| When competing for web design/implementation | | | | rarely go strictly to plan in web design and delays |
| contracts; a professionally presented web design | | | | can be expected. Time is money. The going rate |
| proposal more often than not decides whether | | | | for web design services seems to be between |
| you win or lose the project. A web design | | | | US$25-$75 per labour hour at present; dependent |
| proposal also decreases the incidences of | | | | upon the complexity of the task and the |
| misunderstandings between yourself and your | | | | competency of the designer. |
| clients when the project is under way and acts as | | | | Terms and conditions: Expectations and |
| a basis for a formal contract. | | | | commitments. It is not unusual for web projects |
| When putting together a basic web site proposal, | | | | to be delayed due to clients not supplying |
| you should include the following elements: | | | | feedback or content necessary to complete |
| Your Information: Your background or company | | | | sections. It is just as important to be clear in |
| history, qualifications, skills, past achievements and | | | | what you expect from your clients as well as |
| contact details. | | | | explaining your commitment to them. Conflict |
| Project Overview: The company you are | | | | resolution issues and feedback mechanisms should |
| submitting the proposal for, your understanding of | | | | be described. Your clients will need to know what |
| their products and services, the target market, | | | | will occur if they do not supply information when |
| the goals of the web site and a rough outline of | | | | requested, or request changes mid-stream and |
| how you will acheive them. | | | | the action that you will take if you are running |
| Theme: A description of style of site you are | | | | behind in the project yourself. You need to be |
| proposing. Elements from the client's current | | | | clear on payment details and consequences of |
| branding you will utilise or new elements you will | | | | failure to pay for the services that you provide. |
| develop. | | | | Mock-ups (samples). Be careful not to give too |
| Special Considerations: such as language, security | | | | much away, just enough to give the client a good |
| or other issues pertaining to the company, site or | | | | idea of what the site will look like. Ensure |
| target market that will need to be addressed. | | | | copyright notices and intellectual property |
| Flowchart: A diagram showing the different pages | | | | statements are in place. |
| of the site how navigation will occur. | | | | Maintenance. Summarise an offer of ongoing site |
| Flowchart Description: A detailed description of | | | | maintenance or the implications of the client |
| each page. | | | | deciding to update or maintain the site themselves |
| Development Timeline: This should be a description | | | | after it has been established. |
| of each stage of development, the estimated | | | | The above points are usually sufficient to put |
| completion date and notes regarding client | | | | together a professional web design proposal for a |
| consultation and supply of information/feedback | | | | small to medium project. If drafting a proposal |
| from the client. This may also include milestone | | | | based on criteria given to you by the prospective |
| payments for involved projects and site | | | | client; be sure to address all the points. If the |
| promotion activities. Make it clear that traffic | | | | client suggests the proposal documentation be a |
| takes time to build up after implementation and | | | | certain format, respect that. In the culling process, |
| promotion should only occur after the site has | | | | the first proposals to be binned will be the ones |
| been tested thoroughly. Improper implementation | | | | that do not address all the criteria the client has |
| can cost months of traffic. | | | | laid down. |
| Costing: A descriptive breakdown of costing and | | | | Bear in mind that not all the web design proposals |
| total of quote including an end date before the | | | | you submit will be accepted. Be prepared to do |
| price will need to be re-calculated. This will include | | | | some heavy revisions to satisfy your clients and |
| items such as domain name registration, hosting | | | | to find a middle ground where all parties feel |
| fees and outsourcing for sections of the site you | | | | comfortable. A prospective client asking for |
| will not be able to develop yourself. Ensure you | | | | revisions is a good sign - they are genuinely |
| take into account items including travel time, | | | | interested. Also remember that some companies |
| electricity,telephone amd consumables. Factor in | | | | will ask you for proposals purely to use as a |
| the cost of the proposal as well; a good proposal | | | | comparison against another designer that they are |
| will take hours of your time and you should be | | | | interested in utilising; so try and limit the amount |
| compensated for that. In your eagerness to gain | | | | of time you spend on the draft until the client |
| the contract, you may lose money if you quote | | | | gives indication of serious interest. |
| too close to the bone. Bear in mind that things | | | | |