How to Contract With a Web Designer?
In our Website Basics Explained series we will show you where to start to get your first website, and what you need to go online.
If you followed our checklist in our article How To Find The Right Web Designer you have already selected a couple web designers you consider to hire to create your website. Now it’s time to get in touch with the designers you selected, explain your project, and ask for a quote.
Website Scope Of Work Checklist
Before you start, try to find out your scope of work. It’s not necessary to describe your website’s layout and content in detail, but answers to the following questions will help your web designer better understand what kind of website you need, and whether he or she can provide these services:
- Who are my potential visitors, what are their demographics and location (nationwide online shoppers to buy my products, or local customers in need of my services)?
- What do I want them to do (buy my product, contact me, subscribe to my newsletter)?
- What is my budget (see our article How Much To Pay For A Web Designer)?
- Do I have a logo and content (text and photos) to provide, or do I want the web designer to create this for me? (not every web designer does copy writing or design logos, and it will add to your costs)
- Do I have a specific design, layout, content or navigation of my website in mind (finding some sample websites you like is always a big help)?
- Will my website need constant updates (e.g. maintain store inventory, add new content, photos, events)? Then you will need a dynamic website with ‘back office’ part where you can do these updates yourself, or you have to outsource it.
Ask For A Detailed Quote
Unfortunately, the prices designers charge for their services vary drastically. When you ask for a quote for your website, make sure your web designer can outline all costs and the work in detail for you. Also ask about a guarantee of work. Stated policies such as, “We will do as many drafts as necessary until you are 100% satisfied”, or a money back guarantee will give you a clear idea of the designers’ confidence that they can deliver.
These days there are many pre-developed scripts and templates your web designer could use to create a website fast and cheap. However, if you want to give your business an individual look, graphic design work and copy writing can take lots of time, and many web designers will charge you by the hour rather than a fixed fee. Do you have a logo, photos, and the content copy, or do you want your web designer to come up with it? The more you can provide the better.
In any case you should insist on a detailed quote, and sign a written agreement. Also define how many free drafts are included until you finally approve the end result, and make sure they have enough manpower to work on you website. Beware of companies and individuals who claim to be web designers or developers but don’t show their background, references or past work.
Cash Or Contract?
Even when a web designer has put a lot of work in an individual quote for you, you are not obligated to use their services unless you are perfectly confident they are right for the job. The checklist in our article How To Find The Right Web Designer should increase your chances of successfully finding and hiring a Web designer or developer who meets your needs and those of your website.
Once you decide on the web designer you want to hire, ask him for a contract. It doesn’t have to be more than a one page document, but you should both sign a written contract.
As your web designer usually has to order the domain name and web hosting for you, it’s likely that they will charge you an upfront deposit to cover these costs. For the payment terms of the web design fee we recommend that you negotiate ‘milestone’ payments (e.g. 30% after the first draft, and the remainder due upon project completion).
If you want to know more about web design and how you can get your website on the front page of Yahoo and Google, please visit our website San Diego Web Designer.
If you are interested in learning how to make your own website, please read the free step-by-step guide Make Your Own Website.
Author: Claudia Schulze
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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