There are numerous businesses that allow for incredible mobility and creativity. Designing websites is one of those businesses, but if you’re just getting started, you are going to face a great deal of competition. Someone over in India is going to offer to design a website for $2 while Fiverr has people offering full web packages for $5.
It may seem like it’s impossible to succeed in this kind of business. But it isn’t. And you don’t have to decide that you need to charge even lower. Instead, you need to keep certain principles in mind to make sure that you stand out and start building a steady client base.
Keep It about the People
When your business is web design, you are not dealing just with web pages, links, colors, and palettes. You’re dealing with people. Even if you’re in the corporate side, it’s important to remember that it is always about people. The web site is going to be appealing to people, and you are working for people. Often times, web designers forget that they are dealing with a people based business and that customers want to be treated as such. It may not seem like it should matter but when you make sure that your clients are happy and comfortable, then you make it more likely that they will come up.
Of course, this is a little more challenging when you’re handling a design business, especially if you aren’t meeting with your customers in person. However, you can still keep it about people by being friendly, remembering details about the client, and remaining consistent. A little bit of chitchat is also good. If the client is open to it, allow for some friendly conversation. Don’t cut directly to business. End with a cheerful smile, express gratitude, and use common pleasantries like “good morning,” “have a great day,” and others.
Forget about the Effort
Even though you should still bear in mind how much time you invest and the skills needed to complete your projects, you should focus more on the results. The end result needs to be something that your clients will love. This means that you need to listen intently. Read between the lines and create a web package that meets exactly what your client is asking for.
If your client is good, this extra effort will pay off. Focusing on the results ensures that your client gets what she paid for, and it increases the likelihood that she will be back. For this to work though, it’s important that you also charge what you’re worth. Good clients do expect to pay for quality. Some web designers are intimidated by charging higher prices because they are afraid that they can’t give that kind of quality. However, if you want to make your business last, you need to charge what you’re worth so that you can invest the time in and produce excellent results.
