virutal meetings, uploading, etc

[milano.design]

Hi all, I'm very new to this site. Glad to find it...Especially after today...

I just had a massive crisis this evening with a client, in California, missed a pub deadline while trying to get the client to upload a 122mb file i needed to my idisk space, and it was very frustrating. After two hours of waiting for the upload i realized this is not working. I had sent her to my public idisk space (choosing that because of its ease of use for non computer savvy people). they don't have to join anything, or buy any software or know how to use fetch or ftp lingo... and in this instance last minute changes from her, thought it would be ok....still a disaster.

Some clients are on mac. and i've taught them how to link to my drop box, so that works pretty well. But on occasions like this what else is there? I knew i was in trouble when the client never heard of stuffit... :)

So what does everyone do for transfering files back and forth. Or when you want to show things in real time?

Awhile ago i used meeting manager for a virtual presentation and that too was not a pleasant experience. Slow refresh rates. client not seeing it properly. Stalling. and it wasn't because we were on slow connections. I checked. What i wanted them to do was focus on the work, what we did instead was focus on technical problems and issues. and all involved again got frustrated.

Is there anything out there that is dummy proof so that i can make it seamless for the not so computer savvy client to enjoy the experience and not focus on the technical junk that goes with being virtual?

I contacted idisk support and they told me to download yet another software but that doesn't help me when its the client that isn't going to go to that extreme. They are busy and bothering them with all this is frustrating.

what do you all do?

jojo

[urstwile]

For showing things in real time, why not just e-mail a PDF?

For transferring of large files back and forth, you could try yousendit.com. Basically works by you or your client uploading a file, and the intended recipient receives a download link in their e-mail. The files do need to be zipped or stuffed however.

[milano.design]

thanks urstwile, i did try usendit once. i had problems there too. will go back and take another look.

real time i want to control the speed at which they look at things. by sending a pdf file, they control what they are seeing. not always necessary but a few clients i realized need that extra hand holding. which you lack being virtual..

[urstwile]

I'm not sure what you mean, sorry, when you say they control what they are seeing with a PDF.

[jessicam]

My clients range from PDF/JPG comps through email, to in person meetings, to mailing CDs. I have one guy who refuses to even try to email files. I get cds from him every couple of days. Cracks me up, but what the hell, he's comfortable and I get my needed files.

I've rarely felt a need to direct their viewing. If I need a client focused on individual things I send individual emails, and direct the telephone conversation with a heavy hand.

[milano.design]

what i didn't explain properly i guess, is that he gets the pdf and just starts scrolling thru stuff, without the benefit of my explanation. even if we are on the phone there are times where it would be nice to show and tell, building up the story or whatnot as we go.

This particular client was new. HE wanted a virtual presentation. a true presentation. i had offered just sending the pdf and then call me when he had it open. Like i normally do.

I can see the benefits though of doing it this way. i have the ability to open older renditions, or other files to support my claim, that no this isn't working etc. see? or you don't like this, what about this? and then a photo appears, or whatever.

There is something lost in some instances, when we all aren't in the same room.

for the same meeting using pdf format, i would have had to think too far ahead, sent too many extraneous things, etc.

using a virtual meeting manager, As he asked i supported with whatever i had at the moment. seems more fine tuned. in theory. :)

jessicam i work that way too.. but in todays crunch and client was wanting to swap out a picture at the nth hour this was as best i could do on spur of the moment.

i don't want to have a next time. but if i do then hopefully would be more prepared to have the solutions ready

[John G]

Something like Macromedia Breeze (I guess Adobe Connect now)?
or ClicktoMeet?

webcam, voice, chat, screen sharing, file upload. It is rather expensive though. Connect is fairly easy to use and pretty much if you have Flash installed you're ready to go.