TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-L Archives

Archiver > TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM > 2011-10 > 1319533166


From: "Suzanne" <>
Subject: Re: [TGF] Advice on Difficult Client
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:59:26 +1000
References: <COL107-W2B2BF46E59EEB05FBD60692EF0@phx.gbl>
In-Reply-To: <COL107-W2B2BF46E59EEB05FBD60692EF0@phx.gbl>


My,my! You are lucky to get that amount of information. I am used to getting
A Name and that is it, lol.
Thanks to this group and other professional groups I now automatically try
to back track confirming data clients give me before I start the search. You
have shown me in little ways how invaluable this action is for researcher
and client.

Some I charge for this others I do not depending on how I believe they will
actually 'get it'. For me research is about getting folk to return to our
Society and so quality research will do that and as they continue to return
I then explain my methodology and bring them board with me.
As the saying goes the proof is in the pudding and when clients see how I
validated what they gave me they also learn of new resources themselves
which you can see in their eyes. They get the cake and a little cream on top
and then see the value and pay for it happily.

My one name folk I have to egg on to get more information.
I use the very valid explanation that I am not a local nor do I know
everything they do in their head so I need as much information as they can
give me to make sure I am tracking the right person & family and do not
waste their money.

Now I have begun to do calendars giving links to where I got the information
stating if it is a free or subscription site and time spent.
In a final report prior to payment I include the client fed information and
how I validated that then go into the ongoing research and outcomes. This
tells them without undermining them that I do the back tracking and so it
becomes something they will expect.
I am still nowhere near most of you folk but I am getting there slowly and
as a result I am building up a clientele and our treasurer gets to smile
more as money changes hands.

Suzanne




This thread: