$100k website???
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- SLAZ0
i have found that the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, Pricing & Ethical Guidelines is a great resource, but do you guys know of a better one? I dont agree with their pricing structures really...and I think pricing is definately reflected on a companies earnings and budgets more rather than the actual projects sometimes.
Are there more web-based pricing books that anyone would recommend?
- mbr0
I am not sure how people in firm that's paying so much will take it, but I'd look for contacts that you could list, if needed.
Like, do they need photography for the site? Simple pics of their genius at work? A law library? Whatever, just have a photographer on hand. Get the idea? If you are going to be a small company (or one person), you will probably have to convince them that you have the resources to do anything. You might even want to sell them on it. Flexibility, scalability, let them know you can adapt to their needs quickly and an established company would be slower. Mention the print. Hell, maybe even toss it in for 'free'.
Make them feel comfortable with you and uncomfortable going elsewhere and you'll have them.
- SLAZ0
bonseff, you dont necessarily need a tax ID# to write off expenses. Just have to claim a 1099 and usually only on projects over $600 (i think it varies state to state). Also, definately recommend hiring a tax person, H&R block is a bad move, you want a more personal relationship going...
Tax ID#'s are mostly just for collecting taxes...and then passing them off to the Gov't...there are easier ways to do it though.
I would go banannas if I didnt have someone doing it for me. Worth the $200-$300 or so to pay someone.
- unknown0
I'm not a designer, but have been around them, so here's my serious advice:
A single person won't get a contract for more than let's say $10K, unless is a super hero (joshua, etc), the only way to approach a contract is via a company, a media company that fullfils the needs of the client (s), Do you know anybody that might want to be interested in this job, and since you have the advantage of knowing them, your friends can help you get the contract, you pay them their part, in exchange you get the contract, you get the money, plus the most valuable asset will be the experience of working in a team of developers, you'll gain an insight on what they do to approach such contract, and how will they go about getting and finishing the project, just don't go in alone, get somebody else, or a team, you have the advantage now, ask the right people at Newstoday, and your problem will be solve
:)
- BonSeff0
fair enough, but doesnt a tax id help if you represent yourself as a company. this is just what i hear, and only trying to help bro
- IloveQBN0
It's true some companies don't care much about the design and features, as long as the price is right. Underbid the other companies and you'll be sure to get the work
- SLAZ0
mbr, agree on all your points...and will definately show print work and express the importance of branding all visual references of their company: print, web, promotional, etc...at once. That is where I think I can make a big impression...
a good reference list I have already created and optional resources lists are a great idea. Thanks for that one.
- SLAZ0
no, i totally agree with you bonseff...
just a word of advise for people who say do less than 10-15k in freelance, a tax ID isnt always needed.
I am already working on it personally though and already registered for a small business lisence.
- bc0
i didnt read all the posts but here is my 2 cents. i also work on tv commercials, and one of the reasons agencies charge so much is because you (the client) are paying for agency producers and creative directors etc etc etc to sit around on the couch, eat crazy expensive meals, get first class flights, spend endless hours bickering with one another that about minute details that have nothing to do with the product, and bitching that their fucking starbucks coffee is too hot/cold. fuckit man trim all that fat off and you can pull of that 100k sit by yourself for 20 g's and still be l;auging all the way to the bank. a lot of that 100k goes to the big expensive open concept renovated loft office space and the new herman miller chairs and new titanium laptops so they can look at aol on them. figure out the hours it'll take you, give yourself a fat hourly rate, factor in some help from other freelancers, then double what you think. you will still come in waaaay lower than some agency twit, and you will be laughing all the way to the bank. sorry bout the rant just came off an 18 hour work day listening to agency fuckheads lick their own asses. fuck them make your self some cash !
- tjk_work0
Standing Ovation for bc
he tells it like it is.. 100%
- oculasm0
I really have to agree with Transfatty + I hope you dont mind me mentioning these.. Invest in your presentation. And in your attire... get your body language right.. check your walk and the way you talk... you've gotta sell yourself as the BEST there is. Make your past clients BIG and make sure you find out EXACTLY what they want from you.. your work is good and theres no reason why you shouldnt get this job!
Boost their Ego's do research on their Firm... establish good rappor with them... act friendly and SMILE! - Good luck!
- story0
SLAZ, go to proposalkit.com I did a proposal about a year ago with this. I bought it about 2 days before the presentation and it got me a 40k gig. Use their letter and questionaires, this makes you look professional.
- enobrev0
oc is right on,
And although macaso has made some great points, I feel the idea of never getting a gig over 10k on your own is a bit absurd..
I know freelance guys who have pulled in 50k contracts, subcontracted a couple guys for a 30% chunk and live somewhere better than they did before the y got the job.
Present yourself well, with confidence. Well enough that the man you're selling to gives you his daughter's number. Just make sure they trust you and trust that you can get the job done well...
- unknown0
What's scary is that you don't seem to have any clue as to the scope of the website.
You say their current site is tiny and would be a snap to redesign . . .
But what if they want a whole ridiculously CMS, article and history and news archive in a database
Not to mention they want market research, and user interaction feedback all along the way.
Maybe there is an extended timelien fo rthis, broken up into mini projects.
To go in there and pitch without even meeting with them first to get the scope of the site is practically insane.
But, uh, go for it.
- unknown0
Macaso:
I AM a single person, and my company is about to get an assignment for a website of 30-40k US $.
I hire other freelancer(s) suitable for the project.
- unknown0
kick the job over here. I will sell these guys on spending $130k in turn 'i will hire you to design and pay you a comish on top. you won't have to worry about a thing
- unknown0
OK, I should re-phrase what i said about a single person getting a $10K+ gig; A contract which is bigger than $10K ussually involves the design, content management, a database, advertising and promotion, not too mention research. A single person can't do all of this with a deadline, he (she) needs to subcontract other people; when a freelancer takes on a contract like this, they know before hand they need to hire help, but, when they show the proposal they've included the features the extra help might bring, Let's say you're only a front end designer, but you have a database guy, a programmer, a writer, a flash guru, and sometimes, if the contract is big enough, a producer. Most new freelancers think they can land a $30K gig all by themselves, backed up solely with their own portfolio, a project that big ($$$$$) carries a big amount of features that the client wants, and you need more people to do the job.
:)
- unknown0
Why not have a personal portfolio for small contracts, small companies or band, and then have a shared portfolio with the usual suspects for larger contracts.
I know for a fact, that most freelancers don't like to share projects, that's why they get stuck, and the person needs to hire more expensive help, that's what had happened to me.
:)
- SLAZ0
story - proposalkit.com, i will check it out...it was a good investment for you? Can I possible see the proposal you created for the gig you did it for?
cinder - i am getting more information on the project scope as I can. I luckily have a contact on the inside so I am writing up a mini questionaire on the project and hopefully get more info.
It is almost impossible for me to go in and just give a quote on the project which I really dont know about...the meeting would be to get more information on the project and sell myslef so that when my bid goes in, it will be taken seriously. The stuff I am trying to gather and work on now is what to bring and what to pitch when I go to that meeting.
- unknown0
most of that budget will be swallowed up by backend costs...
if you make 3k a peice I'll be suprised