3 Basics For Building A Client’s Website

You may have created many websites for yourself in the past, but when you start selling your services, you’ll find the process is slightly different. While your past projects have been very personal, providing you ample opportunity for creative freedom, there is more to consider when working for a client.

If it’s your first time, or you want to improve the way you work, consider the following 3 basics.

Using a Website Builder

The idea of using a website builder to create a website might seem strange to you, especially if you’re doing it for a client. After all, they hired you for your expertise, not to take the easy route.

However, the best website builders, and particularly WordPress, offer plenty of freedom for you to apply your skills, and there is a major advantage to using them. That advantage is that your clients will be capable of taking more control of their own website.

If you were employed by a company as an in-house web developer, the client wouldn’t need much control. However, when you’re freelancing, you are not going to be available at all times to take care of the client’s concerns. Rather, use your skills to build a great website, but do it through a website builder that they can intuitively work when you’re not there.

Choose Web Hosting For Them

Most business owners hiring freelance web developers don’t have that much background in running websites of their own. They may know some of the basics, but chances are that knowledge doesn’t translate into good decisions. This becomes particularly evident when they choose web hosting.

Web hosting is not a difficult subject to get your head around, but it’s far easier for skilled web developers to navigate. Consider that you know better than the client what kind of traffic they should expect, what features they are likely to need, and which bad hosting providers might sway them with bad marketing.

The client may have already bought hosting, but if not, consider asking them to leave that to you. You can bill it as an additional service and they’ll be happy to pay to avoid having to deal with technicalities themselves.

Get Their Input On The Small Stuff

There is nothing worse than clients who think they know better than you. Rather than leaving you to apply your expertise, these clients assert their opinion at the wrong moments, forcing you into decisions that don’t really make sense.

The good news is that there’s a fairly simple way to avoid this problem, and it works a lot of the time. If they seem like they’re on the verge of butting in, proactively get their input on the stuff that doesn’t matter all that much. Small stylistic choices and even occasional technical matters. They’ll be pleased that you consider them an equal. But more importantly, they won’t be so perturbed when you push back against some of their more misguided opinions.

Unfortunately, business owners are not always the most humble people. They may well be the best in the industry at what they do, but start to believe that should apply to everything. Stroke their egos when it doesn’t negatively impact your work. You’ll build a positive working relationship and gain their respect and trust.