Hi Sheila

I know what you mean I find this happens a lot. As I go through questions about what they hope to acheive with the website, who their competition is, what the future possibilities for the website might be, I see people changing their business plans and sometimes choosing a new route altogether.

Perhaps its the point that if we are doing our job properly we are communicating with the customer, and giving them inspiration and ideas, rather than slotting text and pictures into a "pretty" design?

Many website designers, especially around here, won't even go out of their office to meet a client, in their workplace for example. I learn such a lot from the interchange of information I make it my habit, where possible, to visit and talk to as many people as I can to build up "the bigger picture"

Perhaps you just need to network more and find people in your area who are business coaches?

As far as profitability is concerned I look at the long term. There are thousands of website designers out there. Why should they choose me? Maybe because their friend, neighbour or relative tells them I was patient, resourceful and above all interested in their business not just dashing off a design and moving on?

Graham

"Sheila Hoffman" hoffmanNOSPAMgraphics.com> wrote in message news:A921.1196041238.407@gfwebforum.com...
I realize this forum is all but dead but since I was the one who initiated it long ago I thought I'd post this business topic here first and see if I get any action on it.

Have you noticed how for most people who are creating their first website the process is a catalyst for clarifying exactly what they're actually doing with their business? I don't really feel fully qualified to assist in that arena. I'm not a business coach OR a branding expert. But I don't want to send business away either. I do help some. But it's certainly not a service I'd advertise! So I'm just curious how much you all get into this with clients? Maybe I see a lot of it because my target market is one-person start-ups. I'm finding it often to be a very slow process. They come to me wanting a website, but sometimes they're unclear on such basics as what they really offer, who they want to reach and even what their business should be called.

Thoughts?
Sheila

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I realize this forum is all but dead but since I was the one who initiated it long ago I thought I'd post this business topic here first and see if I get any action on it.

Have you noticed how for most people who are creating their first website the process is a catalyst for clarifying exactly what they're actually doing with their business? I don't really feel fully qualified to assist in that arena. I'm not a business coach OR a branding expert. But I don't want to send business away either. I do help some. But it's certainly not a service I'd advertise! So I'm just curious how much you all get into this with clients? Maybe I see a lot of it because my target market is one-person start-ups. I'm finding it often to be a very slow process. They come to me wanting a website, but sometimes they're unclear on such basics as what they really offer, who they want to reach and even what their business should be called.

Thoughts?
Sheila

Hi Sheila
 
I know what you mean I find this happens a
lot.  As I go through questions about what they hope to acheive with
the website, who their competition is, what the future possibilities for the
website might be, I see people changing their business plans and sometimes
choosing a new route altogether.
 
Perhaps its the point that if we are doing our job
properly we are communicating with the customer, and giving them inspiration and
ideas, rather than slotting text and pictures into a "pretty"
design?
 
Many website designers, especially around here,
won't even go out of their office to meet a client, in their workplace for
example.  I learn such a lot from the interchange of information I make it
my habit, where possible, to visit and talk to as many people as I can to build
up "the bigger picture"
 
Perhaps you just need to network more and find
people in your area who are business coaches?
 
As far as profitability is concerned I look at the
long term.  There are thousands of website designers out there.  Why
should they choose me?  Maybe because their friend, neighbour or relative
tells them I was patient, resourceful and above all interested in their
business not just dashing off a design and moving on? 
 
Graham
 
 
 
 

"Sheila Hoffman"
wrote in message news:A921.1196041238.407@gfwebforum.com...I
realize this forum is all but dead but since I was the one who initiated it
long ago I thought I'd post this business topic here first and see if I get
any action on it.Have you noticed how for most people who are creating
their first website the process is a catalyst for clarifying exactly what
they're actually doing with their business? I don't really feel fully
qualified to assist in that arena. I'm not a business coach OR a branding
expert. But I don't want to send business away either. I do help some. But
it's certainly not a service I'd advertise! So I'm just curious how much you
all get into this with clients? Maybe I see a lot of it because my target
market is one-person start-ups. I'm finding it often to be a very slow
process. They come to me wanting a website, but sometimes they're unclear on
such basics as what they really offer, who they want to reach and even what
their business should be called. Thoughts?Sheila

I realize this forum is all but dead but since I
was the one who initiated it long ago I thought I'd post this business topic
here first and see if I get any action on it.
 
Have you noticed how for most people who are creating
their first website the process is a catalyst for clarifying exactly what
they're actually doing with their business? I don't really feel fully
qualified to assist in that arena. I'm not a business coach OR a branding
expert. But I don't want to send business away either. I do help some.
But it's certainly not a service I'd advertise! So I'm just curious how much
you all get into this with clients? Maybe I see a lot of it because my target
market is one-person start-ups. I'm finding it often to be a very slow
process. They come to me wanting a website, but sometimes they're unclear on
such basics as what they really offer, who they want to reach and even what
their business should be called.
 
Thoughts?
Sheila