My new business...
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- Stoph
Hey guys!
I set up a little design venture about a month ago and I have done quite abit of flyer distribution and nagging of friends and I have finally got a meeting with a highly respected local company to redo their website. The meeting is tonight and I want to obviously be as professional as possible. For a start they are going to ask me how much its going to cost them and how long it is likely to take.
I suppose I would like some advice regarding the process from initial meeting to going live, plus how best to cost it - hourly, daily, ???
Can any body help?
- save0
Just find out the size of the job and telll them you'll get back to them with a list of costs. Starting from with the cheapest through to a more advanced site........
- ********0
Treat the meeting as a gathering of information. You have to do the work, so ask yourself what you need to know to do the job. Write a list today, so you have it in your head to ask the relevant questions this evening.
Then, as save has suggested, say you will get back to them with a proposal, which not only outlines cost, but a quick brief on what was discussed, your methodology in approaching the work and then break down the costs and time etc.
- Bozilla0
First off all you should've asked this question a bit sooner instead of a day before the meeting, but hey it's not that big of a problem.
First, I hope you did your research about the company itself, it's target audience, their competition and so on. These are fundamental for a first meeting and will even pay a more important role down the road when you actually see their point of view and what they need. It's the way professionals do their jobs and what a client expects or at least will take you very seriously.
Second, look at their competition, find some flaws that they might have and what you think should be improved with the web site for your client. Keep the screenshots in your briefcase, so if it comes to that you can take it out and explain.
Third, do not mention pricing until you know exactly what is it that they need. If they ask you, just say, will get to that in a bit and continue asking/discussing their needs. This is very important because if you start discussing pricing at the beginning, you will, first, give an impression that you are not serious about your pricing (if you state too low) or they will stop listening to you (if you're too pricey). You see, you have only so much of their attention, when you start talking/showing about your projects, suggestions and so on, and if you mention the price at the beginning, you will lose their attention, because all they'll be thinking about is pricing. In numerous cases, I never discussed pricing on my first meeting, until I had more information about what is it that they actually expect. If it's a serious company they will do their homework and you might have a good picture of how much work is involved, however you, considering that it's the first meeting, should state a price range for similar projects rather than a fix amount (if they are really asking about pricing), and then when you pin-point what you exactly need to do, you can give them multiple scenarios (higher price / more stuff and cheaper scenario). I've experienced that clients get more comfortable that way and in many cases will go for the higher priced proposal. Don't forget to ask for their budget for this project (you should ask for this, before you actually, give them the price range). Sometimes it's easier to make an official proposal/estimate if they have a fixed budget for the project.
One note: If they start asking/insisting about pricing you should be very cautious because usually these type of clients will give you a lot of headache.
Good luck at your first meeting.
- Stoph0
Cheers guy's, Thanks Boz.
Really appreciate the advice!!!