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Re: How can one start a web design business?

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In Reply to: How can one start a web design business? posted by T.J. Maher on May 28, 1997 at 15:45:34:

T.J.,
Not sure what Julio was trying to get across there. :)
I checked out your page - it is rather amusing...I like your freestyle writing. Looks like you probably have the graphics and design side down. That is half the battle in an ever-increasingly difficult field in which to stand out (that is, HTML design). It appears that you're going about it solo - which means you have to have a HUGE amount of knowledge to handle all kinds of requests from clients.
Here's a few questions for you - in order to be a top-knotch designer, you should answer Yes to most of them (and few of them have to do with design):
1) Are you well-versed in CGI? Perl is generally the language of choice, although C++ is common as well.
2) Are you well-versed in Java? It's the big buzzword and folks will want you to create applets for them.
3) Since commerce is going to be a large part of commercial HTML projects, are you well-versed in secure transactions across the Internet?
4) Do you know how to set a cookie? Do you know how to read one? Do you know what to do with one once you've read it? <>
5) Do you know how to access databases to track users or create pages on the fly?
6) Do you have a plan for how the web site will be hosted? (lots of folks don't want to put out the bucks for their own server...do you have web hosting services lined up?).

If your techie side is up to speed, then you've got the sales side to worry about. I'd start by finding a couple of prospective customers and offer them a deal of a lifetime (as close to free as possible) so that you can have some example sites to point your big money customers to for examples of your work. Personal sites used as an example don't hold much weight. Companies usually want to see a track record before they shell out bucks.

As for what to charge...I really don't know. Do some searching around the web for ideas. I heard about a $10,000 bid to simply DESIGN the overall look of a web site for a business last week - that doesn't include any actual programming...just storyboarding and graphics ideas (do note that the company in question balked at that price). After getting the initial site working, I'd suspect an hourly charge for upkeep would be likely - if you plan on doing a one-price for everything deal, make sure there is a contract involved that lets you get out of it at a specified point if you see that you are being taken advantage of (bascially, place limits on what "everything" entails").

Good luck to you. You seem to have the gumption - now you need the action! :)

Follow Ups:

• How to start a homepage? Fernando Lozano 10:50:14 5/31/97 (0)
• Re: How can one start a web design business? Fernando Lozano 10:29:56 5/31/97 (1)
  • Re: How can one start a web design business? Duncan Kinder 11:18:31 6/02/97 (0)