Did you hear me?

As I review job board listings, the solicitation listed “(that) I am looking for someone who can convert an existing Wix website to WordPress. The same layout and feel are required. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is needed.  My budget is $400.00 and this needs to be completed within a two-week time frame.  I need at least three recent sites and two referrals”.

As a freelance web designer, it is your duty, or at least your role to educate consumers on your value.  The site owner did hire someone to complete the project, and by the way, it is not complete.  You have to know your value.  The scope of this project is so broad, what does the same feel mean?  I can put a left sidebar, keep the colors the same, and you will be happy…probably not.  Do I need to schedule a training class on how to update the website?  What about security?  Can I install Yoast or All in one SEO, and that meets my SEO requirement?

Did you hear me

That is the same question a freelance web designer, we need to ask ourselves.  Did you hear me?  What is the site owner really asking for?  How many hours are required to accomplish the task?  Does this project fall in line with your hourly rate/project rate?  You will need to have a clear scope of the project, which means a conversation either via phone or email about the expectations.

Being a part of many Facebook groups (my favorite Divi for hire), the other day I responded to a job solicitation.  Not to apply for the position, but to put the site owner on notice about the scope.  The site owner became very sensitive to my questions about cost, expectation, and scope.  The site owner’s posting would be taken down, as the owner of the group realized that the responses became very personal.  Not a huge deal to me, but it is a red flag…when someone does not know the scope of the project, budget, and expectations.

Why is this important

Recently my phone ranged, it was, a new freelance world designer, seeking some advice.  She had won a project and the scope was non existing.  It was a tunnel project…the more you research the farther you are digging into a bottomless tunnel.  It was supposed to be a 7 – 10 page site.  It has evolved into a membership site with a shop.

Cut your losses…was my words of encouragement.  Go back to the original scope, and explain to your client that in order to accomplish all the new scopes it is going to cost XXX.  Have an existing strategy?  Pushback is going to occur, so be willing to compromise…maybe look at the down payment as the final payment.  Exist the project…and allow a more experienced designer to complete it.

How to handle this

When we all were young, someone told us “If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is…”  Well if a project sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.  Scope! Scope! Scope!  One of the first items, you have to establish is expectation.  What is expected of you (the designer)?  What is expected of them (the site owner)?  You are responsible for this, that, and this…get it in writing and make sure you rely on it during the design process.

If you are looking to create or re-design your website, then I am available and can be reached at info@jdswebdesign.biz or 678-718-5489.

Image Courtesy of Aliis Sinisalu.

JDS WebDesign is a Web Design and Brand Marketing Agency located in Marietta, Georgia.  We create AWESOME on line presence for Start-ups and Influential People/Organizations.  To learn more about us or how we can help you and your organization, you can contact us or schedule a meeting.

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