Freelance Web Designer

[Webfunk]

Are you looking for a SIMPLE & USER-FRIENDLY website without all the mess? Webfunk Designs specialises in exactly that.

Hi, I'm Ben. I'm a freelance web designer and Webfunk Designs is my baby. I work out of my home studio, creating websites for small businesses. If you are after a static website, with prompt & personalised service, then look no further.

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

[Chris.C]

I saw on your website that you have an hourly rate for additional services I was just wondering how much this was. Thanks.

 

[Webfunk]

I saw on your website that you have an hourly rate for additional services I was just wondering how much this was. Thanks.

Currently, my flat hourly rate is $30/hour. What do you have in mind?

 

[sp@rky13]

Currently, my flat hourly rate is $30/hour. What do you have in mind?

That is heaps cheap Won't last long (Meaning you'll be worth more soon)

 

[Webfunk]

That is heaps cheap Won't last long (Meaning you'll be worth more soon)

Hah! Yeah I hope so... It will definitely increase as my knowledge grows.

 

[Chris.C]

Currently, my flat hourly rate is $30/hour. What do you have in mind?

That's a pretty competitive rate.

I get lots of odd jobs done by a web designer over in the states (mainly wordpress installs and design tweaks), he's very cheap too but he can be a hard man to pin down.

So next time I have a bit of work that needs doing I might give you a bell.

 

[sp@rky13]

For $30/hour, you're obviously getting someone newish to web design but I think it's worth it if it's just odd jobs etc needing to be done

 

[Chris.C]

For $30/hour, you're obviously getting someone newish to web design but I think it's worth it if it's just odd jobs etc needing to be done

My guy in the US does it for $35 an hour but he has been web designing for 6 years!

I think it's more just there is a lot of competition (particularly low cost international competition) as a freelance web design. So it's hard for western web designers to push for too much.

That said a good web designer is worth their weight in gold. I swear some of the developing world designers I have hired in the past are lucky they lived overseas or I probably would have gone around to their home/office and tried to belt some logic into them.

 

[neddy]

That said a good web designer is worth their weight in gold.

I read somewhere recently that if you find a really awesome web designer, the best thing you can do is "shut your mouth" -
never give their name out; never recommend them to mates, clients etc.

Why? Because if they are so good, and start getting really busy, they may not have as much time for you, and their prices will start going up.

 

[Webfunk]

Haha sounds a bit greedy Neddy...

 

[Chris.C]

I read somewhere recently that if you find a really awesome web designer, the best thing you can do is "shut your mouth" -
never give their name out; never recommend them to mates, clients etc.

LOL on that topic I forgot to mention above there is ZERO chance I will tell anyone here who my designer is.

And I never let him link to his site on sites he has designed for me (and it's not because of SEO reasons).



The only person I have told him about was my best friend back when he was just starting up and was looking for a low cost designer who'd do a good job. Three years later he gets quite a bit more work done with him and it's shitting me to tears...

Haha sounds a bit greedy Neddy...

Sounds smart to me...

I guess it depends which side of the fence you are on.

 

[Webfunk]

I suppose. On my side of the fence, it is definitely not an ideal situation. I would want my name on every site I make.

 

[sp@rky13]

Neddy is exactly right. Also, re: cncventure. They do have to try to compete with the developing world. Personally even for $5 or $10 more per hour I would go with someone from the Western world. Reason being, you will waste time trying to communicate what you need done. Also, choosing an Aussie is supporting economic growth etc in Australia.

Do you allow them to have it in their portfolio (without a link/with a link)?

 

[Chris.C]

Also, re: cncventure. They do have to try to compete with the developing world. Personally even for $5 or $10 more per hour I would go with someone from the Western world. Reason being, you will waste time trying to communicate what you need done.

Agree totally. That's why I have an American web designer.



That said, I expect this "lost in translation" factor is going to diminish over time (2 - 3 years).

Also, choosing an Aussie is supporting economic growth etc in Australia.

LOL - I remember studying the economics of descrimination back at university in my instrial economics class.

Moral of the story - discrimination (this includes nationalism) in competitive markets undermines the discriminators over the long run.

ie - not outsourcing to a lower cost provider will make you uncompetitive and lose you market share over time.

Do you allow them to have it in their portfolio (without a link/with a link)?

Yeah they can always link to me...



Someone who tried to find who designed my sites by looking through my link profile deserves to find them.

 

[FirstPageResults]

$30~ is not sustainable IMO.

Speaking from experience of managing a team, you get 1 bad client in 3 and your whole quote is blown way over budget and it has a domino affect on the next job. You want to be on the front foot.

To be successful in web design (imo):

• Spend the time to quote properly
• When you quote, double your estimate completion time, and then times again by 1.5 for testing and planning
• $100 an hour min. Way more if you freelance - who is going to pay for holiday, sick leave etc?
• Use some project management software to track your time - that way you can give realistic deadlines
• Make the client pay in installments, and only progress when they pay
• Outline exactly what they get, with # of revisions
• Specify additional hourly rate for any changes to project spec - even bump this up 50% to discourage those picky clients
• Do 2-3 quick mock ups and get the client to choose before spending hours polishing a design
• Don't be afraid to tell the client their ideas are rubbish - you're the expert
• Don't do the client any freebies, even for small updates (like 5 min jobs) or they will take you for a ride - always charge in atleast 30min blocks
• Encourage the client to email you rather than speak on the phone so they don't waste your time and you have everything in writing
• Don't do sites for friends or family members at a discounted rate
• Regular dialog with clients so they comeback for the next site. Simple as sending them analytics once a month and a few ideas

That's mainly for SMEs, enterprise is a different game again.

Sometimes the less people pay the more they expect. Sounds strange, but believe me it happens alot.

When a client goes "move this button here and change the colour.. actually don't like that change it back" 5 or so times that really chews into your time.

 

[Webfunk]

$30~ is not sustainable IMO.

Speaking from experience of managing a team, you get 1 bad client in 3 and your whole quote is blown way over budget and it has a domino affect on the next job. You want to be on the front foot.

To be successful in web design (imo):

• Spend the time to quote properly
• When you quote, double your estimate completion time, and then times again by 1.5 for testing and planning
• $100 an hour min. Way more if you freelance - who is going to pay for holiday, sick leave etc?
• Use some project management software to track your time - that way you can give realistic deadlines
• Make the client pay in installments, and only progress when they pay
• Outline exactly what they get, with # of revisions
• Specify additional hourly rate for any changes to project spec - even bump this up 50% to discourage those picky clients
• Do 2-3 quick mock ups and get the client to choose before spending hours polishing a design
• Don't be afraid to tell the client their ideas are rubbish - you're the expert
• Don't do the client any freebies, even for small updates (like 5 min jobs) or they will take you for a ride - always charge in atleast 30min blocks
• Encourage the client to email you rather than speak on the phone so they don't waste your time and you have everything in writing
• Don't do sites for friends or family members at a discounted rate
• Regular dialog with clients so they comeback for the next site. Simple as sending them analytics once a month and a few ideas

That's mainly for SMEs, enterprise is a different game again.

Sometimes the less people pay the more they expect. Sounds strange, but believe me it happens alot.

When a client goes "move this button here and change the colour.. actually don't like that change it back" 5 or so times that really chews into your time.

All valid points and stuff I need to take into consideration. Thanks mate. I certainly have spent a lot of time on a recent project, much more than my original quote...

 

[sensoryfx]

As a general rule of thumb, for a freelancer with low overheads, $50 an hour is reasonable for mainstream web design/development. And generally I add a 30% contingency allowance.

Clients who rely heavily on price point are generally a pain in the ass.
The most important thing to clients who are prepared to pay for quality is that you have your processes in place, ensuring you provide a quality product.

 

[sensoryfx]

lol at FirstPageResults ...
Based on your summation of 'being successful' in web design, I would say you are a more management fucussed individual.

Its all that left brained right brained stuff ... designers, who are right brained, think very differently to 'managers' who are generally left brained.

 

[sp@rky13]

FirstPageResults, that's some great insight there. I totally understand where you're coming from there

 

[FirstPageResults]

lol at FirstPageResults ...
Based on your summation of 'being successful' in web design, I would say you are a more management fucussed individual.

Its all that left brained right brained stuff ... designers, who are right brained, think very differently to 'managers' who are generally left brained.

Haha well when I started out I was very designed focused, but then it became more about results and the bottom line

Anyway, this thread has been well and truely hijacked now -- $30 an hour is a steal for a local designer, so give why not give webfunk a go!