|
| |
|
|
barry
Posts: 742
Joined: 6/26/2002
From: Baltimore, MD
Status: offline
 |
How many drafts do you show a client? - 12/26/2002 11:42:34
Hi,
I am being faced with establishing how many drafts of the new site a clients sees.
For instance I don' t want to pull off the curtain and the clients gets to see what I consider finished and they think we have only begone. But I don' t want to have to share with them every change I make while working on a site either.
Anybody have any experiences in this area? Any ideas?
Barry
|
|
|
|
smcfarland
Posts: 684
From: Nashville, TN
Status: offline
|
RE: How many drafts do you show a client? - 12/26/2002 15:22:31
Me, personally, I author against the server, and just give them the website address I am using. They can look at it any time, but don' t really have the time to sit there hitting refresh all day. :)
_____________________________
Summer McFarland
| |
|
|
|
barry
Posts: 742
Joined: 6/26/2002
From: Baltimore, MD
Status: offline
|
RE: How many drafts do you show a client? - 12/26/2002 15:59:52
Hi Ed,
I also use a live server as well. But I have gotten " You have not been on my site because everyrting LOOKS the same.
Barry
| |
|
|
|
Seventh
Posts: 1235
Joined: 8/4/2002
From: The Motor City
Status: offline
|
RE: How many drafts do you show a client? - 12/27/2002 15:53:47
These statements are written into the contract and pointed out before the client signs the agreement.
Development Update Notification
Prior to moving to the next stage of development, the client will receive a detailed Development Update Notification by email, fax, phone and/or in person when an updated version of the client' s web site, blahblah.com, is available for consideration. Should you wish to discuss the current or previous stages of your site(s) development you can contact me by phone, email or in person.
Please Note: Your updated page may look the same as the last time you viewed it. However, the changes may have been in the coding of the actual page you previously viewed.
_____________________________
"go forth and create."
| |
|
|
|
barry
Posts: 742
Joined: 6/26/2002
From: Baltimore, MD
Status: offline
|
RE: How many drafts do you show a client? - 1/2/2003 8:23:25
Thanks Guys,
Big help!
Barry
| |
|
|
|
LB
Posts: 5551
From: Montana USA
Status: offline
|
RE: How many drafts do you show a client? - 1/2/2003 16:19:01
Hi, Barry -
Consider doing first concepts as images done in a graphics editor to get down the look and colors that the client is agreeable to. This makes it very simple to quickly change the looks of possible layouts.
As a web designer I feel the need to strike a balance between leading a client to what will work for them and also giving them what they want. We all know how those two simple things can occasionally (or often?) be at odds with each other.... the trick is to bring them together into something workable and professional that the client likes.
If part of the extra changes the client is asking for is more pages, extra javascripting, or a remake on the design or layout, let them know upfront that it' s no problem to do that, but you will need to charge extra as that isn' t what the original work entailed.... DO make sure at the start that you have an outline of what you' re agreeing to do, but don' t get bogged down in itemizing every detail of what is or isn' t going to be in the site.
I' ll often say " a 5-8 page site, depending on the information provided and what works best to present your business" ...I' d rather not get stuck with the client worrying that I' m going to charge them X number of dollars for every additional page, and yet I am not going to let the site grow into 20 pages of information without being compensated for the extra work.
As for the " unveiling" , it depends on who I' m working for and how much they understand of how a site works. With someone who has little to no internet knowledge, I' d rather finish the site myself, print out the pages, and let them know everything has been taken care of and is running fine. (and let them know, yet again, that they must do their part in some way of promoting their site... ie, add the domain in their advertising)
For other people, I' ll often have the site basically up and running, but with only one page often fully working. This leaves time to make changes if there was some miscommunication on what was wanted. I' d then publish (or upload) again when the site is complete for a final proof reading by them (on my site as a subweb, such as www.webdesigner.com/newclient) and then publish to their own domain upon final approval. ...and final payment! [:p]
Again, if they want additional changes that you feel will be time consuming or not agreeable to the site or the original agreement, do mention the extra fees involved. Be polite and helpful and either they will love the site the way it is or you' ll have a bit extra in the final check.
Linda
<edit><blushing> oops! a bit too much information for the simple question you asked... was thinking of drafts as they were asking for changes to be made instead of simply following the progress being made. There is a small bit of that I mentioned, though... I' d much rather not have to explain to clients all the extra coding work and even researching search phrases that can get involved in the day to day building of a site. (let alone if I get sidetracked learning something new or working on someone else' s site!) If they ask about changes and you' ve given them the address of the working copy, let them know the latest changes haven' t been updated online as it' s still a work in progress.  </blushing></edit>
< Message edited by LB -- 1/2/2003 4:26:01 PM >
| |
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Printable Version 
