Web Design is a creative job, rewarding some may say. The flexibility to work from anywhere, designing websites while slurping on your favorite cocktail and having super friendly, 'chill' clients to work with. That's the dream isn't it? But, as a web designer does this actually sound like your job? Or is it the complete opposite of it? Are those Instagram pics of 'work by the beach' even real?
Well, if you're someone who has faced the reality that web designer jobs are not as lucrative as you thought they are, then this post is for you! We're going to discuss the 5 most common challenges that web designers face when working with clients, and we will also be presenting our take on how to 'handle' these challenges.
Asking for The Client's Budget
The interview phase is done, you have landed yourself a great website development project. It's fun, it's creative and you have already started mapping the web design steps in mind. Now, comes the dreaded question, how much is the client willing to pay for this work? Many web designers have faced client budgeting as a major obstacle in getting started with the web design projects. Clients need all types of frills for their website but simply do not have enough money to pay you.
What Should You Do About It?
It's also super uncomfortable for most designers to bluntly ask the client, "Hey, so what's your budget?". But, this ain't personal, it's not like you want to know about their personal finances. It's all about business, you know that, your client knows that.
So what we recommend is to ask the client directly and ask it with confidence. If you lack confidence, practice.
Be firm but patient, allow for the client to respond. It may have been possible that this is the first time they're thinking about it. Let your silence be the buffer for the client to work through it all in their head!
Website Look and Feel
Many times in your web design career you will come across clients who are seeking website made for their business for the first time. As a result, they do not have any idea how the website should look, what can and can't be done, what user experience is all about? In such a situation, many designers ask the clients to give them examples of the website they really like which can be a downward spiral for the designer as well as the client.
What Should You Do About It?
The best way to navigate through this situation is by presenting 3 or 4 examples of websites that you like, and know will work best for the client or showcase work from your own portfolio to help them pick the best for their project. It's something that you will be comfortable in, and would save a hell lot of time in going back and forth!
Instead of just asking client for 3 sites they like and why, share with them 3-5 examples of sites with similar elements, designs you will implement.
- Christine Maisel, Founder Portable Entrepreneur
Understanding Your Client (And making them understand you)
The last thing you want, is the client to feel stupid. And it's not what you do, it's about what you say. Sometimes designer use the lingo common among designers but you gotta understand that that your client may or may not understand these terms. This can create confusions and ultimately leading the client to pull the plug on the project.
What Should You Do About It?
Quite simple. keep the web design and development jargon at bay and use some more client-friendly terminology to deliver the same message. While these are everyday words to us, they are not common at all for most clients. We have shared an extensive list of Web Design & Development Jargon that Should Never Be Used With Clients (& What to Say Instead), do check it out!
Dealing with Unrealistic Deadlines
Designing a website take time, effort and resources. You already know this as a designer, but your client who has no idea about what actually goes behind the scenes might feel differently. They may end up giving you unrealistic deadlines and goals that you can't really match. This could very well prove to be a rather frustrating experience.
What Should You Do About It?
The solution is simple and straightforward. No point accepting something you can't honor. Learn to say no. Nobody knows your schedule better than you do, so if your client wants an express website, and you can't handle that. Better to lose the project than losing sleep over it. If the deadlines of each deliverable is set early on, the last minute rush can very well be avoided and you can present your best work!
Ambiguity
A client not defining clear goals of the project or not setting realistic expectations can take the whole project off balance. As a designer, you'll come across principals who want something one day and another the next day. It all comes down to making and editing the website endlessly far after you've already finished it. This can not only make you lose interest in the work but also other projects that you may have onboarded had you been available.
What Should You Do About It?
Define project milestone. After every milestone is achieved, submit your client for review, once the client reviews the milestone, place a condition that it cannot be reversed. Moreover, set a finite number of reviews that you will offer to the client. For example, if you offer only 3 reviews but the client asks for changes for the fourth time, they will have to pay for it.
....And that brings us to the end of this blog. We hope that you find value from this, and it helps you to overcome some of these most pressing challenges, that we as designers face. Have you faced any challenge that is not mentioned in this article? Let us know in the comments below!
