No business, especially a small business, can afford to be taken advantage of by a web designer.

So what can you do? How can you prevent this from happening?

• Get everything in writing! You should never turn over a dime without a contract. Make sure to include a detailed list of deliverables as well as completion date.
• Never pay more than 50% of your project cost upfront! Never! Make them work for the rest of their money, if they are expecting a pay day upon completion of the website they will move to finish it much quicker.
• Beware of prices that are just too low. If your project has been receiving bids in the $1,200 range and then out of the blue you receive one for $300, it might be too good to be true.
• Ask for a reference, most reputable design firms will put you in touch with a recent client without hesitation.
• Make sure the designer agrees to show you mock ups of your website before the project is complete. This way if you don’t like the look or need anything changed it can be taken care of before the website is live.
• As obvious as this one sounds, check the portfolio! If you are looking to develop a full web based application check if they have done this sort of thing before! If not, there is a chance the designer might get in over his or her head.
• Ask about the business, find out as much as you can! How many employees, where are they based out of, how long have then been in business, etc.
• If you can, get a referral from a friend, family member, or colleague who has
  Positioning For Success: How to Remain on Top in a Competitive World
  Thanks to legendary Ad man Rosser Reeves, most business professionals understand the need for a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) - a reason why people should choose to do business with you over any of your competitors. However, when they are asked what this reason is, you will often hear similar standard answers. We
  to be taken advantage of by a web designer.

  So what can you do? How can you prevent this from happening?

  • Get everything in writing! You should never turn over a dime without a contract. Make sure to include a detailed list of deliverables as well as completion date.
  • Never pay more than 50% of your project cost upfront! Never! Make them work for the rest of their money, if they are expecting a pay day upon completion of the website they will move to finish it much quicker.
  • Beware of prices that are just too low. If your project has been receiving bids in the $1,200 range and then out of the blue you receive one for $300, it might be too good to be true.
  • Ask for a reference, most reputable design firms will put you in touch with a recent client without hesitation.
  • Make sure the designer agrees to show you mock ups of your website before the project is complete. This way if you don’t like the look or need anything changed it can be taken care of before the website is live.
  • As obvious as this one sounds, check the portfolio! If you are looking to develop a full web based application check if they have done this sort of thing before! If not, there is a chance the designer might get in over his or her head.
  • Ask about the business, find out as much as you can! How many employees, where are they based out of, how long have then been in business, etc.
  • If you can, get a referral from a friend, family member, or colleague who has
    References: Choose Wisely
    Sophisticated job seekers know and understand that sometime during the interview and hiring process you will be asked to supply references. With this in mind, here are five concepts to focus on in developing your reference list.1. References should be RELEVANT: The worst references are personal in nature. Do no
    of their money, if they are expecting a pay day upon completion of the website they will move to finish it much quicker.
  • Beware of prices that are just too low. If your project has been receiving bids in the $1,200 range and then out of the blue you receive one for $300, it might be too good to be true.
  • Ask for a reference, most reputable design firms will put you in touch with a recent client without hesitation.
  • Make sure the designer agrees to show you mock ups of your website before the project is complete. This way if you don’t like the look or need anything changed it can be taken care of before the website is live.
  • As obvious as this one sounds, check the portfolio! If you are looking to develop a full web based application check if they have done this sort of thing before! If not, there is a chance the designer might get in over his or her head.
  • Ask about the business, find out as much as you can! How many employees, where are they based out of, how long have then been in business, etc.
  • If you can, get a referral from a friend, family member, or colleague who has
    Tips and Ideas for a Corporate Identity Makeover
    Corporate identities are very important in this competitive world of ours. It is through the corporate identity that the core values of an organization are identified. It is not only the big companies that need corporate identity; the small business owner too needs to build a corporate identity standard. This is beca
    ou in touch with a recent client without hesitation.
  • Make sure the designer agrees to show you mock ups of your website before the project is complete. This way if you don’t like the look or need anything changed it can be taken care of before the website is live.
  • As obvious as this one sounds, check the portfolio! If you are looking to develop a full web based application check if they have done this sort of thing before! If not, there is a chance the designer might get in over his or her head.
  • Ask about the business, find out as much as you can! How many employees, where are they based out of, how long have then been in business, etc.
  • If you can, get a referral from a friend, family member, or colleague who has
    Using Affiliate Programs to Supercharge an Online Business
    Recently while surfing the internet, I came across a very interesting website that teaches people how to setup on online business. One aspect to increase sales is to establish an affiliation program.An “affiliation” is a relationship (an agreement) between two parties in which one party sells the products or s
    ed application check if they have done this sort of thing before! If not, there is a chance the designer might get in over his or her head.
  • Ask about the business, find out as much as you can! How many employees, where are they based out of, how long have then been in business, etc.
  • If you can, get a referral from a friend, family member, or colleague who has had a great experience.
  • Lastly, Google the business! Search for the business name in quotes on Google.com, you may just come across a forum post some where from someone telling you to beware!

  Overall, you just need to be cautious when selecting your web designer. There are millions of design firms and freelancers who are willing to take on your project, the problem is finding the right one for you. Designing a website is a very fun and exciting time for a business and if you follow the tips above you won’t have any regrets!