Even when the circumstance appears to be overwhelming, it is not time to put your laptop away because, in order to keep things flowing, even the most talented web designers are marketing themselves and are offering fixed-price web design packages being considered to be one of the great ways of attracting new customers whilst keeping existing clients happy and satisfied.
The implementation of this marketing plan, on the other hand, should be done with care. Poorly designed packages, with plenty of features and low pricing to entice you, might lead to you being drowned in an ocean of terrible projects if you don’t take the time to think things through. You must take some time to consider whether or not this is the best option for your company at the present time.
Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Offer Web Design Packages
1. Eliminating Budgetary Hesitations
While large firms and those familiar with the complexities of web design recognize the importance of consultations prior to establishing a price for your work, many clients with relatively simple requirements get cold feet when they envision monstrous bills they can’t seem to make heads or tails of; they’re simply used to seeing prices upfront in large, bold letters.
Clear packaging and pricing might help alleviate many of the customer’s concerns. They’ve effectively stumbled into your restaurant – whether by word of mouth or by coincidence – and it’s your duty to offer them a menu and educate them on the finest alternatives.
2. They Assist You in Eliminating “Tire Kickers”
A tire kicker, in-car salesperson jargon, is the type of guy that frequents the lot but never makes a purchase and would gladly take control of your day with countless inquiries and low-ball offers.
Every web designer has a story or two about these types of customers one is that it could be the person who believes he’s on the edge of the collapse of founding the next Facebook but he only got $50 in his pocket and that you should feel grateful for the chance of getting it on the ground level, or it could be one who owns a small store who is constantly inquiring about your rates and insist that he will contact you but ends up saying that “now is not the right time.”
Customers that are concerned about their projects like being informed of their available alternatives and the associated costs, which takes us to the following issue.
3. Time and Money Are Saved with Well-Defined Web Packages
If you gather a group of independent web designers and inquire with them as to what the most challenging aspect of client relations is, nine out of ten would say it’s always about pricing and expectations. Customers, obviously, want to get the most value for their money and will frequently want the Taj Mahal on a shoestring budget; here is where clear payment mechanisms come in handy.
You have a well-defined package if it is one where the website is able to let the customer know what he is getting exactly from his money, thus, this includes a certain number of pages, a site design that is responsive, a setup for the email list, shopping carts, SEO, and logo creation. To do this, you must look broadly; what do the majority of clients truly require in order to get their websites started? Each item that is not included in the client’s selected package should be charged separately, and you should tell your clients of this fact prior to beginning work to avoid future misunderstandings.
Less time spent fighting over extras equates to more time spent actually working and clients who have more reasonable estimates concerning the extent of their projects.
Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Not Offer Web Design Packages
1. Certain Projects Require Tailored Solutions
There is no getting around this one because some projects just cannot be crammed into a pre-packaged solution with a fixed budget. Perhaps the client is concerned about scalability, keeps insisting on using a custom content management system, or simply wants all of it fully prepared in five minutes after signing the contract; in any case, you cannot afford to charge the same price for such projects as you can for those clients who simply would like a good five-page brochure site.
While packages may attract a steady stream of new consumers, you must remain available for individual in-depth meetings with clients whose projects demand more attention.
2. There Are Those That Want Custom Cases But With Package Rates
For those of you who have been in the web design industry for more than five minutes, you are probably well-versed in the art of carefully explaining to customers precisely why their project is costing what it is. That dialogue generally goes something like this: “My hourly fee is $x per hour/day, and I anticipate that this project will take y amount of time, taking into consideration the functionality you want me to execute.” Following that, some bargaining may take place, and a few consumers may just opt to walk away; this is all standard operating procedure.
Adding set pricing to the mix, on the other hand, may cause clients who want customized solutions to ask why they aren’t receiving the same offers as everyone else. While a talented developer may quickly identify the subtle differences that distinguish each project, it’s vital to remember that the majority of the individuals with whom you’ll be interacting will lack the necessary expertise and will need to be directed through the pre-development portion project.
3. Construction Projects That Appear to Be Complex May Fail
However, even if you’ve accumulated thousands of hours of website development experience and are able to spot a poorly optimized website from a mile away, everyone makes the mistake of accepting a project that doesn’t appear to be that difficult, only to explore how extremely wrong they were when it’s too late to back out or renegotiate a new pricing for the package.
This is especially problematic if the project in issue is one of your packages offered since they are likely priced just high enough to cover the cost of your expertise while still appearing to be bargains in order to attract a broader range of consumers to your business. As a result of the fact that packages are often paid in advance – excluding extras – once the construction process begins, you may find yourself rejecting more profitable work in order to make it to the finish line in one piece.
