Web Services Fees & charges (Full Version)

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Deb Mc -> Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 9:38:08)

Hi all,
Can someone lead me to a page that might have the latest ideas what to charge for designing and maintaining an informational type site for a client?

We are a small company reevaluating our Price Guide in a moderate-small size Michigan city. Design companies are folding right and left around us and we haven't gotten new business in a while.

Times change and I'm sure pricing is too. I just need to see what's the going charges these days to help us.

Thanks tons!
Deb Mc



Giomanach -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 9:52:16)

Deb

To be really honest, I couldn't tell you whether you should alter your prices without a few examples of what you would charge.

For my biz, I never give exact prices on the web. I send out custom quotations, with a small disclaimer at the bottom stating "All quotations are custom to your budget and circumstances", therefore allowing me charge enough to cover an hourly rate, the complexity of the coding etc.

If you could provide a few examples of what you would charge, then I can give my opinion on whether you should alter your prices, or give you a new strategy on getting more business.

Dan



Deb Mc -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 11:34:50)

Hi Dan you are right!
Here is the page where our fees are currently posted. I would love it if you and others could take a look and advise me of anything!

I have searched the net for other fee pages but most are old..
:-) Thanks

http://www.shsbc.com/Internet_Services/Service_Fees.htm

Deb Mc
SH Systems, Inc



Giomanach -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 12:26:07)

Too much detail[;)]

It's alright for a hosting company, but the site in general doesn't strike me as a "professional" company. you use Java....that's a no no in my books, you use Flash...another no no for professional sites, in my books again.

My Recommendations:

Re-vamp the web, give it a more "digital" look, remove pricing information, and do what I do "Contact Me For A Custom Quotation"

Why remove pricing information? Makes you"easy competition to dispose of". No offence meant, but it allows for companies (like me) to check out your prices, and go one better

You may check out my web, link is in my signature...the Giomanach one[;)], it stil isn't finished.....only b'cos by the time i got that far, I had two clients[8D]

Dan



dpf -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 13:50:01)

where do I begin? well, for starters, I think I disagree with everything Dan said (sorry old pal).

quote:

you use Java....that's a no no in my books

you may be too young for the I Love Lucy but: "you got some splaini to do" How is Java a no no? Java is a very sophisticated prgramming language designed for the net and to be platform independant - hardly a no no.

quote:

you use Flash...another no no for professional sites

wrong again old chap. Flash has gotten a tad of a bad rap because its been overused for silly animations and unnecessary entry pages but Flash is in fact one of the coming big technologies. Flash compression algorithms cannot be beat. Also, Flash action scripting allows for client side programing that previously could only be done server side.....

quote:

Why remove pricing information? Makes you"easy competition to dispose of". No offence meant, but it allows for companies (like me) to check out your prices, and go one better

are you surprised I disagree again? Neither way is inherently wrong but personally, when I shop, I want prices - period. If someone will not state their price, I leave. I dont think I am alone in that. If you want some flexibility, quote ranges rather than firm prices but I want to know : Is this going to cost hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands and I am not writing t a salesperson to find out and let them get their hooks in me - I am at the info gathering stage"

On the other hand, I wouldn't broadcast the use of Front Page. Since this is a FP forum, Im not gonna bash FP; in fact Ive used it sucessfully for a number of sites but the fact is there is a bias against "pros" using it.

I dont think your prices are out of line. If you are not getting business lately, my question is what marketing steps are you taking?



Giomanach -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 14:27:00)

quote:

How is Java a no no?

I look at things from a Professionals point of view (yes I know I'm too young to be a pro), and I alos look at it from a users point of view. Not all users have a Java Software environment installed on their computer...therefore they won't benefit from it. I try to steer my clients away from it for this fact.

As for the FLASH......Again, there are different FLASH environments out there...ranging from 4 to the latest (7), some designers will design for the latest version...not all users have that installed on their local machine. Some will refuse to upgrade, others refuse to click yes to the "Install Software?" pop-ups that are legit. Yes it's nice, but it doesn't work for everyone.

quote:

are you surprised I disagree again?

Not at all. If you agreed with every point I made I would be [:)]

From a business point of view....displaying prices for services freely can be, and is in some markets, a very bad marketing move. As I have said, it allows company to check you out, and see if they can beat your prices...again, marketing moves.

quote:

On the other hand, I wouldn't broadcast the use of Front Page. Since this is a FP forum, Im not gonna bash FP; in fact Ive used it sucessfully for a number of sites but the fact is there is a bias against "pros" using it.

Agreed

I didn't mention anything about the prices, b'cos as Dan has said, they're fine as is.

Dan



dpf -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 15:08:59)

quote:

(yes I know I'm too young to be a pro),

no you are not!
your points about Java and Flash and the need for the Java Virtual Machine and the Flash player are well taken. However, take them one at a time. The JVM comes with Windows altho M$ has attempted to sabatoge it. Likewise, the Flash player comes with windoze ( your word - i like it). The fact that there are issues of avaiability are reasons to discuss their utilization and advisability with a client. However, your comment was to a developer - it isnt unprofessional for a developer to have expertise in these technology since many customers do in fact utilize them. Major corporations have developed full blown java applications for their web sites and the same is becoming true with Flash.

As to showing pricing, we agree to disagree.



Giomanach -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 15:32:54)

quote:

The JVM comes with Windows

quote:

Flash player comes with windoze

Not always true. I purchased Windoze (good innit?) XP 6 in 1 (Corporate Editions) for my M$ OS. Seemed applicable at the time. It doesn't install M$ JVM, or Flash player at all to start with. I have Sun Java Standard on the disc within the Value Added Section, but Not Flash Player, I install that along side Flash MX. I have it incase clients insist, after all, the client is always right.

So I look at it from that point of view, those unlucky ones.

quote:

As to showing pricing, we agree to disagree.

Fair Enough



Deb Mc -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 19:03:48)

I love it - you folks are great - thanks! I am about to take a college course in Flash do not tell me not to - oh my! :-) (plugging my ears - It's paid for)

I agree overdoing Flash is nasty like rotting fish but a little can say a lot.

Ok, I think I am probably way to detailed on the price sheet. On the other hand my audience *is* a potential web client and if they come there looking to find the site costing a 100$ or 2,000$ I would rather weed out the basement bargain hunters out at the getgo. But I think I don't want to scare them away either so I will scale back the details. Good point.

If you agree I am in the ballpark price wise then I am happy with that.

Marketing is probably the reason we are not getting a lot of action, then but we are a small shop with limited time to take on much more work. However I would like to pull in one or two more sites under my belt and the last several inquirers have not responded to our initial meeting. I think we are personable, professional in appearance and work and the clients we have have been with us for years and are satisfied.

So keep the dialog going if you will, I am learning from all sides of view and I thank you for your time!

Deb Mc



dpf -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 20:09:42)

quote:

the last several inquirers have not responded to our initial meeting

I have non responders come back as much as a year later..so keep plugging away. I took a university course in Flash last spring and am taking another!!! you will be amazed!!



dpf -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (7/27/2004 20:46:35)

I am about to take a college course in Flash do not tell me not to - oh my! :-) (plugging my ears - It's paid for)
lol
take a look at this

http://www.thegoldenmean.com/technique/mp3player01.html



Deb Mc -> RE: Web Services Fees & charges (8/3/2004 15:56:58)

Thanks, that looks great. I love the clean look and speed of flash myself. I think I will jump in a see how far I get building this music player. The instructions look well designed for me to attempt it.

Thanks for all your help. I have another question and I will start a new post for it. You all are so good to me.

Cheers, deb



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