Close of contracts and designs for web: theory and practice
July 25, 2008 9 comments

Working with web development is something very good, but it also has its negative aspects - and everything in this life. Now the little, in discussion with my co-worker Leo Bruno, seara entering into a very complicated and tricky to handle; actually, a professional discussion that has started many years ago and, of course, continue to exist.
The main issue was "We must submit a design for the customer before closing a contract or must close for the contract before, only then show the first efforts"? This, actually, is not a matter merely restricted to web development. It exists in various areas of expertise, especially related to the arts, abstraction, etc. - the examples of the Guidelines for Illustrator not leave me lying.
The goal here is not to convince anyone to think as one view or another, but expose both points of view so that the discussion on the matter continues and we can all learn and think more about it.
The difficult is to convince
As comentei, is complicated for a professional in the field of web development - and many others - to "convince" the customer to close a contract even before aprensentar something "tangible". And difficult for a person pay for something (or begin to pay) even saw that and will not see for a while, is not it? The answer is "It depends"!
If you want to give a new look to your garden and hire a landscaper, you do not vai say that only paid for the work it after seeing the result, only if you like this… A doctor does not charge for plastic surgery only if the person to please result. He does what needs to be done, as the "specifications" passsadas by the patient and ready.
But it seems that when it comes to web development thing changes figure… People have difficulty, I do not know for what reasons, to apply the same reasoning to the development of web sites and virtual systems in general. The fact is that some clients insist on being inflexible regarding closure of contracts when they see not a design or a layout, that is, and think they are paying "for nothing", which will not be trusted and so on.
Portfolio, customers, theory and practice
Indeed, in some cases the person can lead a cat hare, but for that very reason, is that the trader, agency, group of friends or whatever is, must have a portfolio! It is through the portfolio that the potential customer can see the quality of services that are provided and choose to close the contract development, or not.
In the discussion that argued that the portfolio should be consulted by the client to assist in its decision, it is possible to send a multimedia presentation with some work days before the meeting, finally, a client should have the opportunity to see work already done before , Effectively, close the contract and engage the services of development.
Already the Leo Bruno said the "reality of the market" is another, which in theory is so, even, and everything is fine, but in practice, if you come and say this to a client, who only provide something for vai see him after the contract closed, he replied that there are more X developers and that vai do the project with them, then… result, a customer unless a job.
And the Briefing?
Then, against argued that it is impossible to show something that focused client without first doing a good briefing of web development. What to do so, submit a design without making a briefing, but even working with models of sites ready and templates… I talked about the article which I quote the option to make a preliminary briefing and a more detailed briefing about various things and to respect, that even now I wrote about in the article of briefing for web sites, here in development for Web.
He came to agree on the part of the briefing, but said the "modus operandi" is to make the final briefing before even close to the contract, to pass the budget and if it is approved, continue with the development.
In the end, no one has changed his mind…
As in most of the discussions, leaving everyone involved with the same opinions they had before, with the maximum information from a new point of view or the "smoothing" of certain aspects. So I still think that the correct 2 is to provide briefings and a design only after the contract closed and Leo Bruno still thinking that the "reality of the market" requires to take another course, means that we need to win and retain customers, there is a design before we close contact, otherwise the customer vai seek the service elsewhere.
My colleague Leo Bruno is responsible for sales and contact with customers here in the company where work; he is trained in marketing and dealing with the public has several years, which enables to say what he said because of their pr á Policy . So much respect the view of Leo about it because if he works for years with this, besteira is that it can not be talking!
Meanwhile, I continue with my humble opinion, most of whom moved the web of contracts that closes; still thinking that the portfolio is the main "asset" for the decision to the client hire you or not, and that the main specifications of a project web must be "discovered" by making a good briefing.
<update>
In addition, read the article "How to assemble a portfolio without taking customers."
</ Update>
And you, what your opinion on this? The best is to close the contract before and then submit the design or submit to the design before, and only then if approved, close the contract?









Good. It is very painful for the webdesigner the design work and then not get approval, and that use it later to sell on eBay for example. We must always show a portfolio, with 10, 15 work, then the actual buyer will have to accept a priori or not.
It has proved, like, well, not like the valley .. not think darmo us to work.
It is my view…
Abraço!
Muhammad @
Precisely, Muhammad! I share your opinion! The portfolio is that vai used to hire the person choose whether or not the services, this story of the first to see only then can be used to decide as speculation - the person asks for various developers and show that takes the "more like him."
Abraços and thanks for your contribution!
And when you do not have a portfolio but is still someone with interest?
Nu @
Hi, so good? Well, then I do not really thought about it, yet, but depending on the circumstances, I think we could make a "reversal" that; mean, if you still can not show references to the person, then it is likely that you that give this "tea spoon of"…
One solution would be an advance request for the submission of design for the "cost of production", and other services included. ;-)
Abraços!
Look, Tárcio, the view of Leo is typical seller of commodities. If I do not buy beans from their farm, buy from another manufacturer.
If your company sells websites, as anyone who sells beans, you need to stop selling websites. Add to differentiate the product, segment the market… adopt a philosophy of marketing.
In the philosophy of product sales undifferentiated (commodity) the market dictates the price and conditions. What you need to seek a differentiation is such that allows you to dictate the prices and conditions!
It's easy? No. If it were, marketing would not be matters of power, post, masters, doctorate.
But needs to be done.
It took 3 years trying to sell a product. During those two years, managed to close three sales. None of them more than 100 real…
From one year to now, devoted myself to redesign the product, adding several unique values in the market.
As a result, I have worked only with contracts fairly balanced with respect to benefits and obligations of both parties, without unfair clauses in favour of anyone.
And do not start to work without seeing the color of an advance previously stipulated in the contract.
What I see? Projects. Mostro what I did (my "portfolio") and ask: "Whether I make it for you? It costs so much. "
Of course, they always can find who made cheaper and easier to lose the payment of view and…
But not regret the "loss" of those who decide not to accept my conditions and go in search of the lowest price. They simply are not my target market.
I do not want clients to buy beans. I sell the preparation of feijoadas complete.
The Marketing begins where the finish Sales: in defining the type of customers you NOT EITHER.
Big hug,
@ Alexis Kauffmann
The case is that, by what I perceive as little time as Leo by the familiar, for it is not much difference between sites and sell commodities; happens that, when he sells sites.
Not that this is a bad thing, he is a salesman and sales practices, nothing more. But, for me, developing Web sites is more than "sell something" - is something we really like to do! I think this is one of the main differences between him and I…
"I do not want clients to buy beans. I sell the preparation of feijoadas complete. " That is it! ;-)
Thank you for your contribution to the subject!
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