Web Strategy: Understanding Web Design Pricing

Categories: User Experience, Web Design, Web Industry, Web StrategyPosted on March 6th, 2007

I’ve notice quite a few posts about blog design recently, from these 10 beautiful blog designs, from these 45 selected ones, I’m impressed with what Ars Technica has recently done. One thing for sure is that everyone wants to have a great blog design. I’ve had similar discussions with Hyku’s Josh Hallett, well known blog designer among the tech blogosphere.

Even with RSS being a common way how people read your content, having a web or blog design that represents you is important. This is why USA Today and other newspapers are undergoing massive web redesigns to meet the changes of social media.

I’m frequently asked by contacts, friends, and family to provide recommendations for web designers as well as web design pricing. Since the answer always “depends” I’m going to link to a few resources that will help those that want to know more learn about what to look for in web design, service, and what to expect for pricing.

One can never put a price on having a storefront on the web, it’s something necessary for the smallest of businesses, doing it right, or doing it so it matters is a completely different discussion.

Of course, developing and documenting the goals of a website is the first step, but that’s a discussion for another time. Emily Chang has some interesting design philosophy. Ian from Portive has a book that I reviewed on the subject. Whether your a designer or a customer seeking web design, here’s a few articles to read before engaging in those discussions:

Web Design Pricing Resources to read before talking money:

4 Steps To Effective Web Design Pricing
Here’s how one clever web designer priced out his/her worth

How much should a Design Cost?
Blog Design discussions.

Per Page, Per Hour, Per Project
An over simplified view of web design, if you’re expecting to piece together a web strategy this way, your website will reflect the attention you’ve put into it.

14 Point Web Design Checklist (and a way not to get repeat customers)
Somewhat related in a humorus way, this list of web design punishes the ignorant client, personally, I’d rather inform and educate them, isn’t that why they called you? It’s tagged “humor” so I get the joke.

Leave a comment if you’ve other resources for either clients or designers should know about pricing web design services.

If you’re seeking a Web Design company, see this list here. If you’re a Web Design company, feel free to leave a comment promoting your work on this post.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 6th, 2007 at 7:25 am and is filed under User Experience, Web Design, Web Industry, Web Strategy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

What pricing depends on:
1. Scope of project- what all are we doing
2. Length of project- is this a one time deal, or a continuing contract? Also, what is the potential for long term work if this goes well.
3. Integration with other services- just design, or ecommerce as well? What about SEO, PPC?

Brian
Portent Interactive

Posted by Brian Keith on March 6th, 2007 at 1:47 pm

IMO:

Web Pricing depends on the following:-
a) Type of project ie, social, products selling or branding, ecommerce
b) Complexity of the project
c) Length of time taken to complete.
d) Long term or short term relationship
e) Experience of the web designer

Regards
Jeffrey
Adsighted.com

Posted by Jeffrey on March 6th, 2007 at 8:46 pm

[...] Learn more Kelly and Emily have released some additional resources for your planning needs. Also see the top resources sites for Web Designers. Lastly, there are tons of sites tagged in delicious with the terms web design process. If you’re shopping around, Understand Web Design Pricing, or see a list of web design firms (add your own or favorite firm). [...]

Posted by Web Strategy by Jeremiah » Web Design Workflow and Process Comparison on March 19th, 2007 at 7:25 am

I prefer to work on project basis even if I know that in some cases working on hourly basis would mean a biggest income…

My clients has to know exactly [!] how much they have to pay for a certain service.

If the design and/or development takes more than I expected… it’s my problem.

Respiro
http://www.RespiroMedia.com

Posted by Respiro, the logo designer on April 18th, 2007 at 11:24 am

When I work on a project basis I find it hard some times for clients to understand that any extra work (not part of the original plan) is not covered in the original budget…some times is easyer just to go by the hour.
Goliat
http://www.PaginasWebFlash.com

Posted by Goliat on May 14th, 2007 at 1:45 am

[...] While I’m not sure how a firm becomes a “featured design firm” there appears to be come good resources for those seeking to buy or sell web design services. I’d like to see them create a web design directory that lists many firms, maybe by customer rating. See their web design resources section as well. Have you read my comparison of all website design process and workflows? If you’re trying to price a web design project, here’s some resources I’ve collected. [...]

Posted by Web Strategy by Jeremiah » Community Resource for Web Designers: Edezines on May 31st, 2007 at 6:47 am

Best idea is to apply a marketing approach… like this:

you pick up at least 10 (maybe) companies-competitors in the same niche as you are… check up their rates… and think of the concept you would like to offer on the e-market… hi rates will surely frighten customers, very low ones - wont give that much trust to the company…. do the golden middle is that you better offer rates a bit lower that your primary competitors have… and offer “better quality” and as a bonus for example some other free service, which will not take you much time providing it..

That is how I see it atm…