Wordpress Web Design - Journey

• If you don't already: Contract, always have them sign a contract

• For the most part, I stick to my guns on pricing. Some prospective clients I've met are so cheap they are not worth dealing with. For some reason they are of the mindset that building a website just involves "typing on a computer" and offer poverty level budgets. In my experience its best to point them to elance and wish them the best of luck dealing with their new developer in India, Ukraine etc, who may or may not be around when they need more work done on their site.

• Most small businesses I deal with dont have time to manage their sites, so offering hosting, site management and SEO, etc as part of the deal helps to keep an ongoing relationship with the clients as well as some steady monthly cash-flow. Offering the first two months free sweetens the deal for them.

• Given that you know your way around Wordpress fairly well, have you thought about creating an niche based SAAS using multisite? For example you could sell websites to restaurants based on a monthly subscription. Sure it takes some research and planning, but its technically not all that more difficult than setting up a regular WP instance. That could give you a tidy monthly income. Not sure if posting exampes of these services is against the rules, so PM me if you want to know more.

Abroncas said:

I also run a Wordpress design business and am coming across many of the issues you are encountering. I don't have a silver bullet solution for these, but can offer a couple of observations:

• If you don't already: Contract, always have them sign a contract

• For the most part, I stick to my guns on pricing. Some prospective clients I've met are so cheap they are not worth dealing with. For some reason they are of the mindset that building a website just involves "typing on a computer" and offer poverty level budgets. In my experience its best to point them to elance and wish them the best of luck dealing with their new developer in India, Ukraine etc, who may or may not be around when they need more work done on their site.

• Most small businesses I deal with dont have time to manage their sites, so offering hosting, site management and SEO, etc as part of the deal helps to keep an ongoing relationship with the clients as well as some steady monthly cash-flow. Offering the first two months free sweetens the deal for them.

• Given that you know your way around Wordpress fairly well, have you thought about creating an niche based SAAS using multisite? For example you could sell websites to restaurants based on a monthly subscription. Sure it takes some research and planning, but its technically not all that more difficult than setting up a regular WP instance. That could give you a tidy monthly income. Not sure if posting exampes of these services is against the rules, so PM me if you want to know more.

Anyway, stick with it. You'll get better at weeding out good clients from the bad clients.

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TerryMeshon said:

One of my revenue streams is building small websites using wordpress. Done in a week, easy to do, so I have some tips for you.

1. Do not under price yourself. You will also find that cheap websites appeal to cheap people. Real business men and women have money to invest in a website, and we are not talking the world here are we? My websites start from 99 for 1 page, up to 350 for up to 10 pages, 650 for those with advance search features, and 1600 for larger website over 100 pages etc... (prices in pounds sterling)

2. Get a Hosting Re-seller account. If you are considering doing this long term then this could be a great earner in the long run andyou can also use this in quote. Website 500, hosting 100per year. Client: oh thats too much. you: ok have the first year hosting free.... I have done that numerous times and works a charm. You are also in control of their website if they decide not to pay, you turn their site off...

3. Payment terms. As already mentioned, do contracts where possible, and on all other occasion, if you have not been refered the client or know of their true demeanor get 50% upfront and 50% on completion. If they do not agree to this tell them where to go (in a professional way of course)

4. Always think extras. Do they need a logo, mailchimp, social set up, content, banners etc...

5. Sell SEO. The average person knows very little about SEO and for local companies in general, competition should be low. (ok not always). Research the competition and if you believe you can rank them page 1, sell it as a service.

6. Build websites for yourself and use them as 1. IM revenue portals, but 2 and more importantly, portfolio projects to show off. Websites are cheap to build and host so put the time in to create, leanr and sell.

7. Social is a great way to get business, not just online but offline too. Tell all your friends and family what you do, make sure they tell others. When I started doing it my first clients were family or close friends. If you impress them they will speak more highly of you than any client.

Im sure theres more but its a start.

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calistus said:

You said designing a website is very easy,please can you explain that cause i don't think so, when you have to write upto thousands of line of codes and css codes i find it not easy to do or do you have any trick or easy way of getting the done?

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calistus said:

Please am still wondering how you all design your wordpress site,do you get the theme and then modify.
or Design from scrash?

hope someone will reply me

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mehdvirus said:

I'm interested to know how did you get those site requests from Facebook groups, don't they ban you if you spam like that?

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chrisceo said:

Hi mate, I usually see if I can pick up the templates from the download section here...Then play around with it to see if its any good, and sometimes I will just buy the theme outright.

Once I have the theme, I will change bits of the code and edit the .css to change colours etc

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calistus said:

Thanks mate,i was thinking of doing the same i only know a bit of HTML with CSS and now i got some one that want me want to design website for his movies,he is a producer.

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