The Fun Begins - Figuring Out How Much To Charge - Page 2

When you first talked to the client, you may have given them a ballpark figure on how much the site will cost. But before starting construction, it is definitely wise to reach an agreement on the final cost of the site.

This phase starts with sketching out the site, including links, overall design, and size — making sure all of the desired content is included. It is also here that the pricing process comes together.

It needs to be determined if the overall design will be done using standard HTML pages or frames. Because of the quirks in various browsers, frames should be reserved for large sites that require many pages.

Designers must also figure out what graphics will be needed, special applications (JavaScript, Java, forms, and other items), how much will have to out sourced and at what cost. Site navigation, leaving options for future expansion, and making sure the site is separated in a way that provides continuity are also crucial in this planning stage.

It is also important to put the client's needs before the designer's desires. Glitz may be aesthetically pleasing, but if it gets in the way of the client's goals, avoid it like the plague.

The client has given you a list of desired content, but it is up to the designer to make sure it is packaged in a logical, easy to follow order. Related sections should be close to each other, and all should have a link back to the home page and to other sections.

The Second Meeting

This can always be exciting. If your charges for building the site fall into the client's budget, a simple telephone meeting may be enough. If the charges exceed the client's budget, a face- to-face meeting can give you an opportunity to show the customer just how much you care. This allows you to show the client the various options available to get within the budget, such as the elimination or substitution of some features. Sometimes, the client will increase the budget to cover the cost; other times they may choose to cut something. Either way, they know you have done your best.

Additionally, if the charges fall below the budget, the client has the opportunity to get more features put on the site, and you can make more money. That way, you both end up happy.

I would also recommend discussing site maintenance at this meeting. It is important to define minor changes and major updates to the client so that you won't find yourself redesigning a site and giving the client a heart attack when you pass along the bill.

For that reason, I recommend setting up a separate maintenance agreement with clients. That way, you can easily define what is included and charge a flat rate without having to worry about feeling "had" later.

Some clients may feel confident enough in their abilities to make minor changes themselves, but most will prefer that the designer do it. What may seem like an extra charge to the designer may really feel like a Godsend to the client.

At this point, the order is finalized, and you are ready to begin construction.

Give 'em Plenty of Content

Having spent a lifetime in newspapers, where all the news that fits is printed, the Internet was a whole new experience for me. By and large, people want depth rather than in-depth headlines.

But there is a point to make here that is important: Not all people want that depth about all subjects. That is why I suggest offering a condensed version of the client's message, linking it to a more complete version.

One mistake that some people make is simply providing an electronic version of their company's brochure. Don't do that. There are no printing costs associated with the Internet, color is not a hindrance, and distribution is no big deal, either. Take advantage of these facts, and give the people all the information they need to know about a product or service.

As a group, readers on the Internet tend to scan copy, so it is wise to include headline breaks (such as in this article), perhaps underlined, bold, or italic key words throughout the copy, and pictures that best define the product or service.

The best way to write for the Internet is to read your content as if you were buying the product or service yourself. Does it answer all of your questions? Do you not see information that would be pertinent to you making a decision? Can you easily find where you can get more information or contact the company? If you answer no to any of those questions, so will the client's market.

A word of caution is in order about content: It needs to be focused, and it needs to have a professional appearance. If words are incorrectly spelled, if descriptions appear with the wrong products, or if links are dead, the readers' impressions will not be good. It is also advised that the designer read and reread the content, making sure there are no holes that need to be plugged.

I also suggest strongly the use of style sheets in designing a site. It can save the designer tons of time, and it can save the client a lot of money that might be spent making changes that can be done by simply changing a line in the style sheet.

In terms of graphics, make sure all are optimized to enable the fastest loading possible. In some instances, the quality may not be what anyone wants, and the graphic may need to be recreated or, in the case of photos, re-shot.

Building Web Sites From Start to Finish
That Part Is Done, Now What? - Page 3