Cheap Websites = bad?

[zharlene]

After reading several threads over the past few weeks, I've noticed that many people feel that you can't trust cheap web designers/developers.

Why do you guys feel that way? In fact, many people generally feel that way.

Briefly, for a simple company site that will only have company info, no database and about 5 pages total, I've seen lots of design companies charge $600 for something that can be done within a few hours (5 html pages and some simple CSS).

These are the companies with a large portfolio and loads of customers.

But many people feel that any newbie charging a mere $100-$200 for an entire website has something up his/her sleeve.

As someone who's getting into the whole web designing/developing business, can someone please tell me if I should add about $500 to my low prices just so I can be considered potentially trustworthy?

Perhaps I've become quite comfortable with the whole 'putting up a website' thing that I've forgotten how difficult it is for some people...?

For this reason alone I've taken prices off my site, I guess I want to re-evaluate them. If charging people extra makes them happy then maybe that's what I should do?

[flnazrael]

If you went to a store and saw two products (from two brands), and one was 1/10 the cost of the other, wouldn't you be suspicious?

[wendel18]

I have a website company in a small city....I never advertise my prices. I let clients contact me, and we go from there (all their needs are different). I would try to stay away from charging hourly...clients would rather know up front what they will have to pay.

lots of guess work.

pcwendel.com

[zharlene]

If you went to a store and saw two products (from two brands), and one was 1/10 the cost of the other, wouldn't you be suspicious?

I won't really judge something based on their prices alone though (except for the well-known, reputed brands).

I'm thinking...maybe designers who charge more see web design as an art piece more than a service?

I have a website company in a small city....I never advertise my prices. I let clients contact me, and we go from there (all their needs are different). I would try to stay away from charging hourly...clients would rather know up front what they will have to pay.

lots of guess work.

pcwendel.com

Thanks for the advice, it's what someone also told me to go with...so I'll just keep the prices off my site then.

Yup, I don't believe in charging by the hour, it doesn't really make sense to me.

[chrispalko]

I have an hourly rate, then I estimate the amount of hours and give them a final quote.

This gives them an idea of how I came up with the price.

If I finish early, I'll either deduct from the quote (they are always happy to see that), or wait a little bit (while I work on other projects) then collect the balance.

If it takes me longer (rarely), they are happy to know that I won't charge more than I quoted.

But having an hourly rate and estimating the hours for the final quote answers the question "How did you come up with that price?" without them having to ask.

[zharlene]

The reason I can't (and shouldn't) charge by the hour is because I'm still in that transition phase where I still need to refer to codes because I don't really memorize them all, while many pros can pretty much code an entire website from scratch without having to refer to their books.

So it would take me longer to finish an elaborate website. I don't think it's fair for me to charge someone for my delay...and that is why I can't charge by the hour.

But I totally see what you're getting at Chris, I hope one day I'll be that good...and actually have an hourly rate.

[HarveyJ]

It's more a case of so many unprofessional and crappy "web designers" charging those rates already... so logically, if you charge those rates, you fall into that category.

Also, a lot of the really cheap websites are built off of templates, which means you've potentially got duplicated content.
Never a good thing, and it'll lead to a slapping from the search engines if you don't fix it up.

[flnazrael]

Hi Harvey,

Templates don't cause dupe content - Google doesn't even parse Javascript or CSS. It's looking for text. Only duplicate copy causes duplicate copy.

Agreed though, 100% custom design is not and should not be cheap. The cheaper a design is, the more likely it's based on a template

[zharlene]

I think I get what you're saying...but my point is this: there are a few reasons for web designers/developers to charge low rates. One would be:

I'm starting out...I need to build my portfolio so my assumption was that it would be easier to get customers if I charged a low rate (or so I thought).

For example: It would take me a day or two to complete a simple 10-paged html/css page coded from scratch. Selling the unique template for e.g. $150 would definitely be an insult to myself but I feel it's a sacrifice new web designers have to make.

The dilemma is this: charging e.g. $150 for a whole day's work is a disgrace (to myself). As if that's not bad already, potential customers feel I'm probably a scammer for charging $150 for a unique template.

How did you web designers/developers start out?

Also, a lot of the really cheap websites are built off of templates, which means you've potentially got duplicated content.
Never a good thing, and it'll lead to a slapping from the search engines if you don't fix it up.

Template and site content are two different things.

[chrispalko]

NOTE: I did not say charge hourly, I said come up with an hourly rate and devise a total estimate. If you can do it in 20 hours, then charge 20xhourly rate. That doesn't necessarily mean that you must complete the project exactly 20 hours after the contract is signed. You can give a time frame of 2 weeks if you would like, but still charge the 20 hours. At the beginning, this will buy you time, once you get established, it will allow you to work on multiple projects.


And how did I start? To be honest, I did free work. And in return, I developed my portfolio, developed really good B2B relationships, received many written reviews of me and my work (for use on my site to gain trust with potential clients), and even received a little monetary compensation on the side for going above and beyond.

Yes, you must sacrifice some of your time and work at the beginning. But it will pay off. Undercharging is not the way to go, as potential clients will suspect something of a cheap designer. I offered my services free, then I was able to present a nice portfolio along with good reviews from previous clients to new clients, thus allowing me to charge what my designs are worth.

Budget is an important factor with a client, but they are willing to spend the extra money if they are sure they are going to get quality design and good support/customer service. That's what your portfolio/reviews are for.

Also, if I find that someone is in need of design services but is on a limited budget, I am more than willing to take on those tasks as well. Why? Because others will not do work for that price and I know I will get another good testimonial out of it, along with the money.

You will see when you get paying clients for larger websites that even when you are done, they are not happy. You will get paid, but, like I said, they will be unsatisfied.

My goal is to have as many satisfied clients as possible, because word of mouth goes a long way in web design.

[zharlene]

LOL! Yeah, sorry about that...I didn't mean "hourly rate" as in work non-stop. I totally understood it your way (but didn't explain it quite as well).

I totally agree with you on the whole customer satisfaction thing. That is #1 for me.

I really appreciate everyone's comments, not 'undercharging' makes a lot of sense now...

[andersonlevel1]

Oh yea this is the type of thing that you can get easily ript off on if you dont do any kind of background research to at least have basic idea of what you want. it just like getting your car fixed or getting a computer fixed often times people will take advantage of you if the get a good sense that you dont have clue so always due back ground research. Research. Also if you find someone honest and good at what they do stick with them

[HarveyJ]

Templates don't cause dupe content - Google doesn't even parse Javascript or CSS. It's looking for text. Only duplicate copy causes duplicate copy.

Sorry, by templates, I don't mean templates you get with generating software.
I mean the sort of templates that get churned out by cheap (read:lazy and/or scammy) "web designers", where they make the same page over and over and only change a few of the graphics and keywords.

It's still a template... Just one that someone's made for themselves to use for jobs.

[zharlene]

Yeah, some people create templates, add content (esp. through rss or article directories) and sell the whole website to someone who's thinking they're getting a unique website.

But such sites would probably go for $15 or so (a little more than domain reg fee) and in most cases its purpose is for adsense clicks.

I can't stand scammers who try tricking people into thinking these are unique sites...

@ andersonlevel1 - I totally agree with you. Anyone should really research before buying anything. But that includes people wanting to buy from designers/developers charging a high price.

[HarveyJ]

That's pretty much what I'm talking about... only add a couple of zeroes to the end. That's what I usually see them selling for. Sometimes there's even a third.