Budget Website That User Can Update? - How? Options

[MulaG]

A potential client has said that she has found someone that could do a 4 page site (no fancy pictures other than their own) and they can update content for £150. I thought that was way to cheap, and wouldn't you have to have a content management system so that they can update their content?

Could someone explain how the user can update their site on a budget please? The client would want to update with newsletters, and events, latest news that kind of thing.

Sorry don't mean to sound sarcastic, it just sounds too cheap.

Cheers
Gina

[joedolson]

150 pounds is, indeed, extremely cheap. However, updating their own content can be done is so many different ways --- many of which are free --- that it's not the CMS aspect of the deal which is surprising.

They could do it with any of numerous free CMS packages: WordPress, TextPattern, Drupal, Joomla, etc. -- or the developer might just mean "I won't insist on making changes myself; but I'm not doing to do anything to make it easier for you." It's hard to tell, since the information is always filtered through multiple layers.

That price for any development at all is surprising -- but if they are, for example, just going with something like a WordPress installation with a free theme and a customized logo, then sure - you can do that for 150 pounds. What the client is getting isn't necessarily all that great; but, it's not necessarily terrible either.

Pricing is simply a matter of deciding what work you'll do and what you think your work is worth. In this case, it's either somebody who won't do a lot of work on the project or somebody who doesn't think their time is worth much. There's nothing you can do about it --- so I wouldn't worry about it!

[bwelford]

Unfortunately websites can break over ridiculously small issues. In other words, it may be that it displays incorrectly in one of the common browsers. Or perhaps it is not very visible to the Google search robots. The website owner will invest a great deal of time and effort in trying to make that website perform. If it has some inherent flaw, then however cheaply they value their time, they will be investing a lot of extra cost in a website that they can never ever be proud of.

[EGOL]

My brother is in the roofing business and he gets lots of people calling him for cheap roofing. As soon as he smells that they are looking for a cheap price he tells them that he is booked solid.

He jokes... "I'll do their roof someday"....

Often it is two years later, their "new roof" is leaking like a sieve. Then they call him in desperation and are very happy to pay his price....

...and he insists on being paid in advance.

[dazzlindonna]

Newbies have to start somewhere. Very often, a new web designer will charge extremely low prices to build up a portfolio. You may be taking a chance with a newbie, but at least you aren't taking an expensive chance.

[Respree]

Could be the guy/gal is sitting around with nothing to do all day, trying to get his budding web dev company off the ground. Maybe s/he want to build their portolio to showcase to other prospective clients. Could be a pricing strategy. Could be the designs look horrible.

Typically, pricing is a combination of what the market will bear, marketing strategy and cost structure.

Show her examples of what you get for that money.

Here's one comparable website. If you click on their portfolio, you can get a rough idea of what to expect. I'm sure there are many other examples, if you do a search for them.

Bottom line> Good things arent cheap and cheap things aren't good (most of the time).

[SEOigloo]

My favorite are the requests for 'the cheapest website with the most features in a hurry.'

Like the roofer, we find ourselves booked.

I'm dubious about any website for 150 pounds.

Miriam

[cvos]

Ive put together a drop dead simple editing system

http://www.netpaths.net/cms/admin/

also as mentioned above drupal.org is an excellent site editor, it is a bit more difficult to style however.

[sanity]

My favorite are the requests for 'the cheapest website with the most features in a hurry.'

Yup and it has big red flashing lights all over it.

You know after being in this biz for so long I've decided that to a degree the correlation between price and what you get isn't always obvious. As there is such a low entry level to web design prospects can get quotes that vary wildly. I understand that people have budgets but I always try to educate people to go with the company they feel is the best fit. The one that understands your goals, can help you achieve them, is easy to communicate and work with and is there for the long haul to help you grow over time.

A website with CMS for 150 does seem pretty low but as others have said it could be from someone willing to take a loss to build their portfolio. Personally I'd look beyond the price to see what I am getting. Even 150 is expensive (ish) if the site does not achieve your goals.

[MulaG]

Thanks for your feedback guys. I haven't been in the business too long myself and glad that I wasn't the only one thinking that £150 is too low. I have done a couple of websites but that is way too low and not even worth thinking about. Plus I don't want to damage my reputation lol!

I am in negotiations for doing her own site which she may be willing to pay market prices for but she still said that I am too expensive because up here (In the North!) they don't pay high London prices :-/ I quoted a reasonable amount and I'm even willing to knock it down a bit. I do need to build up my portfolio but it has to be worth my time and look good.

Gina

[bobbb]

I'm thinking that today people can write up 4 or 5 pages in Word (or whatever) and save it as an HTML page so they must be wondering why it should be expensive to create a plain website. Today we print our own stuff in colour, our own business cards, and photo prints. It's the same mentality.

As an alternative have her create 4 or 5 pages in Word and save each as an HTML page. Host that for her. It won't look good but that is what she wants. You don't have to put your name on it.

This does not address the update thing but she wanted cheap.

This post has been edited by bobbb: Jun 5 2008, 11:04 AM

[sanity]

I quoted a reasonable amount and I'm even willing to knock it down a bit. I do need to build up my portfolio but it has to be worth my time and look good.

That's a good approach Gina. Another thought is to approach some local charities or organisations pro bono - it's a good way to build up your portfolio and help a worthwhile cause.

[whitemark]

150.00 pounds = 12641.15 Indian Rupees. That's an ok amount in India. Perhaps it is being outsourced to India?

[sanity]

That's a good point Whitemark.

That's one of the reasons I don't position myself on price. Tere's always someone wiling to do it cheaper or for more. I want clients that choose us cause we're a good fit.