Hey guys, so somebody hired me to analyze the website speed performance. I was in an email correspondence with their developer and the client (who paid me to do the analysis). The developer is now asking me to send analysis to him first and then they will sort it with the client.
The problem is looks like because I asked a few questions that were pointing to bad decisions in terms of website structuring (4 sections in the header segment instead of 1) and looks like now the client is questioning the developer’s credibility on why he developed the website the way he did.
And now the developer is sending me a different email telling me that it was unpolite that I messaged that directly to the client instead of sending that to him and him communicating that with the client (who paid me).
Who’s in the wrong here and how should I proceed with the correspondence further? I want to make both parties happy.
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Fuck the dev the client paid you just like he paid the dev. Ignore the guy that’s not paying you.
Unless you’re in a country that the social norms would find that inappropriate.
Your contract is with the client, not the developer. The developer has no authority over you.
Note: this is how I handle this sort of thing when it’s come up over the years.
If they have an ongoing relationship with the dev then it’s a good idea to be polite. Even more so if you have no idea what the relationship is between the client and their dev.
I mention this for two reasons
* It’s the WordPress community and it’s a good idea to be supportive of other WordPress people, even if they’re not at the same level of skill or experience we are
* We’ve all been in situations where we had to make tradeoffs between what the client wants (a 13-slide 4K video slider with contact forms in the homepage hero? Ohhh…kaaaay…sirrr) and what the right thing would be. Or tradeoffs between the best thing and what the budget permits.
I’m going to guess that the client CC’d the dev when they asked you to do a review so you did the polite thing and replied-all so they’d see what the client did.
Then the client got snippy with the dev. Could be they don’t have much respect for the dev. Could even be the dev deserves it!
I’m going to say it sounds like one or both of them are trying to pull you into the middle of something they need to work out themselves.
Unless in your opinion the other dev really is over their head (not just a difference of opinion about, say, page builder vs Gutenberg but a real problem) then I’d send a polite note to the dev saying you’re not trying to step on their toes and that you’re happy to back them up with the client.
Then you might send a short note to the client (either CC-ing or even BCC-ing the dev) saying your recommendations are just that, and that you’re happy to let the two of them figure out how to handle your analysis.
Then, again if it was me, I’d invoice the client for the analysis, say “call me if you need me again,” and step away. Let them sort out their personal stuff.
That way, if the client ends up firing the dev they’ll have a strong impression of you and call you back in. If they don’t it could still lead to good testimonials or referrals.
Similarly, the dev will see you as a stand-up person and may also send work your way — either spillover or when they see projects that are over their heads.
Final note: that last bit is the “self-interest” part of the WordPress community: reputation matters and how you interact can make a big difference in the kind of respect, reputation, and referrals you get.
I always stick w the person paying my bill
You deliver and listen to the one paying you. Why do you even need to think twice about this?
Send the analysis to the person who hired you. The bad news is you cannot make both parties happy. The developer did a bad job and you cannot hide that and do your job properly.
I would simply make sure that you make sure to do your write up as professional as possible. Stick to the facts and do not say “Your dev sucked and did a bad job”. Simply say things like “On page Header elements do not follow well established SEO best practices.”
The client will understand and be able to get their site fixed. The dev will be unhappy but it is true and there is no personal attack or blame for them to take issue with.
Report to the client unless instructed otherwise.