Pricing help...

[bow-viper1]

First, I don't know if I'm posting in the right place, but here it goes..

I have decided to start making and selling custom web designs online. Here is one of my latest works (http://BVServer.filetap.com). Working on getting a domain first, but I need to know about how much the norm is for web designs, banners, logos, etc.. I really need help on this, could anyone point me in the right direction?

[transmothra]

best thing to do is look at other websites and make up your own mind. you'll find yourself lowballing yourself to start off with, just to get the work for your portfolio, so don't be afraid to start off really low.

there's a LOT of variation in terms of prices and how they're charged. some people charge by the hour, some charge flat fees.

myself, i usually bid on a flat fee for the development process (which can be fatal, as my last client had me developing their site for months!), and then charge an hourly fee for updating later on.

a good idea would be not to even post prices, just ask people to inquire. that way, you can just charge them whatever they can afford, potentially getting yourself more clients than you might have otherwise.

[bow-viper1]

Originally posted by transmothra
best thing to do is look at other websites and make up your own mind. you'll find yourself lowballing yourself to start off with, just to get the work for your portfolio, so don't be afraid to start off really low.

there's a LOT of variation in terms of prices and how they're charged. some people charge by the hour, some charge flat fees.

myself, i usually bid on a flat fee for the development process (which can be fatal, as my last client had me developing their site for months!), and then charge an hourly fee for updating later on.

a good idea would be not to even post prices, just ask people to inquire. that way, you can just charge them whatever they can afford, potentially getting yourself more clients than you might have otherwise.
Ok, really thats how I had kind of thought about going at it...just wasn't sure how "professional" that was :)

Thanks alot bud, really helped!

[transmothra]

no problem!

[KWJams]

have a starting price to begin with.

When you go shopping for something and there is no price tag on it, do you enthusiasticly pick it up and rush to the check out line willing to pay what ever the un-marked price may be?

Not very many people will, but if they have a basic idea of where prices start at they will be more willing to be interested long enough to look closer at what you are offering.

The important thing is to convey enough information to create interest, but not so much information that it drives customers away.

Good Example:
Web design services starting @ $15.95

Bad example:
Custom made web designs starting @ $15.95 for single page sites. Add muti-media for $5.00 add periods and cross "T's" add back grounds and additional items blah-blah-blah!!

Listing a price for banners - logos and even some multi media functions separately is like selling a car and then listing a air compressor charge to fill the tires up with air.
It is more information than a customer wants to be bothered with.
Just make your price high enough to be able to include the time/cost to create these items without confusing the customer with needless details.

[focusben]

I would only take it by a case-by-case basis. Not all websites are designed equally and each client has unique requirements to their businesses.
I agree in lowballing it for the first two projects. Then you'll find how really time consuming it may be, then go ahead and charge more once you have more clients, since each and every client is looking for your time. This also builds credibility.
I personally ask them questions before I quote them a price, just to know what they might want or expect.

[Paul]

Web design is one of the few industries where you can't have a "regular price" that you charge. Each client will want something different and a lot of it depends on what you can do. Some will want a simple design for $20 and others will want an advanced graphical design for $1,000. A good place to start and build your portfolio is to visit a site like http://www.yaxay.com , go to forums, and look in the contests and classified sections. There people will post jobs that you can participate in.

Good Luck,
Paul