It’s time to get a website online for your business, which means you need to gather quotes for your project. And you’re afraid of how high all those quotes will be, right?
If there’s one thing you have to get right, it’s hiring the right web designer for your project. The right website will help you generate more income so you need to work with a professional who knows what they’re doing.
Web designers are expensive… right?
Not all web designers are out of your reach. Some web designers publish their prices and create fixed-fee plans that fit a Northern Michigan budget. (A web designer like Abuzz Creative does that.)
The ones who are out of your reach prefer to hide their pricing.
They don’t disclose pricing or fixed-fee plans on their website for a reason!
Create an outline for more accurate website quotes
You need to create a website overview with all of the pages and functions you envision for your website.
Type up an outline with all the things you need, then give that to potential website designers as part of your consultation meeting or phone call.
A web designer will be able to give you a much more accurate quote if they have a comprehensive overview of your project.
Asking for quotes and sharing your budget
I recommend that a business contacts two or three web designers.
It’s better to find someone who is local to you because they will be more invested in your project and will want to help you succeed. If you’re in Northern Michigan, there are quite a few web designers to choose from.
Be wary if you are asked to pay for the first consultation. Marketing professionals usually offer your first meeting for free, whether it’s by phone or in person.
As you discuss the outline you’ve provided, tell them what your budget is for the project. If they scoff at your numbers, see if they are willing to negotiate their rate for you. They might suggest fewer functions to reduce your quote.
OK, here come the web design quotes!
Don’t be surprised if you receive quotes that are anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000.
No, I’m not kidding.
I just bid on a project and my competitor quoted twice what I would charge – for the same exact WordPress website.
(The potential client asked why the competitor’s quote was higher than mine. I was curious, too.)
Your decision should be based on more than just the price
- Does the web designer seem honest and trustworthy?
- Do you like them?
- Can you view samples of their client work?
- Will they be charging you additional monthly fees? If so, find out what those fees cover. (Most charge monthly fees. Abuzz Creative does not.)
- In the end, will you own your website and have reasonable access to make updates?
If a web designer is eager to work with you, they will be up front with you about fees, plus they will share examples of their client work so you can see their expertise. They will respond quickly with a proposal and can provide a timeline of how long your project will take.
I get it – this is way outside of your comfort zone. I am more than happy to answer any questions as you begin your journey of finding the right web designer!
