Starting a Web Design & Development Company..some Tips?

Hi,

I am going to start a Web, Development & Seo Company

I know many of DP members running companies.

I am new to this I like if peoples share tips, ideas guidence like
making office....charging how much...how to get more projects..how to handle people etc

also How do you build a portfolio?
how to get customers through offline


I shall very thankful

Aine

 

I will tell you my little experience as web designer.

I'm not a great designer or a great SEO, but I've made most of my money using direct advertising to local business in my country since adwords is very, very underused here, so I propose Base+performance deals (if you can trust each other because no e-commerce involved, just basic tracking).

So, for example, I made an industry-related business a simple site with contact form, and set them up an adwords campaign.

In the 1st month they made a US$100.000 sale because of the site, so they gave me 1%. They are very happy with my service so they keep calling me whenever they need something computer-related.

So, try to aim for the rich guys who are still living on the 20th century, they pay the most =).

 

Building a portfolio is very important.

Call local companies who don't have a website to get customers offline. (I've no experience with this, but I guess it's a good way to get customers)

For charging how much: how many hours you think you gonna need * price per hour.

Good luck!

 

You can also check the sites of other DP members to get the price details.

 

Write some ads in your local newspaper with the least package to offer will surely receive notice.

 

im starting up just like you.

personally i like to go out to local shops who dont have a website and put ads in local newspapers and magazines. they all help out.

 

One of the biggest pieces of advice that I've ever recieved is to price your time for what you're worth. If you are new and still in the process of learning, you shouldn't be charging an outrageous amount probably. At that same time, you don't need to get in a pricing war with someone else to be able to comopete in a market. Place bids based on how much time you think it will take for you to complete the task, and don't work for pennies.

 

This article and book should help:

http://www.sitepoint.com/article/web-design-business-kit

 

Here are few pointers that may be useful:

• 
  Management (all of the boring stuff that will save you a ton of time and make you more efficient in the long run):
  • Research: Look at your market. Is it local, national, international? Is it saturated with other in your business? IF so, find new angles, offer things they don't offer or specialize in one of the items on you list and not all. This should help you figure out who to market too. Go to them and outright ask them what they need. Maybe a niche just waiting for you.
  • HouseKeeping: Create your documents, letterhead, contracts. Have someone proofread them.
  • Procedures: How long will it take you to perform your service?, what does the client have to give you?, what happens if the client is not happy and wants a refund?
• Communications: emails addresses, fax numbers, contact phone numbers your customers will use. Dont give out your home phone number and assume they want call you at 12am (They will).
• Rates: What are you getting paid now? What do you need to live? Get that figure to an hourly number, compare it to what others are charging. Adjust it so that its reasonable and thats your rate. Your just starting so this number will likely require some supplementation (i.e. a second job).
• Portfolio: Create samples of your work. If you sell a product or service, you should have a sample of it even if you don't have a single customer, create samples. Looks more professional when your prepared with evidence to back up your pitch.

Take yourself through a transaction scenario as a customer. Do you have all of these things in order? IF not, fill in any gaps.

Good Luck

 

Thanks alot Anteros, linkweb, phpgator, mtbiker, kmb40 and all (rep added)

Can I charge per page bases ? or like this.

In my area people are charging by per page bases and like that


Is there any way to get International customers ? any offline way

which is better foriegn projects or local ?

 

+1 on this....and learned the hard way. I don't touch a site now if it's under $2,000. And even this is cheap from what I've heard from other companies. I know plenty of web design firms that won't touch anything under $5k for a basic design. Keep that in mind that while there are people out there doing designs for $500, companies will still pay top dollar for professionalism and expertise. That is, if you can offer that If you can't, I would recommend going in the business

 

I agree with you but in my area..I might be lucky if i get project of 500$ and general rate is 100$ basic and 200$ normal ...yes there are few gaints who know how take that much from them

Now in that sitution how convince companies to pay 1000 or 2000$

 

Sit down and start sketching websites. (I would love to sketch beautiful website structures.)
When you go to meet with the business owner take paper and pencil with you. First talk about your service and say that your company may need new website. If the owner is interested then say that you have gone through the business that what they offer and who they are and say you have thought how to build up an effective website for your company. (Seriously run through the company magazines or what ever to learn about the company). That makes business owners usually interested in what you can offer. Start explaining the structure of the website and then say that wait I have pencil and paper, let's sketch your website structure on the paper (make it fast but beautiful) or you can just explain the whole thing.

Or something like this. I feel dizzy can't explain well in english. But remember, learn first about the company to show you are interested about their company and take it seriously that they need website.

 

This is how we did it;

Leverage your network:
First, start off by talking to people you know. You probably know some people with a small business, just start talking to them and tell them you've just started a webdesign business and propose to them to make a website for them. Like PHPGator said, in the beginning you shouldn't ask too much. It's even better than making portfolio designs purely to create a portfolio (because you now make money AND you create a portfolio!). Make absolutely sure your first customers are 100% satisfied. You already got a headstart in the satisfaction process, because you don't ask that much for a website.

Leverage your networks network:
When you've started to make some websites for companies, ask them to tell their business partners etc to promote you sometimes. If you make a good website, people might compliment the business owner and he could say you've made the website for a very nice price.

- If you're making websites for companies like gyms, stores etc. Ask them if you can put a flyer somewhere where many people see it. We made a website for a gym and we arranged that we could put our cards there and a bigger flyer around there as well. The gym owners also talk to many customers and it really got us starting. See, if we made the gym website cheap, we could get 5-20 new website made for a bigger hourly rate already.


- Don't forget to have your own website that looks good and with a contact form (and test that it works of course).

- Put your own logo on the website of the company you work for. Embed it somehow, so they can reach your website directly from theirs. (if you want, ask permission for it first, we always did it without asking, and they never bothered. But you have to make sure you do it elegantly).

- About the office; Don't do that... It costs you a lot of money and you don't need it (yet). When you start to make better money and you can cover the office costs easily with your projects, then you can start thinking about it.

- Make some rough drawings first and show it to them, what they like etc. Make sure you ask for feedback regularly.(especially in the start with the main design). Before you even begin, ask them if they have something particular they want to have in their website. Some business owners have barely to no demands at all, and the other has many of them.

Good luck! Webdesign is a tough world (much competition), but it pays well if you get the ball rolling and there are enough clients out there!


edit: our first website cost the client around $600-$700 and we had it varying between $1250 and $3200 after that. It depends on what they want, how long it will take you to make (if you use a previous used template, don't forget to add those hours as well). Think about the opportunities for them having a website...easy promoting, online leads for their offline business etc

 

Nice post Ervee!

 

Setting up an office is not a primary concern, as you can very easily offer to meet clients at their place of business. If you are soliciting business instead of fielding inquiries, this is largely expected of you.

Getting projects - others have mentioned already: network and advertise. Get your name out in any way you can. If you don't have a portfolio and need to build one, you can kill 2 birds with one stone by offering free development (or discounted) to local non-profit organizations. This can expand your networking abilities and can also result in positive press (make sure to write a press release about your charitable act and ask the NPO to do the same).

Place a linkback to your site on every site you develop, and make sure keyword optimize those links (Link text reads something like "website design by MyCompany - Anytown, State").

Pricing - Don't talk yourself into lower pricing. When I first started out, I thought with the customer's pocket book too much. I worried that a competitor would undercut me, so I'd preemptively undercut myself. Set your prices and stick with it. When someone requests a price quote make sure you understand ALL of the project requirements. Let them know up front that I can develop a 1k website or a 10k website. They'll both be great in their own respects, but the functionality will differ. Straight out ask their budget for the project and their expectations for functionality. That will let you determine what to present.

More to follow...

 

Thanks Alot sogastic, Ervee, whob (Rep Added)

I have another important question
When I go to companies etc they say, we interested show us some designs by our name etc on it...then after checking it we will tell that we like it with you or not...as you know some are suckers are they just waste our work n time....so what to do in that situation.
Should I show them my portfilo see that we can do or ?

1 more problem as I live in under developing country.... they think web developing like crating an email and also as like email..
Some wants more orders of their bussiness by web, I mean they want web as advert product..by just paying for developing nothing for internt marketing

Thanks Again
Aine

 

If you don't have much of a portfolio, create some fake pages that show off your capabilities. Take screen shots of them and post them to your site with descriptions.

If they want to talk to references, that gets harder if you don't have them.

And even underdeveloped countries have people who have the vision to expand their business into new areas before the competition does. And those are usually also the ones with the money to do it.

 

You can usually get a good feel for who's patronizing and who's genuine when they ask for a spec design - but even for the genuine ones, don't waste too much time on this kind of thing. Generally, I tell them that by viewing my portfolio, they can get a good idea for the quality of my designs. Seeing their logo on it won't make much of a difference. There are lots of folks out there who just want to waste your time (usually because they don't want to come off as rude). Don't let them keep you from the customer who REALLY wants to buy (from you or a competitor).

As for the underdeveloped country... no matter where you are, there will be tons of people who just don't get it at first. You decide if you want to spend a ton of time educating those folks or moving on to the guy who's further along in his understanding of the internet's potential for business. Sometimes the hand holding can be VERY rewarding - you show someone the way and they reward you with more business, referrals, etc. Sometimes it's a major waste of time... but we all have to deal with it.

I have lots of clients who pay for development and then don't put a penny into marketing their sites. I never recommend this, but a lot of people do it anyway. There's no magic script that will convince these guys to invest in promoting their sites... but realizing that is important because it can help you be more profitable. Instead of blowing time trying to convince somebody who wants a simple online brochure that they need to market their site, work on acquiring a new client or growing the business from your top customers.

I wish I could give you more insight, but I still run into the same problems that you mentioned, and I fully expect to encounter them for years to come.

 

Thanks amf-flt and again Thanks to whob

Please ppl show me your web designing portfilo if possible

Thanks all ppl again who contibuted in this thread as it will help me alot in futer