked etc; What I didn't do was explicably explain to | | | | 8. Do Not Tolerate Excuses. If the professional begins |
| them that it had to be inspected by ME. So they | | | | the project with excuses for delays, issues with the |
| uploaded a site that had broken links all over the place, | | | | project that they did not forsee remind them that the |
| the home page was distorted, and the category | | | | project plan is in writing, and you will not tolerate |
| buttons did not work. Thank goodness I had a backup | | | | excuses. If they see that you are too flexible, they'll put |
| prior to the event, and simply restored to backup and | | | | you off and work on the other projects that are |
| fired the contractor. | | | | making more noise. |
| 1. Use a professional and reputable service like: or Not | | | | 9. Reward the Professional and Take Responsibility. If |
| only do they make the search process easier, but also | | | | you have caused the delays, or changes in the project, |
| rank and have details on the professionals. | | | | admit it to the professional. If you have changed the |
| 2. Build A Project Plan. Put it on paper, then ask | | | | project or timeline, volunteer to pay additional funds for |
| someone else to read it. See if they can explain back | | | | the changes. It will go a long ways towards getting a |
| to you EXACTLY what you are wanting. And make | | | | better project, and developing a long term relationship |
| sure it is someone that you have not been talking to | | | | with the professional. Make sure you are doing |
| the project about. Then put the project down for a | | | | backups of the work that is being done. If they are |
| couple of days, then come back to it and revisit the | | | | modifying existing work, make sure you have backups |
| project. See if there are changes and updates you | | | | of the existing work BEFORE they begin the project. |
| want to make to the project. When you are satisfied | | | | And make sure you do a trial run of the restore |
| that the project plan is complete, post a short | | | | process before you actually have to. Because that is |
| description of the project on your service site. | | | | a bad time to discover it did not work.... |
| 3. Find a professional best suited to you. You will be | | | | 10. Write a Project Journal. After the project, write a |
| overwhelmed with professionals and all of them will try | | | | journal on the result of the project. If it was a good |
| to convince you that they are suited for the job. The | | | | outcome, highlight the reasons why. If the outcome |
| biggest company is not always the best. They have a | | | | was less than suitable, underline the reasons why. And |
| lot of entry level programmers that they want to | | | | if you are happy about the outcome, recommend the |
| educate, and lots of times they'll put them on the new | | | | professional to your friends, associates, and fellow |
| projects under the guidance of the more experienced | | | | business people. If not, do the same. Only through your |
| developers. This means your site will have more | | | | praise or criticism can the professional improve on their |
| mistakes, issues, and take longer than it should. And, a | | | | performance, and both of you win. |