October 11, 2003 | View Comments (0) | Design Journal
So I met Nick yesterday and I was feeling pretty confident that this meeting was simply a formality and also a chance to discuss the needs of the site. I took special care to notice how is office was decorated and the feeling that it gave out. I wanted to do this so I could have an idea of the best way to go about the website. As a designer, it is vitally important that I design for the audience of the website. However, if the client is not happy because the website is not what he had in mind, then all my efforts are a waste of time.
After sitting down in my office I handed Nick the proposal and began to start pitching the project. However, before I could even get started he handed me a catalog of some huge Accounting-type supplier that offered a website package. This was one of those things where they build a couple of templates and stick your content inside it. They give you a page of stocks and other items that Accountants would find enticing. All of this came at a cost of $250 for the basic package and $350 for the advanced package. He wanted to know why he should go with me when he could go with something like this. I was floored.
After quickly recovering I simply asked for a couple seconds to look over what the company was offering. First I noticed that the price was very deceptive. I admit that $250 is a great price for a package. But that was only setup fees. The cost for hosting was $50/month for basic and $100/month for the advanced. I quickly pointed out that he was looking at a minimum of $850 for his website. I saw his eyebrows raise a little bit and I knew I was getting to him. Again I looked over the features. You were only allowed one custom page where you could list your services. Nick wanted to add a directory to his website and also a financial services page. Neither of these was possible with either package. Finally, I told him that I could probably find hundreds of accounting websites that use this template and if he wanted to offer a friendly, feel-good site that was personable to his clientele then this was probably not the way to go.
I did not want to seem like I was trying to completely downplay the website package, because honestly, I could see how it was attractive for customers. I also made sure to explain that the price I was quoting for him included the customization that he may be looking for in a site along with a look and feel that was solely his own. He was sold. I beat the big dogs and I did it with honesty. If you are confident in what you are offering then stick to your guns. I admit that this could have gone either way and I was fortunate to know Nick, but I feel my arguments would have swayed most people.
After all of this we simply went over the pages and features that he was looking for in a website. I asked for his business card to look at the colors and the fonts used. His only interest was that there was blue on the site. Fair enough, it was his site afterall. I explained that I would begin diagramming the site and as soon as development began that it would be a very open process. No secrets here.
The final formality was going over the contract. Now with future clients I can imagine that I will not show them the contract and the proposal in the same meeting. However, I had already had my basic contract and I was firm that I was not going to lower my price so it ended up well. Not many people like the idea of signing a contract and handing a person money at the same time. Especially someone as young as me (23 years old). However, I made sure to go over every point of the contract and explained that it helped both him and me from getting screwed over. This helped to build his confidence in both me and the project. Contract signed. Check written. Project begins.
©2003-06 9rules, Inc. | Thoughts Feed | Notes Feed
Amazon Stores: Powertools | Jewelry | Books | Health | Landscaping | Kitchen | Movies