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First Attempt, Potenital Sale, Now I Need Advice

by mekap04
9 replies
Hi, guys. I've decided to go offline and try to offer my knowledge and skills to local businesses. I'm not too social but I decided to go ahead and give it a go.

I started with my hairdresser who was looking for new clients. I sent her a text and told her that I could hook her up with a website and bring her some new leads. She was really excited about it and told me that it was a very good idea and she wanted to try something new to get business.

Now we have an appointment to discuss the project Monday.

Since I know how to set up Wordpress websites, I plan to create her a 5 page website, outsource the logo creation, and integrate social media on the site.

Now I'm just wondering if it would be better to use a "premium" wordpress theme or customize an existing free theme? I've checked out some business themes on Wordpress and they look decent enough but not too sure.

Also, what types of other "marketing" extras could you add on to this type of service to make a little more money? I intend to charge $50-$100 for just the website creation for my first few clients but when I get more experience, I'd like to offer a more complete package and increase the price to about $250. This is what I had in mind:

5 Page Website
Social Media Integration
Logo (If they don't have one)
Onpage SEO Optimization
Mobile Friendly Website
Website Submitted to Local Business Directories

Lastly, any tips for the actual appointment like what I should do to be prepared? I'm nervous about it but since it someone I know, hopefully it will go well.
#advice #attempt #potenital #sale
  • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
    You really should bump up your price. Charging $250 and less is not worth the value you're providing.
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  • Profile picture of the author dave147
    You could add webhosting monthly payments or annual, and yes it really should be well above $250 for what you are doing, more like $595 at least.
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  • Profile picture of the author Deidra Renee
    All of that for $50? As far as the appointment goes just explain what comes with the website, what you just explained in your post. Explain the benefits the website will bring to her business, why integrating social media will help, etc.. Don't just talk about the website design, talk about what the website will do for the business.

    You can have it typed as a `proposal` or just something to leave with her when the appointment is over. It sounds like she's already sold, but you still want to sound like you know what you're doing and please don't charge $50! That should be the hosting fee.
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    • Profile picture of the author mekap04
      Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely keep it in mind. In regards to hosting, I will likely help her set it up so that she can have her own account. I don't have a reseller hosting account yet so I can't host the site myself, unless I use my own hosting account which would probably be a bad idea. Maybe I should have set up a reseller hosting plan first.
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Even low ballers end up charging $1,000 for the services you're talking about charging $250 for.

    Logo? Many companies spend $1,500-2,000 on a professional logo, but they truly receive a professional logo. It isn't just about outsourcing...

    5 page website, average price seems to be around 500 or so, I charge 849 but make it mandatory they have me to hosting and maintenance which is 350/yr.

    Mobile website, people are charging 250 on the low end. Submitting to local directories? Take a look at yext and what they charge...

    You are at the point where you can have a small taste of success, then be bitten immediately with failure once you realize you can't provide what you said for such a low amount. This industry is highly competitive. If you compete on price alone, you will not last very long.

    Remember.. The second you sign on a new client, is the second you start to lose them. Often times, they have no problem jumping ship AND paying more if the quality isn't what they expect. Make her host with you... charge $300 for the year and bam, your reseller is covered.

    I would assume, based on such the low price you posted, is that the hairdresser isn't really a professional hair dresser, someone that just does it from home on the side to friends...
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    • Profile picture of the author mekap04
      Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

      Even low ballers end up charging $1,000 for the services you're talking about charging $250 for.

      Logo? Many companies spend $1,500-2,000 on a professional logo, but they truly receive a professional logo. It isn't just about outsourcing...

      5 page website, average price seems to be around 500 or so, I charge 849 but make it mandatory they have me to hosting and maintenance which is 350/yr.

      Mobile website, people are charging 250 on the low end. Submitting to local directories? Take a look at yext and what they charge...

      You are at the point where you can have a small taste of success, then be bitten immediately with failure once you realize you can't provide what you said for such a low amount. This industry is highly competitive. If you compete on price alone, you will not last very long.

      Remember.. The second you sign on a new client, is the second you start to lose them. Often times, they have no problem jumping ship AND paying more if the quality isn't what they expect. Make her host with you... charge $300 for the year and bam, your reseller is covered.

      I would assume, based on such the low price you posted, is that the hairdresser isn't really a professional hair dresser, someone that just does it from home on the side to friends...
      I still have a lot to learn and that's why I am asking for advice and doing more homework. Thanks for this info as it opened my eyes on some things.

      By the way, I'm basically trying to help people I know (for now) get an online presence. It's not going to be a state of the art website with tons of features and pages but one that looks clean and professional, markets the business, and gets them leads.

      That's why I was thinking of charging low - because it's people I know and I want to try to help them, I am doing this for the first time, and I want to build a portfolio with my initial clients. But now that I have the info you all have given me, I think I will need to reconsider a few things.
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  • Profile picture of the author cypherslock
    My suggestion: don't cheapen your price because you know them. Then they will ask for discounts for everything, and that always leads to bad feelings. You are worth more than you realize. And people, if they are serious about their business, will pay premium price for premium service.
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    • Profile picture of the author nickjoselle
      mekap04

      First off - congrats on your first potential client! And congrats for facing your fears and going for it!

      Yes, your charging well below most folks - but you are getting your foot in the door (actually, more importantly, your own foot out your own door)... so don't worry about upping the price - focus on listening to your potential client and really working to help her business.

      Trust me, if you genuinely help people grow their business, you will have plenty of future customers, and you will then have the confidence to charge more.

      Enjoy the journey - you are off and running!
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  • Profile picture of the author Arzak
    Even the cheap clients expect a website to be at least a few hundred. As others suggested, charge a bit more (it's still a good price), and also have your friend sign up for hosting under an affiliate link. You can pocket around $100 from that depending on the hosting provider.

    I would use a premium theme because they just look better (if you use nice logos and graphics to accompany the theme; something a lot of don't accomplish) and there are usually great options that work well with specific niches.
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