Entries Tagged as 'Marketing'
Pros and Cons of Package-Based Pricing for Web Design
Published April 28th, 2010 in Marketing - 44 Comments
Pricing services is one of the most challenging parts of being a designer. Most designers have an opinion of what their time is worth and what they want to make on an hourly basis, but accurately estimating everything that will be involved with a project and how much time it will take can be very difficult.
In attempt to simplify pricing for both the designer and the client, some designers and agencies use package-based pricing with prices listed on their website. While offering proposals or quotes for each project is more common, package-based pricing is used frequently enought that it warrants consideration from the designer or agency.
In this post we’ll take a detailed look at both the pros and cons of listing your prices publicly. It may be worth noting that Vandelay Design does not use package-based pricing, although this has not always been the case. A few years ago packages were listed on the site before deciding to price projects on a case-by-case basis.
Pros of Package-Based Pricing:
1. Gives Visitors a Clear Picture of What to Expect
Many visitors and potential clients really have no idea what to expect in terms of how much they will need to spend for web design and development services. In some cases this is a result of a lack of experience in dealing with the subject, but another contributing factor is that prices can vary so drastically. If a client is looking simply for a low-cost provider, regardless of the type of project there will always be someone who is willing to take on the work (not necesarilly qualified) for a fraction of what most of the competition would charge. This variance in pricing can make it difficult for clients to know what is included at that price, what quality of work and customer service they will receive, and how this compares to their other options.
Clients like to know what to expect, and package-based pricing can give them the general information before they even contact the designer. If the pricing is out of their budget they can move on to another designer, or they can re-consider what they are willing to spend. Clients can make comparisons much easier with package-based pricing, assuming the details and any potential add-ons are clearly provided.
Showcase of Die Cut Business Cards
Published April 21st, 2010 in Marketing - 26 Comments
Last month we published a post that showcased letterpress business cards. Today we’d like to share another showcase, this time focusing on business cards that use die cuts to stand out. Die cut business cards allow for some creative ideas to become a reality, and these cards are certain to be noticed when they are handed out.
33 Letterpress Business Cards for Inspiration
Published March 23rd, 2010 in Marketing - 75 Comments
Business cards are a necessity for designers who want to market themselves and their services to people that the come across. They also provide an opportunity for the designer to make an impression with a stylish, memorable card. Letterpress business cards are a popular choice for designers, and in this post we’ll showcase 33 high-quality letterpress cards. Hopefully these examples will provide some inspiration if you are considering designing some new business cards.
Guide to Using Social Networking to Promote Your Services
Published March 17th, 2010 in Marketing - 32 Comments
With so many freelancers and design agencies out there, finding work can often be a major struggle, especially for those who are just getting started. A growing number of designers are using social media as a means of marketing their services, in addition to simply using it for interacting with friends. While social media marketing can be extremely effective, it can also be a big waste of time. In this post we’ll look at some tips that should help you to ensure that your time with social media is well spent.
1. Know What You Want to Accomplish
One of the most common mistakes that is made in social media marketing is not having a purpose or a goal. Many businesses and entrepreneurs recognize the power and potential of social media and social networking, so they feel that they need to be involved. However, simply having a Facebook fan page or a Twitter profile is not going to make a real difference.
Developing a social media marketing plan requires having a specific purpose or goal (if you’re using social networking only for fun or personal reasons then, of course, this does not apply). Web designers may want to use social media to find more clients, network with other professionals, or maybe to build links to their blog or portfolio site. The first step to using social media effectively is to have a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish. This will shape the approach that you take and the way you use the social media sites. Without having a goal or something that you want to accomplish, there is really no way to know if it is working for you and your business.
Networking Tips for the Busy Designer
Published January 6th, 2010 in Marketing - 41 Comments
Professional networking is an important part of being a designer and working towards a challenging and rewarding career. Unfortunately, most designers are so busy with client work, or trying to find more clients, that networking-related activities are more of an afterthought that get attention whenever the time happens to be available. While networking is critical, it doesn’t have to adsorb huge amounts of time that prevent you from getting other essential tasks completed.
In this article we’ll look at a series of tips and suggestions that are aimed at designers who want to network more successfully, but without committing large amounts of time each day or each week. The idea is to get as much benefit as possible from a reasonable time commitment that can be accommodated by just about any schedule.
9 Tips for Establishing Your Own Marketing Method as a Freelancer
Published July 15th, 2009 in Marketing - 33 Comments
Being a freelance designer brings great opportunities for creating a working environment that matches your particular lifestyle, but without enough clients to support the business it will be an unsuccessful venture. Many freelancers go into business because of their technical skills and a desire to bring great end results to clients, but marketing is usually not given much consideration until it becomes a necessity.
Because there are so many designers out there competing for work, knowing how you plan to market yourself is critical. Some freelancers who have had a few years to establish their businesses are fortunate enough to generate most of their work through word-of-mouth marketing, but this is the exception, not the rule.
12 Realities of Pricing Design Services
Published July 2nd, 2008 in Marketing - 101 Comments
For most designers pricing services is not something that is the highlight of the job. Still, it is something that you’ll have to deal with if you’re freelancing or working for a small firm. Here’s my take on pricing web design services.
1. There’s no exact formula.
Unfortunately, there’s no right or wrong way to price your services. Every designer needs to develop his or her own method for pricing, and even then, you probably won’t be able to follow the same formula on every project. Because each job will be different, it’s difficult to develop a method that will work well every time.
Tips for Localized PPC Advertising for Designers
Published June 4th, 2008 in Marketing - 15 Comments
A few months ago I published a post of tips for attracting more local clients for your web design business, and today I’d like to take a more in-depth look at one of those tips. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising can be an extremely productive and cost-effective method of generating leads for local design work. Of course, many businesses, including design firms and freelance designers, use PPC ads to promote their business worldwide, but targeting only you local area is a slightly different approach. The major PPC programs such as Google AdWords, Yahoo Search Marketing, and Microsoft Advertising all provide some simple ways for you to concentrate your advertising budget on a specific location.
Tips for Attracting Local Clients
Published April 20th, 2008 in Marketing - 30 Comments
Most web designers work with clients from all over the country or even all around the world. While it certainly allows the designer to expand his or her marketplace, there are sometimes competitive advantages that exist when targeting work from local clients. Because local marketing is sometimes overlooked, I wanted to put together this list of suggestions for doing more work in your own backyard.
Common Reasons a Website is Unsuccessful
Published February 10th, 2008 in Marketing - 36 Comments
If you are planning or building a new website, you are obviously hoping for some type of success. Of course, success can mean any number of things, and each website’s success should be determined by the needs and desires of its owners and creators. Some websites exist strictly to provide information to visitors. Others aim to sell products. Some exist solely to provide information about the services of a business. As you can see, there is no one equation for success online, but there are a number of common causes for failure with a website. Here is a look at ten possible things that can keep you from achieving anything significant with a website.
