When quoting on a website we take any number of factors into consideration like:
- how well organised is the information we are being given to put on the site
- are we replacing an existing website or building a completely new one
- will it be a content management system site or flat files that we edit for the client
- is the client motivated and keen to actively contribute information to the website
- will we have to write the words, source the images and research the industry to build the site
- are we aiming for price, quality, features or other factors
- is the client a for-profit business or a non-profit organisation
- how big, deep, detailed, intricate is the website going to be
- how computer savvy is the client and what sort of training might they need to use the website
- is there any special functionality required like forums, photo galleries, shopping carts etc
- how quickly does the website have to be finished
- is there existing artwork like logos, colour and style selected so we can get straight to the approval quickly
- does it seem like the client knows what they want, are they committed to the process and organised
- will the client be easy to work with or are they going to be hard work to keep happy
- are we dealing with the decision maker or will everything be put to a committee for approval
- will every friend and family member of the client be required to approve the work and have their 2 cents input
- are we dealing with someone who wants a job done well for reasonable and fair cost
- are we dealing with an existing business or a new business startup
- what size and type of business are we dealing with
We don’t actually go through that list in checklist fashion but typically during the interview phase and discussion about the website we can pickup a vibe for how things will go. Often we still don’t find out what it will be like to work with someone until well into the process but if it seems like the job is going to be hard to achieve a positive outcome then we might reconsider it.
If you do a quick calculation on the typical lifecycle of a website of 2 – 4 years between major overhauls (redevelopment is often driven by changing business focus, competitors or market forces) with the potential to reach a huge market, at minimal ongoing expense, with the some of the most detailed statistics of any form of advertising that can be adapted to your changing business then a website is good value for money.