You’ve been working with your web designer for weeks, and suddenly they are unable to finish the design project. Your product has a specific launch date, and you have to have a functional website up and ready to launch. You are in a bind and turn to Heyday Web Media for rescue.
And we say no.
We know how important it is to get the job done right. This is why we don’t take on rush jobs and always aim for excellence in our work.
As copywriters, designers, and web developers, we are responsible for creating quality products for our clients. We do not want them settling because they have a deadline coming up or need something sooner rather than later. Rushing the process of creativity without thoughtfulness leads to an overall decrease in quality that can undermine all of your goals and ultimately leave us both unhappy with the experience. Keep reading for the three more reasons we decline rush jobs.
Just a quick sidebar: a “rush” turnaround time is highly dependent on the nature and scope of your project. There’s no uniform definition of what constitutes “rush delivery” because different types of deliverables require more or less work than others do, so there isn’t one fixed standard timeline for every client’s needs.
1) Discovery and strategy get left on the cutting room floor.
A well-done web design or messaging strategy involves more than just throwing words on a screen and hoping for the best – it requires careful planning, attention to detail, and multiple rounds of revision. That’s why an average job includes a comprehensive discovery process with both client interaction and research time devoted to coming up with ideas that will have maximum impact on lead generation or branding goals. An average timeline takes into account all phases involved, from brainstorming creative concepts through finalizing layouts while adding buffers for any unforeseeable delays.
But on a rushed timeline, the first thing that gets killed is discovery and strategy because the creation process has to start immediately to complete the project on time. That opens up a lot of room for error but eliminates any room for revisions, a recipe for a less than optimal product.
2) It sets us up to do mediocre work.
If you’re going to commission a rush project, be prepared for average quality work. In the absolute best-case rush scenario, corners must be cut in discovery- leading to a lack of alignment between the client and the designer/writer- and in the process- which can lead to gaps in quality assurance.
Our goal at Heyday is always to produce the highest quality product, and if we are rushing, stressed, and cutting corners on our process, we are unable to work to our strength.
3) It is burdensome to the client.
Heyday values providing concierge service to our clients. We want you to sit back, relax, and let us create something beautiful that reflects your brand and converts business for you. Because rush jobs forgo the discovery and strategy process, we must rely on our clients for approvals and information outside the revision process. And that communication has to happen ASAP in order to keep the project moving towards completion. The amount of back-and-forth can apply added pressure to the client in an already stressful situation.
4) Our other clients suffer.
Rush jobs, by nature, are all-consuming. They require all-hands-on-deck from start to finish and, even then, may only reach the level of a minimum viable product. In the meantime, our other clients may feel the effects of our distraction, and their products may also suffer.
5) We value work/life balance for our staff.
We value a healthy work/balance for our staff, and, frankly, rush jobs require a level of stress and pressure that we don’t feel is necessary. We strive for excellence in our work, so rush projects put undue pressure on our staff to work late nights and weekends to meet the project deadline and maintain that level of excellence. We believe that creativity and productivity thrive best in a well-balanced, well-rested team, and ultimately, that is a higher value to us than the additional rush fee.
At Heyday Web Media, we aim to do our best work for all of our clients and work hard to establish a schedule to allow that level of thoroughness and excellence. That is why we choose to decline rush projects. We genuinely believe that “rushed work is rarely good, and good work is rarely rushed,” and at the end of the day, we sleep better knowing that ALL the work we complete falls into the category of not just good but great.