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In the world of web design contract work, there are a number of realities that make this type of approach necessary. There is a plethora of semi skilled persons offering the basics in web design that act as a type of false competition. The typical individual looking for contract work to be done is most times unskilled and subsequently cannot distinguish between someone who knows what they are doing and someone who does not. This acts to reduce initial asking prices for those entering this field.

But as experience is gained, a portfolio is developed and the subsequent efficiencies built into the web design contractor's system, winning happens more often. For example, I had a store install a couple of weeks ago where the client supplied the graphics. I charged $100 for a two hour job. That raises the return on my $3 an hour job slightly by simple averaging.

posted by gomedome on August 28, 2008 at 12:02 PM | link to this | reply

Good approach - this win some lose some thing!

posted by Straightforward on August 28, 2008 at 11:30 AM | link to this | reply

Sunnybeach7 - what I have found is that there is only one way to get into

doing web design contracts.

Start in a suitable niche and take tentative steps knowing at the outset that inexperience will inevitably lead to misquotes and subsequently to working for next to nothing. As experience is gained, the quoting mistakes begin to evaporate but never entirely. Every little contract completed garners some valuable experience that eventually leads to winning more than losing but the losing part never completely goes away.

Once a portfolio of completed jobs is built, price increases are also inevitable. The job I describe in this post has led to another job where I was able to ask more. The next store sells kids books and CDs.

Also keep in mind that if you have an interest in doing some web design work (especially graphics where I am deficient) I have a lot of free resources that may be helpful.

posted by gomedome on August 28, 2008 at 11:00 AM | link to this | reply

Gome,

This is the type of thing that I am afraid of with working with web designing.
I guess if I had some experience working with people, I would be better at setting a price... but really, who knows how long you may have to work on something for it to be of satisfaction to the customer.

Maybe this is why web design is so costly?

posted by Afzal_Sunny7 on August 28, 2008 at 10:13 AM | link to this | reply

benzinha - there was a time in my life when I was ruthless about my hours

But somewhere along the way I lost that ruthlessness and find myself in situations continuously where I reduce my own hourly rate. It would be nice to believe that it all balances out in the end but you know the reality of that notion.

This describes dealing with retail clients perfectly:

"You quote high and then they change things and undo things, eliminate things and then put them back and you are paid for the job and not the hours and and and....."

That is the fundamental difference between contract work for retail clients and commercial clients. Commercial clients tend to be better informed which subsequently leads to less indecision etc. etc. but of course the catch is that the commercial contracts are fewer and further between and harder to land.

posted by gomedome on August 28, 2008 at 9:56 AM | link to this | reply

sam444 - The layout is one thing I do not change

I wasn't sure if the idea of a fixed layout would fly at first but it has turned out to be a competitive advantage in that no time is spent determining the layout. With a bit of imagination, a lot can be done with it. I collect screenshots of different modifications of my template HERE

posted by gomedome on August 28, 2008 at 9:45 AM | link to this | reply

cantey_1975 - Re: Gome, I thought you were retired?

Semi retired but not dead (yet) . . . this is the perfect part time job for me and it's something I can do into my old age.

posted by gomedome on August 28, 2008 at 9:38 AM | link to this | reply

I want to eat the blue cake.........blue is yummy.

Helping people. My friend just bought the latest Adobe Photoshop and tried to take classes and had no time. I will upload the program to my computer, work at using it and learning it myself and then help her to understand how to use it....ahem.

But, yes, I have done so many things that have paid me $.02 an hour in the end. Funny stories, the circumstances which, I never want to repeat again. You quote high and then they change things and undo things, eliminate things and then put them back and you are paid for the job and not the hours and and and.....

posted by benzinha on August 28, 2008 at 2:39 AM | link to this | reply

I liked the layout! sam

posted by sam444 on August 26, 2008 at 7:49 PM | link to this | reply

Gome, I thought you were retired?

Just jesting. I know you got to keep yourself busy. And what better combo than internet and entrepreneurial work?

posted by calmcantey75 on August 26, 2008 at 7:23 PM | link to this | reply

cantey_1975 - Re: The colors are very appetizing

There is a science to picking colors in the food industry. Reds, oranges and yellows are the primary colors with psychological appeal pertaining to food. Green comes in there somewhere as well but blues, purple and blacks supposedly have the opposite effect. It is all supposed to be based on instincts we developed in ancient times . . . Back in the days when when people didn't own a refrigerator, they shied away from food that was blue I guess.

posted by gomedome on August 26, 2008 at 7:12 PM | link to this | reply

Re: You are to be commended for excellence in the patience department

mysteria - I'd like to take credit for being patient, diplomatic and a general all round saint of a human being but these types of things are much like quicksand. Once you are in the middle of it and sinking, your only choice if you want to get paid for your work is to paddle like hell.