How do you put clients at ease when asking for their login info?

Well, it would help if your a trusted developer, and have a reputation. If your client was referred to you by a friend, they should trust you. If you don't really have anyway to show your legit, convince them that you can't really do much with the login info.

Simple, you don't ask them for their login info.

Tell them to contact their hosting provider and have them help setup FTP access.

If they ask what FTP access is just let them know that it's where you upload files to make there website pop up on the internet.

Ask them to set up another account for you to use. If they aren't comfortable with that, tell them that you will need full access to log in and work on the site. Tell them that you recommend/strongly suggest that once you are done working on the site, that they change the login information so that you are both protected and can be confident that you no longer have access.

I just make it clear that I need full access to their site. That's the way it goes, there's no way or need to make it subtle. Most just hand over their own WordPress and FTP accounts, but of course I'm happy to accept any other arrangement as long as I get the access.

At this point the client has done some research, accepted my offer, and typically had their site build or modified on my dev server. They're already invested in the process.

What I usually do is have them sign an NDA and explain to them that anything between us is strictly only between us. That's part of what gets them a little bit at ease.

After they do that, I tell them to create me an FTP and MySQL database which is all I need to do my work most of the time, of course since they're inexperienced I usually get a "I dont know how to do that", which is great, After that, I tell them to change the password temporarily and after 30 minutes they may change it back, and if they client is local, just do it in front of them to let them know they have nothing to be afraid of!

Again there really isn't a need for a constant login, who knows, maybe if you nag them enough to need this and that, they might just give in and give you the login lol.

Gerardo

What platform are you designing for? For example, all my clients use WordPress. In order to support a very large user base, I have to enter client admin areas quite frequently.

Rather than asking them for *their* login information, I ask them to set *me* up as an admin user. They can easily do this via the WordPress user panel, then they can remove my account once I'm done. They can even have my login sent automatically via WordPress.

In terms of putting them at ease, that's not something I'd suggest you be too concerned with. As long as you always conduct yourself in a professional manner and overdeliver on service and product, you'll earn their respect by the manner in which you deal with them, in the little things and the big.

I do a lot of support on one of my sites, and it's normal thing to ask for admin access when it's necessary. People ask a question, and I answer, but I also say - if you still can't figure it out, please send me admin access and I'll do it for you.

It can be a huge time saver. But, if it's a client, you need to explain that it's just the way it works, give them the reasons why you need it, and what are you going to do. That's it, nothing special required.

My clients trust me, but I always make sure to tell them to change the login information after I'm done, or I will change it for them and send them the new details. This lets them know that I am concerned about their information security.

I'd echo what nettiapina and rhinocl said... just simply ask them point blank for it. I try to just make it the next step in the process. I also set it up in such a way that they can do it if they want, but that they might as well let me, since I'm the expert. For example:

"I'm looking forward to working with you! Just to make sure I understand correctly, you are wanting [insert the things they said they wanted here in your own words so they can confirm you understand]. Is that right? To get started, please go ahead [do complicated task like point domain name to server, set up FTP access, etc.]. Or, if you'd like me to do it I'd be happy to do it for you. Just shoot me the [credentials you need] and I'll get it taken care of."

Framing the conversation in this either / or let's them make the choice to send the details. Hope that helps.

I have always shy'd away from asking them to create additional admin accounts, or access points, this creates unnecessary security holes and accounts that can become compromised.

The best method that I have found to work, (since I have had a few clients in the past that would feel "uneasy" about giving it up) Is just to create a professional looking form as part of business. Fill out these fields, sign and date. Boom. It's the same as going to a car dealership and handing over your keys to the service advisor. If they don't trust you, you have a much bigger problem.

Conduct yourself and transactions with the customer as a professional, and nothing will be questioned.

As a side note, because I require full access on the original account I have caught PLENTY of people that have username/password combos such as "admin/pass123"

It is GREAT to catch this stuff and get it corrected. If you're the last one that was working on it, and they get hacked. You're going to be the one that gets blamed since your the only thing that changed in the scenario. When you take on a client, you take on a big responsibility and it's your duty to ensure that everything is up to par.

Ask them to set up a new admin account for you which they can delete at any time after the work is done. This can make them a bit more comfortable if they truly want the job done.

Properly, it'd help if your a dependable developer, and possess the popularity. In case your customer has been known anyone by way of a friend, they ought to have confidence in anyone. Unless you ever have anyway to demonstrate your own reliable, influence these individuals you are not able to really do a lot with all the sign in details.

I never face such problems. If you are trusted then People will give you excess..

Everyone above is right, I have access to countless logins and Auto Responders including PayPal. Just have them change all the passwords when you are done and correct any ez to guess login/password combos.

Mike

Need a good reason and friendly. To request user information.