So Who Are You Paying?

We’ve all recently felt the effects from the latest market recession where Consumer Confidence was at an all-time low and where potential clients looking to get a website turned into their own business to concentrate on their revenue expenditure just to break-even.

While Manager’s and Middle Men within a Company structure cut costs to minimize expenses, and employment becomes more about “Salaries” and “Costs” rather than “Skill/Experience” level, a turn around in the industry began to evolve. This has been happening for quite some time and possibly more evident now than in the past.

One thing in particular that you as a “Consumer” need to look out for when getting a website from Web Design Firm/Company is who exactly are you paying for? Are you directly paying the Designer, Programmer, or Graphic Design costs? Or are you really paying for the Middle Manager, Sales Consultant or Project Managers wage. The problem with the industry at the moment is that you just might be paying for the Manager’s or the Sales Person’s time rather than the person that actually performs the task.

This can lead to a few problems:

• Communication break down that separates the client from the individual performing the task. Therefore a tasks needs and requirements can get “Lost in Translation.”
• Lack of Skill, since the Manager dictating the roles of the task may not be a specialist in that field but rather a specialist in Sales and Marketing.
• Increase in Costs, as you’re paying for 2-3 people to perform tasks that one person can perform. This can lead to a few hundred, to thousands at an extent.
• Do you know if it’s a professional that you’re paying for or a Trainee, Apprentice or New Graduate performing the tasks at the same price that you would be paying a highly experienced staff member?

The most misleading part is when a Web Design firm extends their “Staff Tree” to potential clients to show a large established organisation when in essence a few of the staff members could be graduates or trainees.

When looking into getting a website be sure that you’re paying for what you’re after and individuals that passionate about their craft. You’ll know them when you meet them directly face to face or when you speak to them. They’re more than likely to be the individuals that don’t push Sales just for the $ factor but push the capabilities of how they can help you grow.

If you don’t you could be paying more for the Manager’s fortune than your own.