I agree fully.

Clients not wanting to be part of the process (other than to pay a low fee) are the real problem here. If clients become more part of the process then the flim flam providers will find themselves on thinner ground and fade away. Plus, better involved clients create better profits.

That is the whole reason for my business – to educate clients in what and how to create a Sales Flow rather than simply how to turn on Wordpress and OS Commerce.

The string analogy is fantastic, and makes me think of a (really) old post I wrote over at Search Engine Guide: How Much Will it Cost to Get More Traffic to My Website?

Of course, the flip side to marketers who don’t think too deeply about the client are clients without a willingness to engage in and own their marketing. We facilitate marketing – we don’t work miracles.

@Kim I hear you re the high and mighty We must be willing to have meaningful dialog with those who consume our marketing services. The web marketing industry can feel a bit incestuous at times, no?

Any area takes time and experience to develop. No one in their right mind would build an aeroplane or house without involving some seriously bespetacled and bearded fellows but they are prepared to build a sales process with no plans whatsoever.

I was asked yesterday how much it cost to build an e-commerce site. I said how long is a piece of string? I suggested that he build some plans and then a real quote could be generated. His answer was that Wellington didn’t go into battle with any plans and that’s how he beat Napoleon. Ummm?

Wellington collected and trained his Generals and troops very well. He knew what his options were and he had not one plan but several contingencies too. W was able to be confident that his troops would stand under fire, advance when required and wheel to the left to take advantage wen it presented. That is a great plan.

Someone will build this man’s website. Will his web sales outlet work? Will customers enjoy the process? I think not. Of course he will blame the internet for the failure. The ‘developer’ will feel happy that he did what he was asked to do so and he has the cash. No one wins but there will be another eager prospector in line…