www.wysiwygwebbuilder.com

Pablo and BF - if I am out of line in or speaking out of turn in making the first post let me know.

For me, the purpose of this thread is to add your name as a professional, experienced, resource to other WYSIWYG users who need help or want to outsource their website design and development in WYSIWYG WB and to advertise your business with your contact info. Much like the list of extensions or those who "showcase their website templates for free or for sale" in the forum above this one.

Who wants to be the official moderator of this thread to ensure spam is limited?

Let us know your thoughts on this idea...

Rob Shurtleff
The Website Guy MN - USA)
www.TheWebsiteGuy.biz

Just to add to Rob's points - I have not had a good experience with people on this forum requiring a website - I built a full site for someone from here and not only he did not pay but simply said is this the best you could do?

So I have stopped offering - My experience is some think they can do themselves and it is not "a big deal" so when you give a price they freak out and think you are trying to rip them off. One said to the software is less than 100 and you want 700?????

Having said that this has been my experience - I am sure not all are the same.

Z

zinc wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:27 am Having said that this has been my experience - I am sure not all are the same.

Z

Well... can ensure "not all are the same" having made some sites for members in the forum that all worked out well. That said, I have also turned some down because of the lack of seriousity or that the security for payment is not fulfilled. It's up to one and each to make a contract that works.
Because I earlier worked for 10 years in Ecuador, I got experience of doing business with some untrustful companies. The solution for that was... and is used by most of businesses in Ecuador that you get paid for 50% of the quote when the deal is closed.
This is good secure for the seller (you) but then you must have some secure for the buyer to, and most of cases it worked out that you in your quote included a suggestion for layout and interface that was personalized for the customer (not just a template) so the customer can see you put some effort in getting the project.
Off-cause all depends on the size and structure of the site so some other algorithms must be implemented.

Just my 50 cents

zinc wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:27 am Just to add to Rob's points - I have not had a good experience with people on this forum requiring a website - I built a full site for someone from here and not only he did not pay but simply said is this the best you could do?

So I have stopped offering - My experience is some think they can do themselves and it is not "a big deal" so when you give a price they freak out and think you are trying to rip them off. One said to the software is less than 100 and you want 700?????

Having said that this has been my experience - I am sure not all are the same.

Z

Zinc - I totally understand your point. I have not yet delved into the world of white glove service but am exploring it. But I do know some clients are more easy to work with than others. Value is perception and sometimes we simply need to sell our value. Easier said than done I know. WGS is a tough gig in dealing with know it alls.

Not sure how many of us actually want to offer "white glove" web design or seo services but it might be a good challenge for us to think through. A model where we can "easily" (based on our expert knowledge of the software and already going through the learning curve to easily toss together a quality website in just a few days that would take a new person a month or more to figure out. Our knowledge of the rules of web design and this software is what they are paying for - just need to find the balance where we are paid for our time but leave enough meat on the bone for them to resell it to their client.

Or, we can simply charge for training.

Utopian idea.

To BluesMan point - I myself have had to not only do 50% down but also a written contract to hold them accountable and set expectations clear. A lesson I learned the hard way a few years ago when I broke my own rule and uploaded the website before final payment. 7 years - no contracts needed, all was good. Then 1 high maintenance yoyo ruined it. Better business model to have coverage anyway I am sure.

I only develop my own sites and a few for my wife's home business nowadays but I was an application developer, both business and scientific, for 25 years in multiple different computer languages from Visual Basic to C++ to Java.

One method we used in that world to help manage the customer, the promised delivery timeline, and the final cost were the "Requirements Definition" and the "Change Request".

Requirements Definition: A sit down with the client to review requirements, look-and-feel, functionality, etc. Once a design, timeline, and price have been accepted and signed off by the client...that's it. We've got a plan and a contract. Depending on the project and the client, we may or may not ask for 50% down. This is a good idea as it shows commitment on both parties.

Change Request: Now comes the kicker. I demo the prototype or nearly finished interface to the client and now it's..."I don't like this", "I don't like that", "Can you change this", and even worse..."Can you also add this functionality". Well ALL of these are Change Requests. I politely explain that they signed off on the design and functionality for a set timeline and a set price. Doing anything outside of that is a Change Request that impacts the timeline and the price. A Change Request is a formal document that is agreed to and signed off on by both parties.

Both the Requirements Definition and the Change Request documents manage expectations and deliverables. And the Change Request helps manage scope creep to the timeline and price.

Man...I love being retired now and no longer have to fight the battles with customers who want a lot more than they're willing to pay for.

I agree with Zing. Professional designers don't reveal your weapons. Keep the amazing Pablo software at a high level

zinc wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:27 am I built a full site for someone from here and not only he did not pay but simply said is this the best you could do?

They should note that they are paying for the time of the developer more than the product. If someone even tries to design a logo from 10 people they would do their best but yet the client would not be satisfied because he will then sit on an editor put a pixelated jpg straight from a ripped paper with a thin text and think he did better than those people but it is actually it is his issue that he could not find someone who designs or thinks basic like him or would be able to do things which he thinks is simple but it would actually be more complex.

That is the reason they should provide the design instead of dreaming for a developer to design their unvisuable dream. For any client WYSIWYG (What you show is what you get) if possible from a developers side.

zinc wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:27 am One said to the software is less than 100 and you want 700?????

And when the software is open source they would say why can't you work for free.

zinc wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:27 am One said to the software is less than 100 and you want 700?????

Good point. Heck, a hammer, nails, and a saw are less than a hundred bucks; why do houses cost so much?

@onlye and @wonderfull - What can I say?

The client is not paying for the product, they are paying for the experience - the time, sweat, sleepless nights, blood and tears that went into the learning curve. #AngelEmoji