Got Web Ideas? Fishing for the Answers?
Think Outside The Code First!
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Facts, Thoughts, and Opinions About Web Development and Business Strategy
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OutsideTheCode.com >>
Why Many People Spend Money for Web Development and Get Nothing in Return
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Target Topic: Trying to get Web development done for rates far below industry
standards and choosing a developer solely on price will likely lead to 99% chance
of failure. Can you actually afford to do what you are trying to do? Many can't
but they try anyway and get less than zero for their money.
What you are about to read happens all the time and don't think I am exaggerating.
The scenario always plays out like this:
I need to have a Website completed. I started with this other person 2 months ago.
I gave them a down payment to start the site and then they never did anything. Prior
to that, I tried to get it done overseas. That did not work out either. I even tried
to use X Company's canned Website builder but it would not allow me to do what I
needed to do. Do you think you can help me? I want the site to look similar to eBay
with the exact same features. I also need a logo and a really cool, professional
design. By the way, I only have $500.00.
It never ceases to amaze me how the Internet carries the perception of "get rich
quick" while, at the same time, carrying the perception that professional Websites
are cheap to build.
Worse, there are no shortage of developers out there who will tell people what you
want to hear, take a nice 50% deposit, and then simply disappear. Some of these
developers know exactly what they are doing while others are likely newbies to the
development world who quickly realize that they are in over their heads and just
disappear. They have already spent your money and they are not going to shell out
a refund. It likely was not done under contract and there is nothing the client
can do. Are you going to spend $20,000.00 trying to sue someone to recover $500.00?
Development rates for experienced developers with a proven track record in the United
States are usually not going to be below $50.00 per hour. That is probably the bottom
end although you may find someone who will help you out for a little less. Not likely.
Getting back to the guy with $500.00 looking for eBay, don't think this is the end
of the line. They want professional services but when they find out what the price
is that comes with they will often want to argue,. "Well, I have been talking to a couple other
developers who say I can, in fact, get it done for $500.00". Good luck.
Isn't that how this entire mess began in the first place?
Why don't you talk to FIVE seasoned developers or development companies complete
with references and years experience and compare notes. You are not going to get
a Website like that for $500.00. What you likely will end up with is 500 less dollars
and nothing to show for it.
The Internet market is flooded with people offering Web design and development services.
Overseas people have the utmost protection is not delivering and there is no shortage
of college students who graduate each year with a degree in Computer Sciences who
think they are going to tackle the world. There is a hell of a lot more to know
about Internet development that you are going to learn in college and running your
own development business for that matter. Much like people seeking low dollar development,
they have no clue what they are in for. It all seems so easy and all too soon they are
in over their head and the only way they know how to deal with it is to blow off the
client.
The above being said, people get themselves in these situations by trying to do
things that have been done a million times before. Whether it is CDs, reselling
tickets, jewelry, etc..., if it has been done a million times before then they seem
to think it must be cheap to do. The fact of the matter is, if you want to try and
compete in a heavily saturated market then you are probably going to need to spend
even more money to create something unique that can compete and you will definitely
have to offer low dollar prices for your inventory with lots of 10% off sales, 2
for 1 sales, bargain corner, etc... All of which must be represented in the programming
and manageable by the client = experience, time, and money.
People looking for rock solid development and low-ball rates are going to play the
passing developer game until the entire thing finally implodes. You are not going
to get professional development done by experienced developers for far below market
value. Clients should realize this and they should know this. I think many of them
do know this but all they want to hear is price, price, price. They simply do not
differentiate between skill level and experience. They look at Web development as
having the same technicality level as taking empty beer cans back to the store.
There are not many small businesses that I work with who have not already gone through
at least one developer and most are on their second or third. I literally mean almost
all of them and I literally talk to people each week in this position. The story
is always the same. They tried to get it done dirt cheap, they were sold on price
alone, and now the developer is nowhere to be found. Oh yeah, and your money.
But don't take my word for it. Just remember this when you are on your 3rd developer
and you finally quit. |
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