e-nation
19 Aug 2005, 4:29pm
Hello fellow Icronians. I have a question for y'all.
I have done some web design in the past under an arrangement in which i was paid to do the work. I never considered myself to be a very good web desinger, but i can do a basic layout, purchase domain hosting, register the domain name, and include what needs to be there in a nice neat package-- everything that "the Client" has no idea how to do, and in most cases would not want any part of such a "complex process". I can even do some dynamic content, and very simple web applications w/ ColdFusion or PHP/ MySQL. I have never charged more that $300 for any site i've done. In face, it's probably been more like no more than $200-- but these people have been friends, or long-time acquaintances-- it's stuff that i might have done for nothing if i were in a really good mood, or didn't need extra cash.
But now, one of the three owners of the company that i work for came to me a few weeks ago about possibly doing a site for him. He owns a construction company (among a few other businesses-- all these guys seem to own different companies-- must be nice!). He is annoying to talk to, that's for sure-- one of those types of people who talks to three different people at once, and you can't get a word in edgewise. He was here again today, so this is why it's fresh in my mind. He tells me what he wants on the site, spouting out about 5 different things, most of which sound like they will require pretty intense web application development-- he wants to be able to add and remove construction data for homes, including pictures and the whole nine. it's hard to understand him cause he's talking fast about this stuff as if it's a document going into MS Word-- and even then, i would have needed to take notes! so, when i saw him today, i asked, "Jim, are you still interested in a web site?", he replied something like "yeah, but not if you're planning to be paid...". i was like... "okay.. uh..", but then i aksed him what kind of content he wanted-- this is when i started to think about it needing database design, etc. He said he's had a few quotes, but he hasn't gone w/ anyone yet because "there's no money over there right now", meaning i guess that particular business isn't currently making enough profit to pay for a web site. However, if poeple have quoted site development projects in the neighborhood of upwards of $10,000, which is relatively cheap for a pro to do what he's talking about, then maybe i could quote say $500 or so, and still make out okay. It would require a lot of research and trial and error on my part 'cause i'm still learning PHP, and/ or ColdFusion-- but in the end, it would be a great example to put into a portfolio-- esepecially if other construction companies liked what they saw-- i could get more business, and then start charging prices more in the ballpark of what pro designers would charge. wow, this is a really long post. i think i've laid out enough to get some feedback. what do you think of this? i'm looking for ideas on what i should quote to this guy. i really have no idea how much the pros charge. also, is it "unethical" to undercut like that? the whole point of it for me will be the practice, and the exposure for potentially getting more clients.
Perhaps my question here will evolve into a thread (an easy-going thread, of course) related to fresh ideas about web design, web design gigs, and input and help for things related to coding, etc. That would make me smile.
I have done some web design in the past under an arrangement in which i was paid to do the work. I never considered myself to be a very good web desinger, but i can do a basic layout, purchase domain hosting, register the domain name, and include what needs to be there in a nice neat package-- everything that "the Client" has no idea how to do, and in most cases would not want any part of such a "complex process". I can even do some dynamic content, and very simple web applications w/ ColdFusion or PHP/ MySQL. I have never charged more that $300 for any site i've done. In face, it's probably been more like no more than $200-- but these people have been friends, or long-time acquaintances-- it's stuff that i might have done for nothing if i were in a really good mood, or didn't need extra cash.
But now, one of the three owners of the company that i work for came to me a few weeks ago about possibly doing a site for him. He owns a construction company (among a few other businesses-- all these guys seem to own different companies-- must be nice!). He is annoying to talk to, that's for sure-- one of those types of people who talks to three different people at once, and you can't get a word in edgewise. He was here again today, so this is why it's fresh in my mind. He tells me what he wants on the site, spouting out about 5 different things, most of which sound like they will require pretty intense web application development-- he wants to be able to add and remove construction data for homes, including pictures and the whole nine. it's hard to understand him cause he's talking fast about this stuff as if it's a document going into MS Word-- and even then, i would have needed to take notes! so, when i saw him today, i asked, "Jim, are you still interested in a web site?", he replied something like "yeah, but not if you're planning to be paid...". i was like... "okay.. uh..", but then i aksed him what kind of content he wanted-- this is when i started to think about it needing database design, etc. He said he's had a few quotes, but he hasn't gone w/ anyone yet because "there's no money over there right now", meaning i guess that particular business isn't currently making enough profit to pay for a web site. However, if poeple have quoted site development projects in the neighborhood of upwards of $10,000, which is relatively cheap for a pro to do what he's talking about, then maybe i could quote say $500 or so, and still make out okay. It would require a lot of research and trial and error on my part 'cause i'm still learning PHP, and/ or ColdFusion-- but in the end, it would be a great example to put into a portfolio-- esepecially if other construction companies liked what they saw-- i could get more business, and then start charging prices more in the ballpark of what pro designers would charge. wow, this is a really long post. i think i've laid out enough to get some feedback. what do you think of this? i'm looking for ideas on what i should quote to this guy. i really have no idea how much the pros charge. also, is it "unethical" to undercut like that? the whole point of it for me will be the practice, and the exposure for potentially getting more clients.
Perhaps my question here will evolve into a thread (an easy-going thread, of course) related to fresh ideas about web design, web design gigs, and input and help for things related to coding, etc. That would make me smile.