Over the past few years I’ve met tons of people looking for website design services be it for individual or business. In Malaysia the demand is growing due to the exposure. It may sound good but in reality it is not for most web developers or a website design company.

Here’s why…

• Trick 1: Client will demand world class website design with tons of promises (example more future projects) as if it will benefit the developer. Most clients I encountered will do their best to demand for a world class website design solution but only willing to pay peanuts. They will promise to give more projects if I willing to lower the price. I got shocked on a few meeting recently because some of them are big companies and some are an individual.

• Trick 2: Most clients I met will play their games and tricks. Here some of their famous words that normally used to push the web developer to reduce price or reconsider their pricing…

“I have another programmer can give me cheaper”…

“I have another company can do unlimited pages website for RM500 only maaa”…

• Trick 3: There are 2 types of client. One they know what they want but will never tell during the meeting and two, the client that have no idea what they want to do and expecting developer to give them some ideas. The second type client is fine but the first one is the most dangerous. They will never reveal what they really want at beginning. They will only tell the basic requirements and later during the development they will come out with all kind of funny ideas like…

“Cannot la. You quoted me that price should cover all these maa. I won’t be able to tell you everything, you programmer should know”…

“I told you I want this before during the meeting (but actually they don’t)”…

“My partner sure won’t agree with these additional charges”…

“Other programmer will never charge me for this one”… and here the best one…

“Aiyaa added value maa”…

• Trick 4: Client will reject the additional works invoice as part of his games. This thing happen all the times, what they will do is rejecting to accept the invoice and give excuses like…

“I have to discuss with my partner”… or sometimes they will say

“It is too expensive laa”…

“You should cover all these in the price maa”…

As a result of this, they will not sign the additional works invoice for approval/confirmation which will left you hanging and not sure what to do except reduce the price and lost profits.

• Trick 5: Client will use web developer as part of getting ideas and samples. I bet this is common in Malaysia where making other people’s hard-work effort for own purpose.

• Trick 6: Client will change their mind when the website is about to launch. They will say these colors are not good for my business. Not a good “Feng Shui”.

• Trick 7: Client will request for major last minute changes and expecting no charges. This happen all the times. They will say they just remember all that. Normally, they will push the developer to accept it without charges.

There are a lot of ways to avoid all these from happening. Some of them are:

1. Be firm with your words. Let them realize that you’re a serious businessman.
2. Stick to your price. Do not matter if you unable to close the deal instead of getting headache client that will make you loosing later.
3. State your terms of services clearly. If you have to list down all the terms or services then do that. This will put you into safe position.
4. State clearly what your services will cover in the development. Clarify it if you have to.
5. Use proper forms to record down all the meetings and review. This will keep you in the safe side.
6. State clearly any additional works that not mentioned in the agreed quotation are chargeable.
7. Do everything in Black and White.

Hey, that’s all I can share so far. If you have more tips then don’t be shy to share it.

Cheers!

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