10 reasons not to work with web design clients

I often find that there are a large number of consumers out there who have no clue how the web design business works. Actually, most of them are this way. They tend to think we are cheaper than we are, or that we are willing to work for nothing more than a “designed by” link to benefit from the traffic. I also find that they tend to run away when you tell them how this business actually works because they want to find another “designer” who is willing to work on their terms. The following are my 10 reasons why I would never work with certain clients.

#1) I come across “gigs” on craigslist all the time where the person seeking a designer says that his/her only compensation will be a link credit on the site.

Reasons why I will not do this…

• A link is not a payment. I can’t pay my utility bills or buy food for my wife and kids with a link from your brand new website, to my website.
• Link credits are traditionally required in the first place. When a web designer creates your website, he/she places a link credit in your footer that says “site designed by”. This is completely legal and in order for you to license a removal of such credit, you have to pay extra. So aside from you not wanting to pay for a website, you also want to get a free link removal from your footer. On top of this, the tiny amount of traffic that comes from such a link does not mean anything to the designer other than an inbound link. Someone actually clicking that link and paying for a web design is like playing the lottery.

This all comes down to you wanting something for free. Ask yourself. Would you go to work from 9-5 and be happy with your employer telling other people that you do good work, and that is your only payment? I don’t think so. Web designers should be looked at as a retail store. If you want the merchandise, you pay for it. Otherwise it would be stealing.