Hey Guys,

 

Been reading this forum for a while now and only just joined, some very good info on here so thank you all first of all.

 

I've been designing and building websites for a few years now as a hobby and have just finished my site for my freelance business to get a bit of extra income. I am targeting small businesses and sole traders in my local area who need professional looking static sites. I'll be using wordpress and squarespace.

 

I was wondering what you guys thought of website packages and whether you have had any success selling them to clients.

 

I know a lot of web designers don't do this and prefer to discuss a clients requirements first and then quote them.

 

As I am building fairly basic websites I think I can get the majority of info I need from a form so was thinking of selling packages which prompts you to fill the requirements needed for the site and then agreeing to a contract before paying at checkout. The price I have put for the packages suit the time frames I know i can complete the sites.

 

I have seen a few top web agency use this model.

 

Have any of you used this model and was it successful for smaller businesses?

 

Any advice would be really appreciated!

 

Thanks in advance for anyone who replies,

 

Ashley

 

 

No replies so I'll have a shot

 

I know a few people who have tried this and I had a sniff myself but abandoned the project.

 

The issue I had with it is that I find it tends to attract clients who only look at the price tag, rather than the quality. I enjoy having the time to provide a really good quality website - with bespoke design, future-proofed coding, etc.

 

You could probably get it to pay if you put enough effort into the marketing, but I suspect you'll need to content yourself with the idea of cranking out cookie-cutter templated websites and may not get a great deal of professional satisfaction.

No replies so I'll have a shot

 

I know a few people who have tried this and I had a sniff myself but abandoned the project.

 

The issue I had with it is that I find it tends to attract clients who only look at the price tag, rather than the quality. I enjoy having the time to provide a really good quality website - with bespoke design, future-proofed coding, etc.

 

You could probably get it to pay if you put enough effort into the marketing, but I suspect you'll need to content yourself with the idea of cranking out cookie-cutter templated websites and may not get a great deal of professional satisfaction.

 

Nail on the head mate. I've long since given up on price tag clients, they normally want the moon on a stick for a fiver

And the quick turnround is never that. There will be endless emails, skype and telephone conversation about every nuance of the site. You can wait for months to get the content and after launch the phone calls will continue because they don't rank immediately or the conversions don't happen or the wife doesn't like the colours and whatever. Doesn't matter what your contract says, they don't listen.

Hi Guys,

 

Many thanks for the replies, really appreicate it!

 

So I am 2 weeks into my freelance business and have 2 potential clients that are interested.

 

I am using squarespace to create my sites since I am targeting smaller businesses.

 

I have actually had a few businesses say I they cannot afford my prices which blows me away so wanted to know what you thought of it.

 

I'm charging £199.00 for up to 10 pages, custom domain, I will custom design to their needs and implement basic seo. The hosting is £10 per month which I think is the part that puts a lot of them off but still I believe I am charging peanuts compared to a lot of companies.

 

I am looking to put the prices up once I get a better flow of clients.

 

Any advice would be really appreciated!

 

Thanks,

 

Yelsha

I guess that's the way a lot of business goes. Chefs that just open packets and put them in the microwave, cabinet makers that just screw mdf panels together, mechanics who just fit new parts according to the diagnostic read out...

Yelsha, if you can earn a living using squarespace for people too busy or too stupid to do it themselves then good on you. I made my cheapest ever website the other week by taking a free one-page bootstrap template and bodging it about and uploading it in 3 hours beginning to end, including typing out the bill. It may be the future in this game.

I guess that's the way a lot of business goes. Chefs that just open packets and put them in the microwave, cabinet makers that just screw mdf panels together, mechanics who just fit new parts according to the diagnostic read out...

 

Yelsha, if you can earn a living using squarespace for people too busy or too stupid to do it themselves then good on you. I made my cheapest ever website the other week by taking a free one-page bootstrap template and bodging it about and uploading it in 3 hours beginning to end, including typing out the bill. It may be the future in this game.

 

Thanks for the reply TimW!