Hi,

As some of you may remember, i was starting a web design business back in December. However it never started as i had my own website to concentrate. Now, however, i do have some free time, and am planning to start it up again.

One website will be around the £50 - £100 mark.

Plan 1: Web designs based on templates and adapted for customers needs.

Pros - Quick turnaround
- Top quality design

Cons - Design may be used more than once


Plan 2: Web designs created from scratch based on customers needs:

Pros - Unique for customer

Cons - Slower turnaround
- Lower quality design

Your vote and comments would be much appreciated.

Tom

Can you not offer the following 3 services:

- Templates exactly as you make them
- The same templates configured for a customers needs (perhaps they want a logo changed, colour changed etc)
- Complete bespoke website for the customer

Taabish

Originally Posted by taabish

Can you not offer the following 3 services:

- Templates exactly as you make them
- The same templates configured for a customers needs (perhaps they want a logo changed, colour changed etc)
- Complete bespoke website for the customer

Taabish

You mean offer them as seperate services?

The Web Design business is a very competitive business. With the talent that is available on the net you really need something to differentiate yourself from others out there. Whether it be on price, turnaround or quality.

You also have to be a good programmer to be able to offer potential customers needs. I'm only saying this because I know a few people who have tried to venture into this market but not received any customers because for the first time website buyer there are packages available with your hosting, and some choose to do it themselves to avoid cost.

To give you some idea of the quality check these sites: (Most of the sites below are showcases for people who are Web Designers ect.. )
http://www.cssdrive.com/
http://cssvault.com/
http://www.2advanced.com/

Sorry if this wasn't what you wanted, but I just wanted to add my 2cents.

If it was me I would go Plan 2.

Good Luck with it.... :niceone:

__________________
Essentials: Frequently Asked Questions | Advertising Information | Support & Contact

Recent Features: Researching Wholesale Suppliers & Trade Distributors | Doing Business with Brokers and Middlemen | Starting on a Shoestring

Originally Posted by orrmate

You mean offer them as seperate services?

Yes, let the customer decide what they want. Eliminates the possibility of you going with one of those particular options in your poll and losing the customers that wanted the other option.

I do agree with Anthony, you will need something that really differentiates yourself from others if you really want to make a go of it. I've seen sites with excellent templates for as little as £30. Its very easy to drown in the web design market if you dont have a unique selling point.

Well if you have a web design business, you better have a web hosting service as well. Nobody wants to buy a website and then have to search for someone to host it.

Good points. Well i wanted to get an idea from people if they though this would suceed and i guess not. I should probably go back to the drawing board.

Originally Posted by orrmate

Good points. Well i wanted to get an idea from people if they though this would suceed and i guess not. I should probably go back to the drawing board.

Dude don't give up.. Just research and think about things you want to target.

If you want to target an audience of say.. The elderly who want to put photo's of their grandchildren on the web or family photo's ect.. then thats what you want to look at achieveing.

All we are saying is find a niche within this business, because that is probably the only way you will succeed.

Keep the comments coming, we are making progress here..

__________________
Essentials: Frequently Asked Questions | Advertising Information | Support & Contact

Recent Features: Researching Wholesale Suppliers & Trade Distributors | Doing Business with Brokers and Middlemen | Starting on a Shoestring

i agee with taabish 100%. i attempted to create a website like that, however it is like competing with micrsoft. there are so many out there already. you really need something original.
-
tunata

I voted for plan 2, the only reason is that there was no other option?!

The way you should look at it if you sell 10 plan1's for £30 and not all your customers are happy then your losing!
But if you sell 1 plan 2 for say £300, and they are happy with it then word of mouth will get round and maybe sell 2/3 plan 2!

My advice would be to give the customer what they want, get a check sheet of things they want to see and things they want the site to do!, there nothing more anoying than a site that isn't working to it's full capabilties.
Another idea might be to do some SEO work for the customer as well, as chances are they wouldn;t have a clue were to start, this is giving something extra for the money!

Dave

---

Last edited by double_d77; 29-01-2006 at 10:24 PM. Reason: typo