BatesMeron often gets boomerang calls from potential clients. What are boomerang calls? That’s when someone gives us a call or meets with us, tells us their website needs and then finds out that the cost will be much more than they expected. They’re usually shocked, sometimes offended—and do not believe they should have to pay that much for a website.
We are very respectful when we get this reaction. After all, with all the “Get your website for $99!” promos out there, who wouldn’t be shocked when they dip their toe in and find out that a professional, well designed, thoughtfully organized, fully-functioning, expandable, custom, visually dynamic, grammatically correct, multi-platform website is, in fact…wait for it…expensive. Seriously, we do feel their pain. It’s like going to the dentist and finding out you need six crowns.
However, in the case of websites, you really do get what you pay for. And that’s what leads to the boomerang call.
(phone rings):
Kris: “BatesMeron, Kris speaking.”
caller: “Hi, yeah, um, I spoke with you early last year about a website for my painting business, do you remember me?”
Kris: “Sure Jack, I remember you were really eager to get your site up by mid-year. How did your launch go?”
caller (who we now know as Jack): “Well, the thing is…it’s not live yet. See, I’ve hired three different freelancers and I don’t know what’s going on…maybe it’s me, but they just aren’t professional at all! The first guy took off and just left town. The second person I hired showed me one design. ONE. And when I said I didn’t like it, would you believe, she said that was her design and I had to pay her still? Next, I worked with some guy that came up with a pretty cool design concept, but when I provided him my rough draft for copy, he dropped it into the site without any editing or proofing. I couldn’t believe he didn’t know I expected help on that! Anyway, I’ve realized that I need to hire professionals. If I’d just done that in the first place, I’d be a lot further ahead by now.”
Kris: “I completely understand Jack. And I feel your pain. We come across this frequently, and there are team members here to make sure you’re covered. From the strategy and goals of your website to the creative presentation, from the conceptual marketing copy to the latest trends, we’ll carry the project from start to finish. You’ll even get a Project Manager to ensure you have a single person overseeing your site from start to finish. Jack, that’s why it costs a bit more than you would think. Many people come together to build a great website. Anyone who thinks they can do it all themselves…well, they’re just not being realistic.”
Jack: “Well why didn’t you tell me all of this when I originally called you last year?”
Truth is, I did tell Jack all about that. But until he suffered through the alternative, my words didn’t resonate with him.
One of our goals at BatesMeron is to be good stewards of our clients’ brands. We take the time to do the job right and that doesn’t come cheap. The truth is, when properly created, a website makes you money. (Sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly.) But just like any good investment, it doesn’t come cheap.
Don’t worry, we’re taking care of Jack’s website—he’ll be up and running in no time. But in the meantime, how about some levity?
You’ve probably heard us talk about infographics in our previous posts—we’re big fans. Not only are they really great marketing tools, they’re also funny, informative, educational and a great way to spend a few minutes. I thought I’d track down one of my favorites that relates to the cost of a website and share it with you. After all—shareability is one of their best assets.
This infographic was created by the team at 1SkyMedia.com. Great graphic guys!
The Real Cost of a Website Infographic
