How do you avoid clients making you go crazy when designing sites?

Basically how do you guys limit clients on what is included in the site and how many times an image for example can be changed to avoid going crazy with such small changes?

Have you told them an amount of revisions they are entitled to in the deal?

You need to agree on such things before the project starts when you’re discussing stuff like payment period and deadlines for the project.

TooCorny said:

Basically how do you guys limit clients on what is included in the site and how many times an image for example can be changed to avoid going crazy with such small changes?

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You just need to be patient and make some wiggle room for revisions in your design pricing as well as your schedule. The design process is iterative and you're probable never going to create something on the first try that is exactly what the customer wants.

I'd love to hear people's response to this question as well. I've owned various businesses for close to 20 years now and I've found it very difficult to work with people online. I don't design websites for a living but I'm in a similar space as I do photo editing and I can relate to clients abusing your time.

I'll try an offer what little advice I can to the OP. I have a terms and conditions form on my website that clients have to agree to (via checking a box on my order form) so I can at least point them back to something if things start going sideways. I also try and gauge the buyers during the sales process and I either charge more upfront if I feel they are going to be a needy client or I spell out that they get x amount of revisions and if they need more than that it'll be a certain price per revision. Sometimes these things work, sometimes they don't.

loukeyzee said:

Have you told them an amount of revisions they are entitled to in the deal?

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Yeah, we have designed a contract model based on Sprints, we work on 3 work sprints.
The first version of the site on the 1st sprint,
The 2nd is for all the revisions he needs after checking the first version prototype, explained in a document, after this second sprint we get the 2nd 50% of the payment.
Finally we begin our 3rd sprint where the customer has the last chance to think of things to be changed.
Once finished the deal is finished and we will require money for any extra changes unless it is a functional mistake.
To avoid commiting mistakes we have a checklist we go through before delivering the work to our client.

Papaproxy said:

You need to agree on such things before the project starts when you’re discussing stuff like payment period and deadlines for the project.

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Yeah we have all this info in a contract model the client signs

vodkacola said:

You just need to be patient and make some wiggle room for revisions in your design pricing as well as your schedule. The design process is iterative and you're probable never going to create something on the first try that is exactly what the customer wants.

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Yeah it is practically impossible

below_radar_00 said:

I'd love to hear people's response to this question as well. I've owned various businesses for close to 20 years now and I've found it very difficult to work with people online. I don't design websites for a living but I'm in a similar space as I do photo editing and I can relate to clients abusing your time.

I'll try an offer what little advice I can to the OP. I have a terms and conditions form on my website that clients have to agree to (via checking a box on my order form) so I can at least point them back to something if things start going sideways. I also try and gauge the buyers during the sales process and I either charge more upfront if I feel they are going to be a needy client or I spell out that they get x amount of revisions and if they need more than that it'll be a certain price per revision. Sometimes these things work, sometimes they don't.

Click to expand...

Thanks!

I would say communication is most important and that you guys are on the same page regarding the amount of work being delivered. Write it out and if you need to even put word counts, page count onto the agreement then do so. Or even have a sample site and deliver more or less off of the sample site.

You need to establish a set & firm list of deliverables. If I were you, I would create a rubric, and type out a list of deliverables (things the client wants to be done to the website and what would constitute a completed product). Then go over it with the client. Sign & initial it.

A checklist of everything you both agreed on and a few rounds of well documented revisions & you both should be happy.

Set out clear deliverables and deadlines, deadlines work both ways. If you are working with small/medium businesses get rid of the 3 sprint mindset. Design the primary page, usually home page. That sets the design direction for the rest of the website. Fonts, colors and general aesthetics. Get client input on this. Then complete the project and let your client review. They will usually come with some edits. It cannot be anything major as they approved the general aesthetics in the first round.

Inform the client that any changes they want are done at this stage. Give your clients a set period to review the work, so it's not back and forth. That is a waste of your time. If it is something major, inform them you can quote them for the work required as they approved the direction in the first round. You should provide minor changes since its good business practice to satisfy your customer, and always start with a 25% non-refundable deposit, and 25% after the first revision. Try to avoid clients that don't want to put a deposit down, it shows a lack of respect for you and your work, and most times these clients end up becoming a pain in the backside.

This is a pretty good contract template for web designers and developers. Modify it according to your need.
https://gist.github.com/malarkey/4031110

Can't go crazy if you don't have clients.. just saying.

We conclude a detailed contract.