[jayhuang]

It's really quite unfortunate. But while true in most cases, it's also not always the case. Having done contract work/consulting for many years, I actually say no quite often. It's surprisingly common for business, especially small and medium sized ones, to make changes that do not improve their business, or even hurt it.

Some read an article online saying "big red buttons increase conversion", and want that along with a full revamp of their system, even though it may not improve anything for their business. I believe that any consultant worth their salt should be cognizant of this, and look out for their client's interests. There is often a gap between what a client says they want and what they really want. Being able to identify that difference is key in delivering value and having leads come in without additional effort.

Everyone can mash together a solution, but it's incredibly rare for a business owner to find a contractor who looks out for them and prevents them from throwing cash at a non-issue. Most business owners have worked with many contractors, and when they find someone who truly cares, most reciprocate.