As freelancers, do you find yourself having to explain to clients why web work takes so long and costs so much? Or do you just give up and simply say that is how much I charge?

 

For example, if a client ask to add a new menu to horizontal navigation bar, I would have to explain ...

 

"

Well, the page is not wide enough to fit that menu even if I shrink the font, so I have to widen your fixed-width layout which happens to be table-based and nested in an overly complex manner. I not only have to do that for one page, but for every other page in your entire website. Plus your menu are graphically constructed and since the width of the menu will change, I have to re-do all the menu graphics. When I'm done, I still have to cross-browser test it in all the major browser and platforms. So that is why it will take that much hours.

"

 

And half the time, the information goes over their heads and they still don't understand. And now I have wasted that much time explaining, and if I were to bill them for that time (which I normally don't) it would cost even more.

 

So now I'm thinking, wouldn't it be simpler just saying that is how long it takes and if they don't believe it, then I just move on to the next client?

I normally look at the job, work out how long it's going to take and let them kknow the price with a short description of the work involved. If they want to question "why" then I'll go into detail.

Similar here.

Look at the whole job, price it up but also explain what, why and when etc.

It's the same for me - lots of people approach me and say 'can you do my copy' to which I then ask them lots of questions about what they want to achieve, what they want to say, what their core values, skills and offering is, who their audience is, what their audience wants, what do their products/services do and how, what makes them different, why would anyone care, what's their pricing strategy, marketing strategy - any offers or promotions.... and on... and on....

 

So, with an underperforming website in dire need of some strong sales copy to generate sales... I give an estimate which is incredibly competitive and would pay for itself in a matter of days (sorry to brag) and they just fade-away into the ether...!

 

Funnily enough - big companies understand things take time and that skills cost. They do research and when they come to you for a quote they already know what's involved and a ballpark figure. Lots of small businesses don't do their research first and just hunt around for things they 'can afford' not what's best for them.

 

Silly thing is... if you spend money on something that will generate more sales... you actually make a profit!!!!

 

So, the short answer is 'no'. I don't spend too much time explaining why writing 100 pages of high quality copy that will boost their sales and make them money takes some time and costs some money - I'm already busy with companies that understand that!!!!!