Looking for flow. Is she around?

[Lompoc42]

:D So I'm planning this move to NYC in august/september and I'm thinking that I'm just not saving money fast enough. So.. Fellow website designers. I'm thinking I can around to some of the local businesses in my area that either have crappy or no websites and offer them my services for a good cheap price that is still enough for it to be worth it to me.

Any ideas on a good price range? I will NOT be offering back end programming or anything like that. Just good ole fashion design and html, and some basic flash.

"Damnit Jim I'm an artist not a coder!"

Here's some credentials of sites/splash page advertisements I've done.

http://www.portcanaveral.org - by far my greatest acheivement at this job.
http://www.floridatoday.com/baysidelakes - I didn't want to do this one at first (like I had a choice) but as it came along I liked it more. I made my department $2000 with this page.
http://www.floridatoday.com/advertising/fosterwomenscare - Splash page advertisement.
http://www.floridatoday.com/advertising/genxmotors - Another splash page. Really basic stuff.

I need to make my own website as well. Anyways, what do you cats think?

[Scott]

Pretty good stuff Lompy. My experience is most small business that have a web site have a guy named Bob that works in sales that does it for them.... or something like that. They generally don't want to offend Bob by having someone redo the site. And no one wants just plain old html anymore. They all want dynamic content. They don't understand the difference between front end and back end and often get an expression on their face like "Oh, so you really don't do web design" when you explain you don't do dynamic content and coding. I don't mean to sound like a wet blanket, it's just been far easier in my experience to seel print advertising design to mom and pop businesses. They see the value in a flier or advertisement where they see no value in the web. Most package web deals I've seen jsut do a flat page fee, like $35 a page. Not sure what to suggest for pricing. The best thing to do would be to call around the area and get estimates for an imaginary project. That way you can gauge the competition.

[claven]

first off, i feel so dirty talking any kind of business like this. I feel like i'm going to get banned at any second.

lomp, where do you reside now? My company outsources certain things like this for (what i consider) ridiculous amounts. Maybe i can put you in touch with someone. Although i don't know if any projects will be coming up in the near future.

Also, I need some help getting a site up. Maybe we can talk as well.

Good luck

[Silky]

[QUOTE=claven]first off, i feel so dirty talking any kind of business like this. I feel like i'm going to get banned at any second.[/QUOTE]

/me stares menacingly at claven

Just kidding of course....there's no ban on helping someone out here...no matter what the topic. :)

[Dave]

[QUOTE=Silkenfairy]/me stares menacingly at claven

Just kidding of course....there's no ban on helping someone out here...no matter what the topic. :)[/QUOTE]
you forgot to mention 10% fees go to the site for any deal fixed through it :p

[Scott]

10% my ass.. 75% Who do you think we are Dave?

[claven]

Plus finders fee, and staff tax, and 50% creative direction penalty :)

I'll stop :) I'm just adjusting to the new freedoms

[Scott]

I gotta admit, I said a finders's fee was fine but when i saw 50% I did a spit take.

[Lompoc42]

Heh. Thanks for the feedback guys. Claven sir, I'm located in Melbourne Florida. Although like I said, I'm hoping to relocate to NYC later in the year.

Jolt: Thanks for the compliment! :) As far as the businesses around here, they're impressed if you make their MS Paint logo look better. They really have no clue about dynamic content (other than spiffy flash animation) nor would they have a use for them. That's why I'm figuring I can make a quick run thru some of our local businesses (restaurants especially) and make some good cash. The rates of almost all of our local website places run about $150 - $300 a page. My company charges the higher end. They bill me out at $80 an hour. I wish I got paid 1/4 of that!!

Again, thanks for the input guys. Wish me luck! :)

[Scott]

Funny thing... if you freelance the main school of thought is to increase yoru hourly pay rate 4 times, and bill that. So if your'e making around $20/hour $80 would be right for you freelancing.

[claven]

that's good to know jolt. I generally charge about what i make for overtime per hour. I guess i'm lowballing but i get pretty good quantity and i don't think these clients would pay anymore. If it is super creative and i have a chance at an award (or if i feel i'll get a good amount of creative control), i'll even go lower