Arrogance and Ignorance

I was appointing a structural engineer to do some calculations for my current house renovation project last month.

The house needed some structural alterations and I had to get some beams designed for some of the more bespoke features I've designed for the house.

The structural engineer knows that I work with a chartered building surveyor and that my websites generate all of the practice's new enquiries - and they are usually nice, big clients!

After I had paid the money and got my calculations, the structural engineer said that I would need further assistance, but not to worry, as his fees included all follow-up advice and help, so I was fairly happy.

Thinking about how easy it would be to generate sales leads for a structural engineer, I set about locating a nice domain for the project.

That's when I noticed one for sale on Sedo, so I placed my offer and landed the domain. In fact, the transfer only went through yesterday, but it's a nice domain, only let down slightly by the fact that it's a .net and I don't usually buy them.

However, who could reisist a generic like "StructuralEngineer.net" when looking for a name for a structural engineer? Not me!

I had this plan to throw up a web site and just feed sales leads to the guy, as he'd clearly he;ped me out of a tricky situation with the house.

There was only one problem.

The promised follow-up advice proved to be a lot harder to get thatn I had been lead to believe. In fact, the guy wouldn't take my phone calls and wouldn't return them either.

I left many messages and was always told that he was too busy.

I even delivered plans to his office by hand and left a note as to what I needed. No reply.

Frustrating isn't the word. I was incensed that anyone in business could treat me that way. It made me think about how I do business and I've taken a long hard look at my methods.

Thinking back, I cannot recall a time when I haven't returned a phone call (even the uncomfortable ones), answered an email or given somebody the benefit of my experience when it's been asked for.

I then looked at the people I already work with and they are exactly the same. They are also successful.

Now I have a domain looking for a good business. It's ok, as the ad appears on the domain.

If you follow a business model like mine, where you develop sales enquiries for local businesses, remember that the leads will be wasted if the business doesn't treat it's customers right.

Arrogance and ignroance have no part in the business world. I only want to deal with the cream when it comes down to my own personal dealings. Anything is just not good enough.

There is a happy ending to my little tale of woe.

Another structural engineer stepped in and produced my calculations and additional drawings. He delievered one drawing at 10pm. He visited the site to understand the project. He speaks to me if I call him and better still, he didn't ask for payment.

Since then, he has been instructed on three commercial projects that I've been involved in, that came via one of my surveying sites. If he had his own practice, then StructuralEngineer.net would be promoting it.

To succeed in any business, you only have to be 1 degree better than the competition and remember that many people just don't have a clue.