ghosting
being ignored by a client, despite having things to resolve.
Similar to ghosting, breadcrumbing is where conversations with potential clients are dragging on and on, without ever committing to a piece of work. Sometimes it might be that the scope continually changes, perhaps it’s just as simple as two weeks passes between each email or call, sometimes it’s the endless promise of work that never just materialises.
In some ways, breadcrumbing is worse that ghosting. At least with ghosting, after perhaps 4 weeks, you can accept they’re no longer interested, and write off the conversation. But with breadcrumbing, you’re being teased with the opportunity of work, and the decision to walk away can be incredibly hard, because it feels like there’s a higher chance of converting the deal.
It can even lead to you turning down other work because you think you’re about to be unavailable, and taking on Client B when you’ve in discussion with Client A could put both at risk of under-delivering.
Timely resolution of brief to scope to contract is essential for all parties involved, and ghosting and breadcrumbing are problems which small and sole-person businesses are facing daily, rather than focusing on doing their best possible work.