Do Clients Pay Before Viewing Sample?

Hello,

I know this sounds like a dumb question and for the most part I would more then assume, that the client always pay half the bill before you start but I dont understand how the client is ok with this.

Has anyone here ever show a sample of the graphic look of the website before being paid?

What I'm trying to understand is, lets say the client gives you some ideas on how they want their website to look and then after making the 1st draft, the client does not like it, how do you handle this. I know most contracts give about 3 remakes of the look but what happens if the client does not like the last re-design what do you do? What if you just dont know how to make what the client wants to have...do you say have a nice day and go separate ways, do you still charge a small amount and if you do charge, how do you figure the correct amount?


Please let me know how you might handle this, even if you never had this problem. I'm trying to make sure the client feels comfortable and is handle correctly. Thanks so much for the time and looking forward to hearing back...


Thanks,

 

We write it all in our contracts. For smaller jobs, less than $5,000 - is it usually 50% up front and the remainder done when the contract is complete. All jobs over $5,000, we usually break it down in in thirds. One third up front, one third half-way through, and the final third upon completion.

If you have are having problems - ask them to take pen and paper and draw something. Or ask them what sites they like and what colors. Even though you are building the site for their customers - usually it has more to do with them (especially in the beginning)

 

Hello,

Thanks or taking the time to give helpful advice. It helped me to better understand the process.

But how should it be handled if your client wants either a certain look or feel and after the 3rd or 4th revision, how should you word it to the client that they may be better off with another designer?

I know it is best to just make the client happy and keep remaking the design but what if this client is just not able to make their minds up or I just cannot create what they want...what would be the most professional way to word that they need a different designer?


Looking forward to reading,


Thanks

 

Perhaps letting them know that the style they want is not something you are familiar with, and try to help them and find someone who does? Just a suggestion...

 

That's why I like development - you want a button pushed and you want it to email you and the user? No Problem!

Design on the other hand is vey difficult. If they do not like the product - ask what they do not like about it. Find out if it is the colors, shapes, images, location of images, etc.

If you did not want to handle the client any longer - hm I am not really the right person to ask. I am usually blunt - I would say something like: I am sorry but our team is unable to create a (web) design to your satisfaction. We are terminating our contract within seven days.

 

Ah... but then you get to the sticky point of deciding whether to refund the downpayment or not.

I'm difficult to work with, so I don't usually accept payment in advance.

 

Well, I've done some designing and come to realize... The customer never knows what they want. Their vision changes just about everytime they look at you draft. The more sites they browse while your designing their site changes what they are imagining their site to look like. Like one person said before... You need to get them happy with something on paper.. Then draft what you have on paper, make afew minor changes but dont deviate from the original idea. If you do, then your doing another project... Scratch it all and start over.

Like I said... the customer never knows what they want. Thats why they came to you. It sounds to me you have already made up your mind to drop this project but just don't know how to let them go. If you have not accepted any money then it should be easy. Yes the time spend is already gone, but now you know you can't design that way...

 

Another way I often do it, is having your customer find designs and layouts that they like. You can create a site with the same navigational pattern or colors or whatever and they are much less likely to not like the finished project.

It doesn't matter how much of an expert you are, your customers will almost always believe their own ideas and taste is what is best, so sometimes its better to let them tell you exactly what they want.