TRICKS WEB DESIGNERS PLAY AGAINST CLIENTS
Hiring someone to build a website can be confusing if you are not familiar with web design and development. Terms such as hosting, domain, SSL, responsive design, SEO, plugins, CMS, backups and maintenance can make it difficult to know exactly what you are paying for.
Most web designers and agencies are professional and transparent. However, a few may also indulge in malpractices that can leave an inexperienced client paying more than expected, losing control of their website or discovering later that important features were never included. Here are some common things small businesses and professionals should watch out for before starting their web journey.
QUOTING A LOW PRICE & ADDING COSTS LATER
A surprisingly low quotation can look attractive. The problem begins when important items are treated as ‘additional requirements’ after the project has started.
For example, the initial price may cover only five pages, while contact forms, additional pages, mobile optimisation, image optimization, basic SEO or even website migration are charged separately.
There is nothing wrong with charging separately for additional work. The problem is failing to explain these exclusions before the client agrees to the project. So always ask for a clear list of what the quoted price includes before making the first payment.
USING TECHNICAL JARGON TO INFLATE PRICE
A client can easily be overwhelmed by terms such as database optimization, schema markup, CDN configuration, caching, API integration and server configuration. Someone unfamiliar with web development may assume that every technical-sounding item represents sophisticated work.
These may all be legitimate technical tasks. But technical language alone does not establish value. A good designer should be able to explain the purpose of a feature in plain language. If you still can’t understand, ask for an explanation before approving the project.
But before approaching anyone for quotation, do a self-study of minimum features a website requires and what is offered by different designers in their standard packages. Once aware of the working style, you can’t be taken for a ride by stylish technical jargons.
KEEPING DOMAIN & HOSTING UNDER DESIGNER’S CONTROL
This is one of the most important issues. A designer may purchase the domain or hosting account on behalf of the client and then retain control of the login credentials. The client may technically own the business, but later would find it difficult to move the website elsewhere, if so desired.
Your domain is a very important business asset. So, ideally, it should be registered in your name, with full access to the account to retain control of the relevant credentials. The partner web agency may be given necessary access for working on the project, but not sole controlling authority. The same principle applies to hosting as well.
NEVER BECOME HOSTAGE TO DEVELOPER
A website owner should not become a hostage to its developer. Sometimes clients are not given administrator access, documentation, passwords or information about how their website works. As a result, even simple tasks require contacting the original designer.
There may be legitimate security reasons for restricting certain access, but the client should still have appropriate ownership and administrative control. A website is a business asset, not merely something that belongs to the person who built it.
PROMISING ‘SEO’ WITHOUT EXPLAINING WHAT IT MEANS
‘SEO included’ sounds impressive but can mean almost anything. Does it include keyword research? Page titles? Meta descriptions? Search-friendly URLs? Sitemap configuration? Image optimisation? Search Console setup? Content optimisation?
Or does it simply mean installing an SEO plugin? Clients should ask exactly to what depth and extent SEO work is being performed. Also remember that no honest designer can guarantee a particular Google ranking simply because SEO has been included in a website package.
CHARGING FOR EVERY SMALL CHANGE
Website projects naturally involve revisions. However, some arrangements make clients afraid to request even minor corrections because every change becomes a billable item. Thus, clarity about revisions protects both sides.
A professional quotation should clearly distinguish between reasonable revisions and substantial additional work. For example, changing prices in a rate card or correcting a spelling mistake is very different from asking for an entirely new page with new functionality.
CLARIFYING ON FREE MAINTENANCE
A designer may advertise free maintenance while charging separately for backups, updates, security fixes, content changes or troubleshooting. Again, there is nothing inherently wrong with charging for these services. The issue is whether the terms are clearly explained. Always ask what maintenance actually covers and for how long.
FOCUSING ON BUSINESS PURPOSE
Good web design is not simply about making a website look impressive. A website can look beautiful and still fail to generate enquiries. The important questions are – Who are your visitors? What do you want them to do? Can they find your services quickly? Is the website easy to use on mobile? Can Google understand the important pages? Can you update the content later?
These issues require considerable discussions and brainstorming before structuring the layout. Make sure the developer has focused on all these points to ensure the website delivers adequate ROI.
OUR OPINION
It is very much expected that you have no or little knowledge on web design before hiring a developer. So, ask for a written quotation, understand what is included and excluded, retain control of your domain and important accounts, ask what each major feature accomplishes, and clarify future maintenance and additional charges.
Most importantly, do not be embarrassed to ask basic questions. A professional web designer should be comfortable explaining technical matters in language that a business owner can understand.
The right designer does not make the client dependent through confusion. The right designer makes the client confident about what has been built, what has been paid for and what the website can do.