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Assuming you have found some clients, the big
question you will have as a start-up web designer will be
how to run a web design business. Setting up is the relatively
easy part, and you should already have formulated a business
plan that gives a foundation and framework to your business.
But what about the day-to-day running of your web design
business? How do you keep it running smoothly, and ensure
that clients are always happy?
Unfortunately, despite your best efforts, not all clients
will be happy. This is an important point to bear in mind.
Every once in a while, a client will mosey along who is more
trouble than they’re worth. Knowing how to run a web
design business will not prevent this happening, but it will
make it less likely.
Pricing
You must get this right to bring in clients. Under-price
and you may create the impression that you are desperate or
not very good. Over-price and you can alienate potential clients
or simply be beyond their budget.
Contracts
A contract is an essential tool in your web design business
because it states clearly in black and white what is expected
from each party before a project commences. This is your protection
against clients who change their minds and blame you for not
being psychic. Web designers who do not know how to run a
web design business may well assume a verbal agreement will
suffice, but this is fraught with danger. You should also
have a legal sign-off document that states your job is done,
the client is satisfied, and you have been paid.
Time-management
This is a skill you will better acquire over time, and involves
judging how long it will take to complete a particular project
or projects. Staying within deadlines is a must if you want
to be professional, so you should always build in a little
leeway to allow for changes in the project brief, or unexpected
and unavoidable delays.
Cash-flow
Any advice on how to run a web design business must include
ensuring that you maintain a positive cash-flow at all times.
This may mean you need to organize staged payments on bigger
projects, or that you budget for any hard times by always
keeping something in reserve.
Customer-facing
You cannot run any business successfully if you do not get
on with your clients. You must strive to be accommodating
to their whims, and not take things too personally. A satisfied
client may provide repeat business or any number of referrals.
Diplomacy is the name of the game, unless you really are given
no choice but to bite back.
Over-delivery
This part of how to run a web design business is entirely
optional but can reap rewards out of all proportion to the
effort you have made. Whenever a client receives more than
they expected, and more than they paid for, they are delighted.
Again, happy clients can breed new business for you, so try
and add a little extra value to each project.
Best of luck to you.
John
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