It's no secret that a LOT of my traffic is from wanna-be web designers who are trying to figure out how I'm so successful and maybe even “borrow” my contract LOL Occasionally someone will ask me to teach them WordPress Web Design and I simply didn't have the time … until now.
I have finally taken the time and created a WordPress web design course so you can learn WordPress web design.
I'll give you the link in a minute but first, let's talk about …
What should I charge?
So you're ready to provide website design and maintenance as a service – smart move! There are millions of users on WordPress and its popularity is constantly growing. That means the opportunity to earn good money providing WordPress services is wide open.
Before you can offer your services for hire you must choose your rates.
Here is a checklist to help you decide what rate to charge:
- Consider Your Market's Budget – There's no point charging a rate higher than your market can afford. It can also be a bad idea to highly undercharge in a market that expects a certain price point. If you are lower or higher than they expect it can cost you in lost clients. You want to ensure that you are charging based on the VALUE of the site rather than how long it takes you. Charge too little and you'll be seen as the ‘cheap' option. Charge too much and your proposal gets thrown out as well.
- Consider How Much It Will Cost to Reach Your Market – You'll need to advertise to reach your market. If you are working with attorneys, you may have to spend more in advertising than if you are wanting to work with small mom and pop businesses. Consider the cost of reaching your target market and build that into the return on investment you need to make through your rates.
- Research Your Direct Competition and Their Rates – Of course one of the first places you should look at to determine your rates is your competition. Check out what they are charging and determine where you fit in comparison. If you charge $897 for an entire website and your competition charges $1000 for just a logo, you'll be seen as an amateur.
- Estimate a Project Start to Finish in Time – You need to understand how much time a project is going to take you from start to finish before you can accurately determine how much to charge. If you've never done a start to finish project before, it would be a good idea to do some practice runs or even volunteer or do highly discounted projects so you can track the time it takes to complete.
- Consider Additional Costs Such as Graphics & Stock Photos – If you are hiring a graphic designer or buying stock photos, etc for the site design you need to build them into the costs.
- Consider Admin Time For Emails, Phone Calls, Etc – Many website designers or freelancers don't directly charge for phone time but consider that there could be a substantial amount of time involved when setting your rates.
- Determine Your Rate Structure: Hourly or Per Project – Will you charge hourly or for a full project? There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Most clients prefer a project fee so keep that in mind.
- Interview Potential Clients to Determine What They're Willing to Pay – Can you connect with people who've already paid for the services you want to charge for? Get feedback from them and learn how to price based on the VALUE of the service. If you intend to target attorneys with your services, call up a few that you know (or maybe a friend can refer you) and ask them if your rates sound reasonable.
- Determine Your Minimum Expected Rates – What is the absolute minimum you are willing to work for? This is your starting point.
- Determine Your ‘Beyond Expectations' Rate – What is your dream rate? What would be a rate that is greatly beyond your expectations? Keep this in mind and go for it by creating a high-value package. Typically you'll want to offer 3 packages, the middle one being the one you expect them to take. If they do choose the higher one, awesome. Just make sure the value is there for them.
- Determine Your ‘Standard Rate' While Leaving It Open For Additional Services – Some potential clients won't be able to go for your full package so create a standard rate for those who need a taste of your services. This is the low-end package mentioned earlier.
- Determine Your Ideal Client & Create a Questionnaire to Qualify Potential Clients – Don't forget to figure out exactly who you want to work with. Then create a questionnaire that will allow you to decide what potential clients will be best to work with you. This will help you find your ideal clients and allow you to recognize clients who are not your best fit.
Whew, that's a lot of information. Determining your rates as a website designer can be a frustrating process. While you are working through this, be sure to include an END DATE on your proposals i.e. That way, if you raise your rates, you won't be honoring a really low rate several months later.
There you have it. Use this checklist and you'll be well on your way to working with some great clients to create, update or maintain their websites.
OK so you want to learn more about how you can use WordPress to create websites for your clients? Visit WP Designer School and find the four key steps to attracting great clients who stick with you for the long-term.
What are you waiting for? Visit WP Designer School and get started today!
