The web designers usually have a lot of different skills, but only provide specific ones to their clients. The issue is that often the communication of what is expected to be done on a project and what is not expected becomes obscure, especially if the projects guidelines have not been put in place.
It is important to be aware of what your web designer can provide in their services and not expect more than what the project has been agreed upon. Although the designer may do a few extras out of being nice or to make up for any inconveniences, it is not to be expected all the time.
Make sure to ask questions, and get it in contract on what the expectations of the end result of the project will be.
I have put together a graphic meme with a little on what web designers are not.
My web designer is such a sweetheart but he does definitely do more than he is paid for. I refer him clients frequently and notice that he offers up more than the clients have asked for. Then they expect over the top quality and service thereafter. I think he needs a little coaching on boundaries. I will send him this link 🙂
Hi Nile,
I totally agree with you that clients should know when to stop. Professional ethic is not the same as friendship for endless favors.
On the other hand, designers (as well as freelance writers like me) should learn to say “no”. We are not doormats. Unluckily, sometimes we have to fight for our natural rights.
I have been knocking out my own sites for years. This year due to a lack of time I have employed the services of a pro the sites not quite finished but is looking fantastic I wish I’d gone down this route years ago. He has so far done far more than i expected. 🙂
When we do Web Design projects for our clients it usually building a full website from scratch.
It’s true, a graphic designer has skills in making you’re site look good but a good web designer should be able to get the layout of your site right making it appealing to both visitors and search engines if you’re wanting to do SEO as well.
Their graphic design skills are usually somewhat limited.
Hey Nile, I Agree with you as a web-designer. I was always provides my client specific one because if i provide more than he/she want than they sometimes not satisfy or sometimes they dont pay for extra work.
So true. projects guideline is very important.
You got a real problem when a client is expecting a big site that is very time demanding for only a couple of hundred dollars.
You always need so explain what every thing cost. Time is money for both me as a web designer and lets say a accountant.
Always great infromation from this site!
Great info and help
Our new fresh model agency http://iconmodels.co.uk based in East Yorkshire, UK appreciates it!
Yes, web designers should not be rushed so that they can create and design the best website for you. Remember that your web design defines who you are and creates the first impression on your audience.
I like when my friend gets upset when I call him a graphic designer. He alsways tells me he is a web designer. I don’t see a difference.
Hey Nile,
its true – many people do not know that there has also work to be done in webdesign. That it can be time-consuming to create something from scratch.
And who doesnt know the mail with “I just had an incredible idea – could you please add xyz to the page?” (right, of course I´ll do that without any additional charge – I always work for the grace of charity…).
I guess thats business and that every freelancer has to learn how to treat such whishes and behaviours the right way.
Best regards
Thomas
Gosh I wish people remembered not to rush me! Makes things so much easier when they aren’t breathing down your neck to get things done.
I totally agree! I’ve had a lot of friends hire sites for their personal blog and the freelancers completely messed up on their blog because of lack of communication.
It’s important!
Yeah ! Off course this probably happens, but i think so the web designer doing the right thing. mostly they have made up those things which the contractor is agreed upon.
But the human sense as a contractor, they always make disturbance to the web designer by putting new demands in the same package. and asking that you should also have to do this.
if the contractors agree for new future changes and have to pay for new demands the web designer will not have any problem for that.
Thanks
Sarah Scofield
I want to tell you about my experience: I never start a project before clarifying with the client what expected from my designers. I emphasize that they are not programmers nor software developers. Every two weeks we do a presentation at the client sites, to make sure were heading in the right direction. Every change in the contract by the client requires adding more funds,.
It is rather common to expect a lot from the web designers and often exceed the agreement previously set. for web designers meeting every requirement of the client is hard especially if they are facing deadlines and on top of that the client breathing down your neck and adding to the work. The clients need to relax and let the people do their work according to their skills.
Very true, I wish people didnt push me! Makes things so much morefrystrating when they are breathing down your neck to get things done.
We just took on board a new website designer as well. So far everything is looking great!
First of all thanks for this great share. Blogging is really important thing for me. It should be in simple way which helps to users who really need. These all tips really help me make an improvement in my writing.
Oh boy yes! I have a couple of friends whom as web designers when starting out alone got stuck in a trap of small favours turning into huge projects and then difficult positions for them. I have learnt a lot from them myself in how to deal with people friends or not when it comes to dealing with time and work.
Hi Nile
Is the picture a reflection on the way you’ve been feeling treated recently? If so I hope things get better.
I’m not always happy with my web designer. His skills fall behind the cutting edge, his graphic talents are limited and he doesn’t know much about how to code stuff. And, I get impatient with him because he’s always finding other things to distract him. He’s a nice guy, just not really cut out for kick ass web design. He is me.
RICK
Although I have has many issues with web masters in the past the present web designer and web master are the best I could ever dream of.
I think we need to know to learn to speak the language of others no matter the job they do and soon understand if we are a good fit. It is ok to say no if we feel we are not a good fit, better early than late.
My experience is to start small.
Thanks for this post great share!
The best ever meme on graphic designers I have read in ages! 😀
Being a web designer myself, i totally agree with you….i have been in conditions where a client changed the scope of work on completion of contract but then i got smarter, i designed a contract form where every single details will be written down and signed by both parties, that way any extra demand will mean a bridge of contract.
You should consider adding “Web designers are not always good” to the meme 😀
I’ve been trying to find someone for a project of mine for a few months now, and most of them just don’t cut it. Today’s web needs more than flashy colors or fancy lightboxes, usability and loading speed are (in my opinion at least) a priority and many designers just don’t know or care much about it.
Great graphic, Nile. I have never used a web designer, but I know what it is like to do freelance work. You definitely have to set boundaries that you feel comfortable with.
i wouldn’t do any work without a detailed and signed contract. Ann ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Thanks for the post.
Hi Nile,
This is quite typical in alot of businesses. I still work full time in a hunting and fishing store. Since I have been there, there has always been a problem with customers hanging around the gun room all day, yes I am convinced they have nothing better to do, just to chat with out gun guys and share their weekend hunting trips.
My point is they have over stepped the boundaries where customer become friends and they expect to be treated differently with cheap deals and personal attention when it is not their turn.
Thanks for the post,
Kare
Thanks for the graphic! I so agree with you. More then often we just get treated like dogs
As a programmer I have problems with the graphics on my sites.
Programming is easy to learn but graphic design is a skill which you either have (or more likely) don’t have.
Nile, that is good and funny! And also sad and true. Scope creep can be a real issue but I think your advice about setting boundaries up front is critical. I always use an agreement and am happy to provide a quote for additional services that may be requested after work has begun. I think I found this so funny because I am so impatient, myself! It’s a good reminder for all of us to wait for a quality product. 🙂
Hello Nile,
I am Techtrend Solutions, i completely agree with you. This is a great idea, This should be need for every web designer and developers.
Thanks ! i agree web designing is a process to create a web page an effective web page is designed by the designer it look like related your business.
Hi, Nile!
There really is nothing like good old-fashioned transparency between clients and contractors. From our experience, we almost always try to avoid clients who’ve been difficult to other companies in our industry.
Still the worst clients are those who’ve next to no idea what they REALLY want. I’m new here so correct me if I’m wrong – but I’d like to read your thoughts on bad clients and how we can identify them from afar. 🙂
Regards,
Shandi
Its not always easy to tell who is going to be a bad client from the start. Usually it does take a week or two (if the project is bigger) to tell if you are going to practically hold your client’s hand throughout the project, or expect more than the project has. The biggest thing is to have a contract to state the terms.
However, the biggest thing is communication.
When you are dealing with web designer regarding your project you must have contract with him. Define all the steps that what you are asking for and what he is going to deliver. So It may not be frustrated in the end when project is almost close. Also web designer must have professional skills to deal with both client and project. So he can get more and more business and client get more and more satisfied.
Hy, Nile
I am grateful for your advice. I am very concerned about the quality of the product which I desperately need a very good result
Dear Admin,
I am new in this field of website promotion via internet…was searching in Google about it and i landed on your blog,Learnt a lot of tips on it ….i am doing lots of directory submissions to rank my keywords high…Please guide me if i am doing the right way!!!
I got a kick out of this as I just gave a friend a number of a graphics lady I used before, who did a great job for me and I kind of felt bad as my friend bugged the crap out of her apparently though she told him it would be a few days to a week.
Dear Admin,
I am new in this field of website promotion via internet…was searching in Google about it and i landed on your blog,Learnt a lot of tips on it ….i am doing lots of directory submissions to rank my keywords high…Please guide me if i am doing the right way!!!
You can submit your site to link directories, but you might want to turn to syndicating your site’s content more to get more engagement. Google is weighing in more social engagement into a site’s authority and rank.
Hi,
Always great post from this site. Being a web designer myself, i totally agree with you.
Thanks for the sharing.
Interesting graphic, but true, we must be professionals
Hello Nile
Till now I not use a web designer.But your post is helpful for me in future.Because for sure I will going to concern a web designer for my blog.
is the web designer world like that ,i never imagine that
I totally agree with you, this probably happens, And also sad and true
This is first time I visit your site.I found a very good information about in your site.I will sharing this formation some other people.Thanks for sharing this information for me……
hii nile this time i am totally agree with you I’ve had a lot of friends hire sites for their personal blog and the freelancers completely messed up on their blog because of lack of communication. thats the issue