[lazytycoon]

Hi

I am interested in how you give out quotes and little secrets you have to stop the client either thinking no way your too cheap or no way your too expensive, basically how you convert an enquiry.

I have recently started using a technique where clients only start paying once certain results are achieved. eg. Total cost £5000 Broken down into... # is the SERP

#29 5% £250
#10 10% £500
#5 20% £1000
#3 25% £1250
#1 40% £2000

So far its won everyone that has contacted me for a quote (5), I think because it looks less scary, they can see what they are paying for and they arent taking any risk... its all me!


So I would love to hear what you do..

[ReaperWD]

andymayhem, on Apr 5 2009, 17:59, said:

Hi

I am interested in how you give out quotes and little secrets you have to stop the client either thinking no way your too cheap or no way your too expensive, basically how you convert an enquiry.

I have recently started using a technique where clients only start paying once certain results are achieved. eg. Total cost £5000 Broken down into... # is the SERP

#29 5% £250
#10 10% £500
#5 20% £1000
#3 25% £1250
#1 40% £2000

So far its won everyone that has contacted me for a quote (5), I think because it looks less scary, they can see what they are paying for and they arent taking any risk... its all me!


So I would love to hear what you do..

Out of curiosity, what happens if its such a competitive place, that you cant get them into the top 10? say Webdesign for example.

Your going to only get 5%, which is £250.



As for my own prices, i tend to take alot of things into consideration: Timelimit, outsourcing costs, if ive got anything on right now etc. Mix it all up, and come up witha price that i think is fair.
Reaper

[lazytycoon]

well, i would price accordingly but i dont think i would even think of going for web design because its so broad and the searchers could be looking for anything. also the 5% is basically to weed out the dongs.

[Acuity]

can't really apply your method to anything but SEO though... good though - will build it into my quotes.. good stuff

[lazytycoon]

well you can, you can ask for % at each stage... How do you quote?

[Mesa]

I look at who I'm quoting for, the features they want, the pages they want, any cms etc.

Two identical sites, one for a local business and one for a multi million pound business - I charge more if I think they can pay more.

EDIT: I don't do SEO (bar good design/content practices) and make it clear that they're getting a website, not promotion etc.

[Acuity]

We are flexible, depending on the client - it might be by the hour or it might be a fixed sum whilst incorporating the type of considerations Mesa mentioned

[lazytycoon]

But what special tricks do you use to hook 'em?

[Acuity]

- My portfolio
- Only asking for a 25% deposit before work, whereas many ask for 50%..

[Sam G]

Not sure how asking for less of a deposit helps? If they are serious, they want you to design your site, and most importantly they've got the money for the project, it won't matter how much deposit you charge.

I always ask for 50%, as I think this is good for weeding out cheapskates/timewasters etc.

[Acuity]

I make it clear that, if no result can be reached that is liked by the client even after many attempts etc then we part ways with me keeping the deposit... loosing 50% of £200 to £3000 doesn't sit as well as only loosing 25% of that. Less risk on the client's side.; just something extra to entice them in as I know they WILL LOVE the final outcome lol. This is especially relevant to first-time clients/ small start ups with a limited budget who are worried about going with the wrong designer etc...

[Sam G]

I dunno, that sort of system is open to abuse I think? i.e. they could lie and say they don't like the site when they do, you keep their 25%, they have a nice website and a 75% discount. Unless of course you take their site offline as well as keeping their deposit?

[lazytycoon]

I understand your points Sam and it is important to protect yourself but a high deposit isnt they only way, contracts are another. This biz is now jam packed with scammers, n00bs and just generally desperate people who need some money as a result people are paying a lot of money for very shoddy work and their trust of the industry is now lower than ever. Because of this people are weary of handing over a lot of cash upfront, haven't you ever run into this problem before? You must be super talented because everyone I know has had people worry about it.

[Sam G]

I never do any work without a written agreement in place.

I know some people may be cautious about handing over large sums of money upfront, however a lot of my business is referrals from people that know me anyway.

Even brand new customers that aren't referred to me can contact any of my existing clients for a reference, so that should confirm to them that I'm not a rip-off merchant and I won't do a bunk with their cash.

P.S. yes I am super talented, I even invented the Internet y'know! lol

[lazytycoon]

ok thats cool sam, but what about for a start up with no reputation?

[Sam G]

Well I noticed on your website that you have literally offered your services for free to a load of UKBF members. If you have 'proved' yourself with them and got them some good SERPs results etc. then you could ask them to write you a short statement that you can put on your website confirming what good work you have done for them - you will then have a reputation.

New clients don't need to know whether the people you did the work for paid you or not - anyone interested in your services can contact your previous clients (as let's face it, they are clients regardless of payment) and they will confirm to your prospective new paying customer what a good job you've done.

[lazytycoon]

Yeah, cept most of these clients dont want to be named but I can get references from them but anyways my business is running pretty smoothly now and what I did wouldnt work for most people. thats why I am interested to see what little tricks everyone else has.

[Sam G]

Why don't they want to be named?

I would have thought they'd be grateful for the extra exposure to their website/company?

</nosey>

[lazytycoon]

i have no idea, and I havent asked and to be fair I dont care lol. If i think about it, it may be because their competitors might try and hire me?

[Sam G]

I see... Well if they were worried about that, then I'd assume that they'd want some sort of NDA in place, otherwise you should be free to work for whoever you want.

It'd be something I would pursue though (getting customer testimonials to use for marketing myself), but then that's just me.