|
Build the Prototype
Look at your information and identify the key types of pages
in the site concept. There are main pages, but are there also
product pages? Are there different sections to the site? If
so, will each section require it’s own type of page layout?
Start by making a page prototype for each of the types of
pages the site concept will require. Include graphics, fonts,
color layouts, and anything else that are needed for each
page. Build a sample page for each area and then submit it
to the customer. Wait for their replies and iron out the differences
until you come up with what the customer wants. Once approved,
you can then move on to creating the final design. Do not
move past this step until your customer is totally happy.
Complete the Final Design
Create a page template for each of the site areas you have
outlined through the prototype process. Then use the templates
to complete the final site. As long as you have maintained
contact with your customer, sent them the prototype, and ironed
out any differences in opinions, then your site should fly
without a hitch. Your customer will also be happy and will
hopefully recommend you to others.
Attracting New Clients - Website Designers and Webmasters Marketing Efforts
And here we go, right back to the beginning again. Notice
how this is a cycle? It’s a never-ending cycle for businesses.
The cycle starts each time we find a new customer, and repeats
each time we end with the production of a site. So how do
you find clients? You find clients by marketing. They don’t
come to you; you have to go to them. In addition, how do you
convince them to be your customers? You don’t have to convince
them you are the best designer on the planet. All you have
to convince them of is that you understand their needs, and
you can fulfill their needs.
When trying to position your marketing efforts, you have
to think about the potential customer. Where do they go? What
do they read? Whom do they talk to? What do they like to do?
What interests do they have? Where are they likely to hear
or see your promotions? The key is defining the marketing
possibilities that maximize your return on investment. There
is no point in flooding the advertisement market in places
your potential customers will never see you. It also makes
no sense to place ads where your customers never look or listen.
That’s just spinning your wheels and wasting your time. Target
only mediums that allow for maximum exposure to your potential
customer audience. Focus your advertising efforts on your
potential customer’s needs.
Ever notice how people tend to like people who listen? When
you are working on attracting new clients, do so by listening
to their needs. Build a relationship with them while you listen.
In the end, you will be able to help them by offering your
services to solve their problems. It’s all about trust and
relationship building. We talk about that in our marketing
section.
Dealing with Clients - Ways Website Designers and Webmasters Deal with Clients
There are basically three types of clients you will deal
with. You will have nice clients. You will have non-responsive
clients. You will also have demanding clients. Each requires
a different way of dealing with them. The nice ones are the
easiest to deal with. Keep the communication lines open, keep
them updated, and give them reasons why you make your suggestions.
Most times they will go along with it, and are pleasant to
deal with.
The non-responsive are a bit trickier. These are the types
that will hire you to do a job, sign a contract, pay money
up front, but are not available when you need direction or
information to finish the job. Calling this type is the most
direct approach, and will yield the best results when you
can finally get them on the phone. Once you accomplish that,
they will usually talk to you, and provide you with the direction
you need. This might also be the only way that you will get
information from this type.
The demanding client has all the answers and will be more
than happy to tell you how to do your job. It will make you
wonder why they didn’t design the site themselves in the first
place :o). They rarely listen to what you try to tell them,
and usually want it done their way. After all, they are paying
you to do the work; it’s up to you to do what they have hired
you to do. And what they have hired you to do is build the
site the way they want it. With these people, you have to
document everything. Cover your bases so that should they
decide to bring a lawsuit to you, you can provide documentation
to show that you tried to develop a working site, but they
refused to listen to your suggestions. Better yet, learn to
identify these types in the interview process and avoid working
for them.
Back
to Table of Contents
Website
Designers & Webmasters Proposals (Article
Continues)
About the Author
James R. Sanders is the owner of Sanders
Consultation Group Plus. He has been a webmaster and website
designer since 1997. He has also been involved in self employment
ventures since 1992. He is presently a contributing author
of NewbieHangout,
and has been published through WebProNews
and 4Rankings.com.
His writing is targeted to webmasters, would be webmasters,
website designers, would be website designers, self employed,
or those researching information looking for solutions to
questions associated with design, business operations, and
promotion today. His goal is to provide practical information
based upon his years of experience to help webmasters, website
designers, and self employed people achieve their goals in
today's competitive global market. You can subscribe to his
free newsletters at SCGP
- Newsletter.
|
