I am a self-published author in Charlotte, NC and am writing about my ghastly client experience
with Dean Bauguss Consulting. At the time I began using Mr. Bauguss services, he told me that he was self-employed as he had built a successful marketing/social media business and client base.
On October 7, I received my first communication from Dean Bauguss:
Thank you so much for reaching out to us! * This sounds like an exciting opportunity and I believe that we can help market and build your brand in Charlotte and beyond. After speaking with Jennifer, I already have several ideas that I would like to discuss with you. He goes on to describe the services he provides in his contract: This would include social media management as well as PR and Marketing services to include booking appearances at local businesses like Discovery Place, coordinating with non-profit organizations, and television and print media appearances.
*Us includes Jennifer Bauguss, Deans sister, who I reached out to initially for potential marketing services as I had reviewed her website. She referred me to Dean, explaining that he handled clients in the Charlotte area, although they collaborate regularly.
During the initial 3-4 months of working with Dean, he updated my Twitter and Facebook pages, adding Twitter contacts and some Facebook contacts, as well as tweeting relevant info about my book. He arranged for several book readings at local schools. He assisted in contacting several NC bookstores to have my book made available for sale on a
consignment basis (this does not include Park Road Books contacted them myself.)
While I did not have problems with Dean during this time, ultimately he was unable to secure media coverage (including book reviews in the local paper, TV or radio appearances) or really drive sales. For example, I was visiting a local school on January 27 to do a reading and also donate books.
I emailed Dean on 1/11 for help on potential media coverage and he replied sent email to tv stations/newspapers and will hit up the reporters on twitter/facebook as well to see what we can make happen. Well, nothing happened, and thats how it goes sometimes. I had also asked him to make contact with the gift shop at the NC Zoo, and he replied on January 30 that I did send an email back in October but it seems I never received a reply.
As I am a self-published author working within a budget to at least break even, I let Dean know I could not continue with our agreement. He then offered a reduced monthly rate (I never asked, he offered), which I accepted. As of February he invoiced me at the new rate, for marketing, promotions, and PR services.
In the meantime, a relative of mine went to Barnes & Noble in Raleigh, NC and asked about the process for submitting a book, and called me with a name and number of an employee at the store. I asked Dean to contact her, which he did, and he subsequently received the instructions for submissions to B&N. I asked that he put together the information they required, including a marketing plan, which he said he did and submitted. I was pleased when several weeks later, I received a letter from B&N asking for a few copies of my book, BUT I would have to be set up with one of their approved distributors prior to doing business with them.
I let Dean know I had received the approval and emailed him the vendor list on February 11. He then reached out to the various distributors and received some emails with their requirements. We set up a time to meet on March 6: Got your voicemail. I think that sending the review copy is a good idea to see what they think. I'll check with Jennifer and see what she thinks as well. I am also attaching the email for Pathway that I just got back this afternoon. I will review and we can discuss it all tomorrow when we meet. How's 6-6:30 pm at Caribou Coffee on East Boulevard?
In our March 6 meeting, we reviewed the book distribution and wholesaling companies and
agreed on the distributor that best fit my needs. I provided Dean another review copy to send to
this distributor also.
On March 18, I emailed Dean and asked him to send me the information he had previously provided to B&N (marketing plan). Since this was information he stated he had already completed (and been compensated for), I expected to receive with no problems. On March 21, I received a response: "hey I didn't want you to think that I forgot about you... I've been packing and moving and everything is in boxes... Will get that info to you within the next few days."
I didnt get anything back, so I emailed again on March 25: Hi Dean - can youjust email me the marketing info, I'm assuming you have saved on your computer? Any word from the schools or zoos? (I thought it was a little strange he couldnt just send me a copy of the marketing plan via emailin the first place, since he claimed he completed it. And, he had previously asked me for dates I had available in March for more school visits, which I had sent.)
Never having heard back from Dean, I emailed him again on April 5: Hi Dean - I need to know the status of your communication with the distributor since you mailed the letter/book. Also need the marketing plan I have requested twice, along with the monthly progress report showing what you have done in March and since we last held a meeting.
To date, I have not received any response from Dean Bauguss, even though he appears alive and well and posting daily on Twitter. Funny how he can tweet to Natalie Pasquarella at WSOCTV, but not provide his client any proof of services he was compensated for the month of March. I also contacted the distributor, who should have received the review copy and information from Dean in early March shortly after our meeting, and when I spoke to them I was told Ive been waiting to receive that book but it has never arrived. So, he never even sent the book or information. Unbelievable. Whats the point of not only needlessly ruining your relationship with a client, but impeding her success? Given that he had my user name/password for Facebook and Twitter, it seems even more bizarre that he didnt notify me if he wanted to cease doing business.
I did notice that after my last email to Dean, he disappeared from my friend list on Facebook. Ironically, his sister Jennifer, and another sister are still listed as friends (that he added in the first place). Is this how a 40-something year old man hides when he can't tell the truth?
Dean now appears to be working in Winston Salem as a CRNA Placement Coordinator. I guess this means his self-employment as a Business Development Professional didnt work out so well. Its interesting that Dean, who actively promoted his Christian principles as a member of the flock at Watershed Charlotte, appears to operate with less than ethical business practices (hey, thats all I can really conclude now, since he wont reply to my requests for proof of what he did for agreed upon March services, and the mysterious marketing plan which has never materialized, and the information never sent to the distributor.)
http://twitter.com/#! / deanbauguss
http://www.linkedin.com/in/baugussd
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