[Question] I develop websites, but I'm not sure about..

[SinfulPromotions]

Hey everyone. I currently develop wordpress themes and I've grown to become very proficient at doing so (30+ sites to date)...


HOWEVER..


I'm just not sure how to work out any "kinks" in the sales process to ensure I set my customers expectations of what they're getting.


For example... I'm not sure whether I should show my clientele potential themes they can work with from places like themeforest or elegant themes... should I have them scour the internet for sites they like already so I can duplicate the same feel?


I'm not sure exactly how I should go about finding out the clients taste in sites? are there any questions I should be asking in specific? are there any questions or comments you use in your sales process to make it smoother for your clientele and stay on the same page for their website? I hate to go back and make small tedious changes... sometimes when I price a job out, it becomes the job from hell when they ask for these small changes all the time.


If anyone could help me, I'd be very grateful!

 

[antichrist]

Ask the client what features they want added and then show them several mockups. Are you already doing this? This can save a lot of headache further down the line.

 

[somedevil]

I can't think of the links off the top of my head but i have seen designers selling themes from their own sites. Of course listing on themeforest etc will get you a lot faster exposure but i am not sure what kind of cut they will take.

As for the clients, just ask them a lot of question. Don't shy from it. They will appreciate your efforts and the eventual results. With experience you will learn how to deal with it. Good luck !

 

[SinfulPromotions]

Antichrist - I am currently not doing any mockups, but I know a lot of people who do... It seems tedious? Maybe I just need to charge more for my work then lol

Somedevil - I'm sorry I didn't clarify a whole lot... but I sell development for clientele! I guess I just need to figure out how to structure my questions to cut all the fat and get to the good stuff I suppose..

Do either of you deal with clients for web design? SEO is much easier to sell -_- haha

 

[m.rvs2141]

They choose you already to make site for them, you are professional in this field, so you should know better what's site they need,
you just ask them about functionality. You do not teach stomatologist how to treat tooth, same with site building, they should not teach or advice you how to build site. On my opinion if you work with clients and represent your self as pro, this way is best to work.

 

[SinfulPromotions]

Well that's the thing.. they don't choose me... I choose my clients lol

I hard sell all of my clients, for the most part... However, I would like to start incorporating some marketing and SEO into what I do... Right on, man.

 

[WPRipper]

Ask them about websites they like and create a mockup in Photoshop based on those 'likes'. Once you have the OK you can start coding.

 

[antichrist]

Antichrist - I am currently not doing any mockups, but I know a lot of people who do... It seems tedious? Maybe I just need to charge more for my work then lol

Somedevil - I'm sorry I didn't clarify a whole lot... but I sell development for clientele! I guess I just need to figure out how to structure my questions to cut all the fat and get to the good stuff I suppose..

Do either of you deal with clients for web design? SEO is much easier to sell -_- haha

DO mockups man! I really have no idea how you actually get a sale without them haha. I rarely take on web design clients as I hate dealing with them (I have picked up a few local clients as it seems that is what you are doing) but I have never had a problem after offering them a few mockups, they chose which they like best, and we go from there.

 

[SinfulPromotions]

Well to be honest I make the sale because I show them my portfolio and I hard sell the crap out of them lolBut I'd like to pick up more SEO clients and outsource the design... I'm not a big fan of making these sites myself haha

 

[SinfulPromotions]

Would anybody else have any other suggestions?

 

[SinfulPromotions]

Anybody else?