• Work With Us
  • Podcast
  • Why?
  • Team
  • Clicksights
  • CBO Services

Name of Thrones

name of thrones

The impact of pandemic-related message framing on consumer perceptions and decisions

Researchers: Dr. Michael Barbera, Dr. Stevie Pena, EJ Song, Wendy Hubbard, and Shai Smith

ABSTRACT

Disease names could influence human behavior. Naming conventions could impact consumer decisions, revenue generation, or influence a human to harass another human. Geographically-named diseases could impact travel, such as Zika’s effect in Uganda, and Ebola in Congo/Zaire, along with trade and commerce, similar to the Rift Valley Fever virus impacting agriculture. Furthermore, a disease name could have a positive outcome for one community and an adverse outcome for another. This study identifies how naming conventions for the COVID-19 pandemic could impact people, products, and profits.

NAMING CONVENTIONS

A rose will smell the same regardless of its title. Names shape behavior; otherwise, Johnny Cash’s “A boy named Sue” would lack its irony. Hence, names provide a reference point, which helps people recognize and identify people, places, and things. 

The medical community bestowed the honor of naming diseases after their founding physicians and scientists. Names such as Chrohn’s, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Addison’s diseases reflect this naming convention. However, diseases named after the geographic location escape this honor.

Events surrounding World War I devastated much of the world’s population, and the Spanish flu is high on the list of offenders. This deadly virus infected one-third of the earth’s population, killing 50 million people worldwide. Despite its name, the virus most likely originated in New York City or England, later traveling through France to Spain. War efforts may have excused early notification, setting up neutral Spain’s broadcast of their Soldier from Naples disease, named after the “highly contagious” song of the time. The disease created Spain’s first population decrease, and this devastation justified keeping the name despite its inaccurate portrayal of the geographic origin. 

Although the Spanish flu’s geographical misnomer is well known, geographic-based naming conventions for diseases could deter travelers. Lyme disease often creates fear in travelers who visit Old Lyme, Connecticut. The geographic naming convention based on Old Lyme, Connecticut may not deter the masses, yet select merchants capitalize on their distinction through Lyme t-shirts commemorating the illness; however, the name elicits caution to outdoor adventurers. The residents of the town of Hendra, Australia, experience aggression from bordering towns due to the spreading of the geographic-named Hendra disease – a lethal equine disease. 

Understanding the possible devastation names may influence, the Navajo tribes launched a campaign to limit the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) proposed naming convention for the Muerto Canyon virus., which attempted to describe the location of the affected people. As the disease’s starting point was New Mexico, the Death Canyon reference moved the origin into Canyon del Muerto, Arizona. The Navajo Nation Tribe addressed the CDC to advocate for a revised name. The CDC agreed to rename the virus: Hantavirus.

Saudi Arabia and Jordan dispute which country originated Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The name represents the encompassing geographic location. The initial MERS outbreak affected its origin namesake, yet it was South Korea’s economy that was affected. This may represent an adverse consequence of geographical names, due to South Korea’s borders positioned far beyond the Middle East.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF), a mosquito-borne disease that emerged from Africa’s Rift Valley, cost Somalia $471 million USD and Yemen $107 million USD during the 2007 outbreak. African livestock provided income for farmers and a governmental export tariff served as the country’s only revenue source. Saudi Arabia, a once major part of the buyers of livestock, ceased all imports due to a small outbreak, which devastated Somaliland and Nigeria. Communities contained the virus, while other areas experienced adverse impacts of the naming convention. 

Though most people refer to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic as Swine Flu, creating its own set of consequences, select journalism outlets tilted the crisis “Mexican Flu”. Swine Flu, though not caused by pork products, lead to mass slaughters of pigs and a decrease in pork sale. Due to Jewish sensitivities to pork, Jewish communities renamed the virus “Mexican Flu”. This second title stigmatized Mexican Americans and Latino Americans.

Some geographically named diseases do not offer the same devastation as their namesake. Norovirus was named from a Norwalk, Ohio school in which children contracted the disease. Norovirus remains a common yet preventable threat, yet the State of Ohio experienced limited adverse impact; however, Japanese Noros (a popular surname) attempted to intervene to change the name and remove the negative stigma attached to their names. Coxsackie, New York residents reported the first group of Coxsackievirus, kin to the hand, foot, mouth diseases. Though one medical researcher was excited to see the hometown of the name of this great identity, the town does not mention it on its historical webpage. 

Zika virus instilled fear among pregnant women, as the disease affects fetus development. Named after the city in Uganda, Zika virus impacts travel, not explicitly to the origin city rather to any South American country reporting the contagion. The nation of Uganda has not experienced a recent outbreak yet continues to be on WHO’s disease travel watch. Ugandan politicians seek removal from the list: the largest outbreak in Africa was reported from Gabon in 2007 with few experiencing long-term effects, whereas 1.5 million were infected in South America. 

Similarly, the Ebola virus emerged from the Congo/Zaire state, yet fails to house significant cases. During the 2013 – 2014 epidemic, 99 % of the cases were outside DR Congo. New York, London, and Hong Kong were the Ebola virus disease hubs, whereas Congo suffered a decrease in tourism revenue.

The list goes on. Globally, we have experienced Japanese encephalitis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Marburg Fever, West Nile Virus, Lassa Fever, Ross River Fever, La Crosse Encephalitis, Legionnaire’s Disease, St. Louis Encephalitis, Bornholm Disease, Junin Virus, Malta fever, Bramble disease, and Nipah Virus, to name a few, yet this list is not exhaustive. Research suggests that illness names affect perception. Names evoke social meaning and moral judgments, which, influence actions toward the infected and disease origins.

WHO identified possible negative effects of illness names, subsequently creating naming guidelines in 2015. WHO recognized pathogen names “may influence trade, travel, tourism or animal welfare.” Thus, new disease names may specify what the disease does, possible general location of origin or place for contraction without damning the associated region, suggesting avoiding offending any “cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups”. 

Despite a global understanding of the impact of naming conventions and WHO’s regulations, the American public battles COVID-19’s title. The official name novel coronavirus-2019 (aka COVID-19) indicates the strain of the virus and year of detection. However, we see Wuhan coronavirus, Chinese coronavirus, Chinese virus, and Wu-flu. Prior to the global pandemic, Chinese nationals referred to COVID-19 as the Wu-Flu, titling it after Wuhan, the geographic origin.

As the disease spread beyond China’s borders, citizens increased the use of the COVID-19 naming convention. The name provides an explanation and classification, removing a potential exposure “fault” and conceding the effects geographical names have on residents. One world leader continues to use an unofficial name when briefing his audience. Former President Donald Trump has referred to COVID-19 as the “China virus”, despite numerous and immediate contrary feedback. Trump publicly explained the appropriateness of the title, as China is COVID-19’s origin. 

Politicians, journalists, and social researchers urge influential people to restrict the use of the “China virus” naming convention. Geographical naming conventions include potential biases and prejudice which likely extend beyond Chinese decedents, applying to any person appearing to have East Asian origins. Minorities report verbal and physical harassment due to geographic naming conventions for the pandemic. 

As reported violence increased, Chinese-style restaurant businesses experienced a loss in revenue. Unaffiliated with China, Corona beer sales were affected in 2020, with 14 % of consumers stating they would not order the beverage in public and only 4 % stating they do not use the product because of the pandemic. The name correlation may impact consumer perceptions of Mexican beer, at least in public, as much as Chinese-style dining. 

BIASES AND PREJUDICE

Phrases like “Chinese virus” and “Wuhan virus” are common during the context of the pandemic. These terms, however, are loaded with anti-Asian sentiments that imply that all Asians are somehow responsible or directly related to the spread of COVID-19. Especially as hate speech and hate crimes against Asian people are now on the rise, the terminology that people use to describe the virus plays a significant role in framing the perception of Asian Americans and their role in the pandemic. Furthermore, usage of the terms “Wuhan virus”, “China virus”, and “Chinese virus” have been applied by researchers, journalists, and politicians. For many, this naming convention implies adverse racial and geographical connotations. 

A recent study with the Georgia Institute of Technology resulted in a database of reported Asian hate and counter-hate speech consisting of more than 800,000 tweets containing hateful statements towards Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and more than 200,000 tweets containing tweets with counter-hate message framing. The study found that there was a larger volume of hate tweets compared to counter-hate tweets, and hatred towards AAPI was “contagious”, meaning that exposing groups and communities to hateful content proliferated hate within the respective groups. Furthermore, the study suggests that counter-hate was not contagious in the same way that hate was contagious. Generally, antisocial behavior, which the researchers defined as “hate speech, abuse, and trolling”, is socially contagious. As a result, hate spreading through social media most likely had a significant impact on the perceptions of the AAPI community. 

 

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 nomenclature on consumer behavior. Names, such as branding and titles, could influence choice, and further research is suggested to understand how COVID-19’s various titles (Chinese virus, Wuhan virus, and Global pandemic) affect consumer decision making. 

The online survey presented a bar scene featuring television sets broadcasting the Olympic games. This scenario asks participants to choose a preferred seat among various patrons, one with a mask and the remaining three wearing American, Chinese, or Mexican flags on their shirts.

Figure 1
Figure 2

METHODOLOGY

This study was designed as an experimental quantitative study, comparing results from four independent studies, 26 surveys per study (104 total surveys), and a minimum of 50 participants per survey (n = 5,455). Included atop of the questionnaire was a picture of four people sitting on barstools with their backs facing the participant (figure 1), and each patron at the bar was separated by an empty barstool (a total of four occupied barstools and three unoccupied stools). Each patron was wearing various combinations of flags for the United States of America (USA), Mexico, and China, with the remaining patron wearing a mask. The participants were presented with the following scenario:

The date is Saturday, August 8th. The [global pandemic]Wuhan Virus(China Virus) COVID-19 is mostly over and social distancing is a thing of the past. You visit a bar to watch the Summer Olympic Games. There are three televisions. Each television is broadcasting the same event at the Olympic games. There are several people at the bar and some are representing their national team on their shirts. 

All participants read the same scenario with the exception of the naming convention variable. Study #1’s independent variable was “Global Pandemic”, Study #2’s independent variable was “Wuhan Virus”, Study #3’s independent variable was “China Virus”, and Study #4’s independent variable was “COVID-19”. The survey questions were “Which seat do you prefer?”, “You have enough money for one additional beer. Do you buy a beer for yourself or the person next to you?” (response “yourself”, “person on left”, “person on right”, “I prefer to save my money”), Age (18 – 24, 25 – 34, 35 – 44, 45 – 54, 55 – 64, 65+), postal code, and ethnicity (Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; American Indian or Alaska Native; Hispanic or Latino; Black or African American; Asian or Asian American; White or Caucasian; another race).

Figure 3

RESULTS

COVID-19 naming conventions (Global Pandemic, Wuhan Virus, China Virus, and COVID-19) did not have a statistically significant effect on seat preference (figure 2) (F(3, 4708)= 0.405, p > .05). Additionally, the naming conventions did not affect the participant’s beer purchasing decision (for self, one wearing a flag, or save money; F(3, 4708)= 0.648, p > .05) (figures 3 and 4). The results indicated that participants (n = 5,455) were significantly more likely to choose a seat between a patron wearing the USA shirt and the masked patron than between two patrons wearing shirts that represented other nations. Furthermore, participants were more likely to purchase a beer for themselves (42 %), or save the money (35 %); whereas eight percent of participants choose to purchase a beer for another patron wearing a shirt representing the USA, four percent for the mask-wearing patron, and two percent for the patron wearing the Mexican flag shirt. This study suggests further information on the impact of nomenclature of the disease may have on consumer behavior. 

The researchers conducted t-tests, ANOVAs, and descriptive statistics to identify correlations between the independent variables. The study did not find significant results to suggest a correlation between gender, age, annual household income, geographic location, or highest level of completed education (figure 5). Additionally, the study did not yield significant results beyond the likeability of a shirt similar to the participant’s self-reported nationality.

Figure 4
Figure 5

DISCUSSION

The geographic naming conventions contributed to an overall decrease in spending and a decrease in spending money when people of other nationalities were represented as potential beneficiaries of the monetary spending. A person who is more likely to spend money on a person who shares similar cultures could suggest an exclusive dedication to their respective culture or could suggest an attempt to avoid other cultures. Either decision process is often cited as a catalyst for biases and potential prejudice. Additionally, the results suggest there could be an adverse effect on travel and tourism as cited in previous studies. Since the design and data collection for this study, the COVID-19 naming convention has become the dominant naming convention when referring to the pandemic of 2020 – 2022. 

The implication for brands is a consumer’s willingness to spend money with brands or people who represent a likeness to themselves. Although this behavior is well-documented in peer-reviewed literature, this study suggests that biased behavior may have a more significant impact on revenue generation when two people of different cultures are involved in the transaction. Additionally, the evidence suggests that biased consumer behavior is likely to occur within the United States regardless of gender, age, annual household income, geographic location (including political boundaries – traditional red or blue states), or highest level of completed education.

To mitigate biases, brands could select employees who represent a similar likeness to the consumer or client to create a likable experience that contributes to a positive outcome. Although this course of action is not a permanent solution and should only be applied as a temporary measure, brands could highlight the diversity of their teams as the tactic would suggest teams are diverse and represented by more than one culture. To reduce bias in decision-making, brands may need to embrace natural behavior during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ MORE ARTICLES

Recent Posts

  • Neurodiversity in Marketing
  • My First 30-Days | Karen Reyes
  • The Stadium Experience – Guest Experience Research
  • Five Tips to Prevent Quiet Quitting
  • Embracing Change is Rooted in Optimism

Additional Stuff and Things

  • press
  • request a speaker
  • research and publications
  • careers
  • terms of use
  • master services agreement
  • site map
Copyright © 2022 Clicksuasion Labs

Connect With Us

Clicksuasion Labs

  • 285 Olmsted Blvd. #11
    Pinehurst, NC 28374
  • 800-584-8047
  • info [at] clicksuasion [dot] com
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
LET'S COLLABORATE




    SCHEDULE A SEMINAR FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS CENTER

      MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT

      LAST UPDATED AUGUST 6, 2019

      This Master Services Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into this day by and between Clicksuasion Labs. (“Clicksuasion”), 293 Olmsted Blvd, Second Floor, Pinehurst, NC 28374, USA, on behalf of itself and its owned and operated affiliates, and (“Client”), in the delivery of consulting and other professional services, collectively the “Parties”   This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until terminated by either party with 30 days’ written notice.

      1. DEFINITIONS:
      • “Services” means any products and services that are requested by Client, whether electronic, written or verbal to Clicksuasion.
      • “Website” collectively refers to all Internet websites and domains owned by Clicksuasion.
      • “Exploratory”, “Discovery” means all communication, whether electronic, written or verbal with the intent to agree upon a SOW.
      • “Client” means any person or entity who requests Services or engages in Exploratory or Discovery communication with the intent to hire Clicksuasion Services.

       

      1. SCOPE: “Clicksuasion” shall provide consulting, research and other professional services to Client or to Client’s clients.

       

      1. WORK ASSIGNMENTS: The specific services to be provided by Clicksuasion shall be described in one or more Statements of Work (“SOW”) (or “Proposal”) issued pursuant to this Agreement and agreed upon in writing by the Parties prior to the termination of this Agreement, except where mentioned in paragraphs 5 and 16. The SOW shall be incorporated herein by reference and all terms and conditions of this Agreement shall apply to the SOW as if fully set forth therein. The SOW shall include a summary of the work, skills required, fees to be paid, and instructions on reimbursable expenses.  In the event of any conflict between the contents of any SOW and this Agreement, the SOW shall govern.

       

      1. USE OF CLICKSUASION WEBSITES: visit TERMS OF USE: clicksuasion.com/termsofuse

       

      1. INVOICING AND PAYMENT: We will invoice Client at the beginning of any project and when stated in the SOW. Unless otherwise stated, invoiced charges are due net-thirty (30) days from the invoice date. Client is responsible for providing complete and accurate billing and contact information to Clicksuasion and promptly notifying Clicksuasion of any changes to such information, including, without limitation, Client’s obligation to promptly report any Services-related performance issues or problems negatively impacting Client’s satisfaction with the Services so that Clicksuasion may attempt to remedy such. For clarity, if Client fails to notify Clicksuasion of a Services-related issue within five days from incurring it, such issue may not be relied upon as a reason to terminate this Agreement for Cause. In the event that payment is made via a third party agent, Client shall indemnify Clicksuasion and keep Clicksuasion indemnified against any loss, damage, costs and expenses Clicksuasion may suffer or incur as a result of any default by the third party agent in making payment in accordance with the terms of the SOW or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement. Client further authorize Clicksuasion to use a third party to process payments, and consent to the disclosure of your payment information to such third party. Clicksuasion shall invoice Client for fees and direct out-of-pocket expenses incurred as per the SOW. Payment in full is due upon completion of work or if other arrangements have been made between Clicksuasion and Client. Invoices unpaid after 15-days shall incur a late fee of 24 percent per annum until paid in full. Billing shall be on a time and materials basis.  Client’s non-payment of any Invoice shall entitle the Clicksuasion to stop performance under the terms of this Agreement, any Amendments thereto and/or any SOW without recourse by Client. Client is responsible for all fees and damages associated with the collection and legal solutions of late payments. All non-disclosure agreements between Client and Clicksuasion are void upon the first aged invoice 30-days past due. Additionally, the non-disclosure agreement must be re-signed by both parties to be effective beyond the first aged invoice 30-days past due. If any amount owed by Client under this or any other agreement for Clicksuasion services is thirty or more days overdue, Clicksuasion may, without limiting Clicksuasion’s other rights and remedies, accelerate Client’s unpaid fee obligations under such agreements so that all such obligations become immediately due and payable, and suspend Client Services until such amounts are paid in full. Clicksuasion will give Client at least seven days’ prior notice that the Client account is overdue before suspending services to Client.

       

      1. ENGAGEMENT NOTICE: A request for services, whether electronic or verbal, to members of Clicksuasion and the acceptance of the request of services from Clicksuasion will constitute a signed writing. All requested services, without a signed agreement, are billed monthly at $490.00 USD per hour. Client is subject to a $270.00 USD charge upon two consecutive missed meetings, whether electronic, telephonic or in-person, regardless of geographic location. Clients with ten (10) or less full-time W2-structured employees are billed $10,000.00 USD to be held in escrow for discussions related to research. All monies held in escrow will be billed at $490.00 USD during the exploratory process and all remaining funds, if applicable, will be returned to Client upon completion of the SOW or after an agreement is signed between both parties to cancel the SOW, whichever is first.

       

      1. VENDOR NOTICE: No employee of Clicksuasion has the authority to conclude any binding contract without an explicit ink-signed consent by the Chief Behavioral Officer. Therefore, any will to enter into an agreement must be confirmed by the Chief Behavioral Officer.

       

      1. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR: The Parties recognize and agree that Clicksuasion is an independent contractor. This Agreement is not to be construed to create an employment relationship between Client and Clicksuasion’s employees or subcontractors. This Agreement does not authorize either party to enter into any commitment or agreement binding on the other party. Clicksuasion shall have sole responsibility for the payment of salary (including withholding of income taxes and social security), worker’s compensation, disability benefits, and all other applicable taxes for its personnel.

       

      1. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: Each Party agrees not to directly or indirectly disclose to third parties any of the other party’s confidential or proprietary information without the written consent of the disclosing party. Neither party shall, during the time the Clicksuasion is rendering services to the Client or any time thereafter, disclose to anyone other than authorized personnel any information of a confidential nature, including but not limited to, information relating to: any materials or intellectual property supplied by one Party to the other Party; either Party’s projects or programs; the technical, commercial or any other affairs or acts of the other Party or any confidential information which either Party has received from a third party and which has been identified as confidential. The restrictions contained in this Agreement are intended to cover confidential information which relates to the Parties’ respective businesses and which has not been otherwise made public but shall not apply to the dissemination which may be required by proper government or judicial inquiry. Likewise, confidential information shall not be deemed to be information which is in the public domain or which at some future point become available in the public domain. All non-disclosure agreements between Client and Clicksuasion are void upon the first aged invoice 30-days past due. Additionally, the non-disclosure agreement must be re-signed by both parties to be effective beyond the first aged invoice 30-days past due.

       

      1. WORK PRODUCT RIGHTS: Clicksuasion shall retain all rights, title, interest and ownership in the work product delivered pursuant to this Agreement, any Amendments thereto and the SOW as well as the Clicksuasion’s proprietary tools and methodologies which shall remain the sole property of Clicksuasion. For work product produced under the terms of this Agreement, upon payment in full of Clicksuasion’s Invoices, Client shall be granted a paid up, non-exclusive, irrevocable, world-wide license for all such work product to reproduce, distribute copies to the public and prepare derivative works by or on behalf of Client. Client agrees to permit Clicksuasion to publish Client data and case studies, without personally identifiable information, and without distribution of confidential information, for the purpose of advancing behavioral science via academic journals and Clicksuasion websites and distribution channels.

       

      1. TAXES: Client shall be responsible for all federal, state, and local sales, use, privilege, or excise taxes assessed on the charges to Client’s end users in relation to services provided hereunder (if Client is a tax-exempt organization and therefore there may be no taxes). Clicksuasion shall be responsible for all federal, state, and local sales, use, privilege, or excise taxes assessed on Clicksuasion’s income for these services.

       

      1. CLIENT LIST: Client agrees that Clicksuasion may include Client in its published client list and may display Client’s logo and trademark in its marketing materials and public relations; provided such use conforms to Client’s logo and trademark standards as such standards are provided to Clicksuasion.

       

      1. NON-SOLICITATION: During the term of the applicable SOW and for one year thereafter, neither Party shall solicit, entice, offer employment, retain or hire the other Party’s employees or contractors, without the written agreement of the other Party; nor shall Clicksuasion solicit or enter into a direct contract with Client’s client without the written agreement of Client.

       

      1. WARRANTIES: Clicksuasion warrants that the Services to be provided under this Agreement shall be performed in a professional manner conforming to generally accepted industry standards and practices. Client agrees that Clicksuasion sole and exclusive obligation with respect to the Services covered by this limited warranty shall be, at Clicksuasion sole discretion, to correct the nonconformity or to refund the Services Fees paid for the affected Services.

       

      1. TERM OF AGREEMENT: This Agreement commences on the date Client executes the SOW or requests service, whichever is first, or Client access any Clicksuasion Services and this Agreement continues until all services granted in accordance with this Agreement have expired or been terminated.

       

      1. TERMINATION: This Agreement may be terminated or amended at any time only upon written agreement by both parties with 30-days written notice; however, all payments made to Clicksuasion and the rights and obligations which by their nature are intended to survive such expiration or earlier termination shall survive, including without limitation warranty, limitation of liability, and confidentiality. Client may request that Clicksuasion reassign any of its personnel assigned to a SOW upon Clicksuasion’s receipt of Client’s written notice.

       

      1. LIABILITY FOR LOSS: Neither Party shall be responsible for any consequential, indirect, punitive, incidental, or special damages arising under any theory of recovery. The maximum liability of either Party is limited to fees paid by or payable to Clicksuasion for Clicksuasion’s services. Client acknowledges that Clicksuasion shall not be responsible for damages or delays of any kind or type caused by labor strikes, fires, wars, acts of God, terrorist activities, the inability to obtain supplies or materials or any other causes or forces beyond the control of the Clicksuasion. Client acknowledges that such events may delay the start, progress and/or the completion of the work.  Moreover, Client acknowledges and agrees the Clicksuasion shall have no further liability upon Client’s receipt of Services.  Client also acknowledges and agrees that any changes made to the website by Client’s personnel and/or by third parties which require the Company to do additional work after delivery of Services shall be billed by Clicksuasion to the Client on a time and materials basis.

       

      1. WAIVER: No delay or failure by either Party to exercise any right or remedy will operate as a waiver thereof.

       

      1. SEVERABILITY: If any part of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unlawful for any reason, the same shall be deemed severed from the remainder thereof and it shall in no way affect or impair the validity of the Agreement, any Amendments thereto and/or the SOW.

       

      1. ASSIGNMENT: This Agreement may not be assigned or transferred by either party without written agreement of both Parties, which assignment shall not be unreasonably withheld, qualified or delayed.

       

      1. GOVERNING LAW: This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina without reference to any principles of choice or conflicts of laws. Any action instituted by either party arising out of this Agreement, the SOW or the Proposal shall be litigated exclusively in Moore County, North Carolina.  The Parties expressly consent to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of Moore County, North Carolina.

       

      1. COSTS OF ENFORCEMENT: If a suit, action, arbitration, or other proceeding of any nature whatsoever is instituted in connection with any controversy arising out of this Agreement, or to interpret or enforce any rights under this Agreement or the North Carolina Limited Liability Company Act, Clicksuasion may recover attorney’s fees and costs.

       

      1. ENTIRE AGREEMENT: This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior understandings between the Parties. Any change to this Agreement shall be in the form of a written Amendment signed by both Parties.  In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and the signed Amendment, the Amendment shall control.

       

      1. JOINT DRAFTING OF AGREEMENT: The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement was jointly drafted and that both Parties have had the opportunity to negotiate terms and to review the terms prior to the execution of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed neither against nor in favor of either Party but shall be construed in a neutral manner.

      ROSES ARE RED
      VIOLETS ARE BLUE
      WE’D NEVER OPT OUT
      OF BEING WITH YOU
      CHAT SOON
      GET RESEARCH
      Glasses-3-icon
      READ
      Microphone-icon
      LISTEN
      watch
      WATCH

      YOUR FIRST STEP TO A PHENOMENAL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

        LETS SAVE YOUR VOTE