Question for other Web Designers

by 9 replies
10
Hey guys,

I've had a couple clients of mine of the last few months ask me to "teach" them how to update and do some html on their own. I'm not really sure what approach to take in a situation like this because:

a) Obviously if I show them how to update their site, they probably won't come back to me for future business.

b) It would probably take quite some time and patience to show some them how to do it.

I don't know, will it look bad if I say no? In reality, it would be like me asking my accountant to teach me how to do my taxes so I don't need him anymore.

Anybody run into this situation? Any opinions and suggestions are welcomed.
#website design #designers #question #web
  • The way I see it you have a few choices:

    1 - Build their sites with CMS like Joomla, Drupal or WordPress. Teach them how to update their content and include the training as part of the cost of the site.

    2 - Charge them for a "how to work with HTML" (or PHP) course that you create. Make one up with some Camtasia videos, that way you won't need to spend time training each one. And you may be able to market the course on it's own, perhaps offer it as a WSO.

    3 - Say "no" or offer to do it for an outrageous price that is bound to dissuade them.

    Number 1 is my favorite choice - after building a site for someone I'm more than happy to "hand them the keys" so that I can move on to other projects. I will always be there to support them if need be, but I really don't want to have to update their site every time they get a new product or that they want to announce the company picnic.

    Bill
  • I think that any time a client comes to you and wants to pay for a service, if you can provide it, do it....

    Some of these folks want to have an idea how to do things... They don't know how to do it well. Sure you will be teaching them how, but if it was easy and they had the time, they would already be doing it.

    I am a designer.... Next Wednesday I have an appointment in one of my clients homes to teach them HTML / CSS..... Then later they want to learn some Photoshop. They are busy to the point that they hire a lot of the jobs out. This just cements my palce with them.

    If they have a problem, I solve it. No questions asked about I only do so and so....

    I know that if I teach them the basics, I will end up just getting more work from them. As the sites they have grow and they continue to expand the business they are in, I want to continue that relationship. I don't want to say no, have them go to someone else to get the training and then have the other guy get his foot in the door.

    This is just another way to expand your market. And is a simple "Law of Attraction" thing. Always be positive, always provide your customer with excellent service and if you have the skills, take on whatever you can to stay the "Go To Guy" in the clients mind.

    Think of it this way...... Do you ever hear a Teacher saying they don't want to Teach others to be a Teacher because they may take the teaching job they have once they graduate?

    Most likely not.

    Have a Great Day!
    • [1] reply
    • As mentioned before, when this type of question arises, we normally will try to get our clients to take the CMS approach.

      This will allow clients to be able update their content and website on their own and never have the need for HTML. When there are elements that are needed for html coding you will be the one to call and still keep your business and your client happy.
  • I'm in agreement with the others who have posted, but for slightly different reasons. Learning HTML and using HTML are two different things. Just as learning how to service the brakes on your car and actually doing it are different things.

    HTML is simple enough, but trying to make a site look better than something FrontPage might have coded in 1997 isn't always that easy, especially when you're starting out. And the time factor is something that people are never prepared for, it seems. Go ahead and teach your clients - for a fee. I'm betting that they'll be coming back to you to do the work anyway.
    • [1] reply
    • I had the same thing happen to me and that gave me the inspiration to make my product. I don't tell my web design clients about my product though, that would be extremely bad for my business.
  • Thanks for the tips guys. Sounds like most of you would lean towards a CMS.
    • [1] reply
    • It's not about teaching him to use a CMS or hand-code in Notepad. It's about ethics. If you teach the man WELL how to do his own web design you will lose him as client, thus lose money. If you teach him POORLY he will still need your help and you will continue to make money from him.

      Perhaps then I'm unethical for not telling clients that if they learn how to do their own web design they would save a lot of money.
  • I prefer to teach them how to do it. I hate updating websites. I charge for the time it takes for them to learn, or I work it in the rate, then go from there. if they need help, I charge for the time, if they are happy and off on their own, fabulous.
    I wouldn't lean towards a CMS for minisites and small html sites, total overkill, even stripped down. There are a lot of editors you can install on a site so the client can update their own sites from any browser
    it is impossible to teach anyone everything that can possibly happen to a website, show them the best you can, start with the basics and some can handle it, some can't. case by case basis.
  • Wordpress is the best option for you. You can make your site easily customizable.
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed

  • 10

    Question for other Web Designers

    Hey guys, I've had a couple clients of mine of the last few months ask me to "teach" them how to update and do some html on their own. I'm not really sure what approach to take in a situation like this because: