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Local Monopoly Problem?


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#1 Jaymz

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Posted 30 December 2005 - 04:36 PM

Here's my situation; Our town is fairly small, and as such there's only one real web designer that does all of the main sites (except Sussex.ca, they hired someone else). Now I don't want to talk down about another designer but I find his designs a little behind the times. However, I'm a bit reluctant to approach any local website owners because the owner of the design company also runs the local portal, with links to local sites.

So basically, I'm using his website to find leads and redo his job. I know that he's been paid already for them, but I don't want to feel like I'm targetting his clients, it's a matter of neccessity to target him because he's the only local competition. So, my question is, how would you react to someone redoing your clients websites? I've already approached him about him hiring me, and he told me no, so it's not like I just decided to take over his client base.

#2 Bryn

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Posted 30 December 2005 - 04:40 PM

I'd be annoyed but then again if I got paid, im happy.

#3 Jaymz

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Posted 30 December 2005 - 05:03 PM

Just a correction, the title should read monopoly, not monogamy :ph34r: Thanks D

Edited by Jaymz, 30 December 2005 - 05:05 PM.


#4 _*Speed_*

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Posted 30 December 2005 - 05:53 PM

Go into competitition with him. Get as many clients as you can handle, and try to get a couple that were already his clients and start dominating. You know html,css, php, and mysql right? If you at least know html,css, and php then surely you become the "popular web designer" in your town.

Later on ask him if he still wants a partnership.

#5 Jaymz

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Posted 30 December 2005 - 06:04 PM

He's the kind of guy who's just in it for the quick cash... no real time/effort involved...

#6 _*Speed_*

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Posted 30 December 2005 - 06:11 PM

Well then theres nothing else I can think of that you could do that would benefit you.

Could you explain what you meant by

He's the kind of guy who's just in it for the quick cash... no real time/effort involved...


Edited by Speed, 30 December 2005 - 06:11 PM.


#7 jonno

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Posted 30 December 2005 - 07:23 PM

he means that he only wants smoney, he doesnt care what the site layout etc looks like, hell give them a price and he wont put any effort into the site, basically a 5 minute job, cowboy of the web designer world.

as to you Jaymz, i reckon you make your own business, and go into competition against him and even ask some of his clients if they are happy with it, if not then ask if they want you to do one for them, thats what i would do anyway.

#8 Jaymz

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Posted 30 December 2005 - 07:30 PM

I have a hold on mom's boss, he approached her about a month ago and asked if she wanted a website done, and she said "no thanks, I have a designer already" :D

I'm going to propose new layouts to some of the clients not on his list as of yet, a few town-sponsored projects, then I'm going to see how it goes :)

#9 Jamie Huskisson

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Posted 30 December 2005 - 07:35 PM

I used to work for such a company, and ended up quitting because of my views on how bad the designs where, the way it was ran etc.

First i'd analyse the way in which you approached him... was it professional, was it thought out? Did you speak to him using any techy terms? (if you did, its bad) Did you mention your experience? Did you only show him your good sites? :)

Next, forget the fact that he runs the portal... business ties are what is important and the portal isn't all that neccesary to get local business. What i'd personally do is make up a leaflet/booklet of some kind and post it around all the businesses personally, wearing a suit/dressed smart and deliver them personally to the receptionist or to the manager etc. to show that your determined...

As long as you don't personally aim at him saying 'i'm better than this guy' or 'your site sucks, let me re-do it' everything should be fine. What you should be doing is saying 'heres what I can offer you and heres why its good for your business over what you've currently got'

good luck dude :D

#10 Jaymz

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Posted 30 December 2005 - 07:53 PM

Jay,

I'm not just telling them they should hire me, I'm writing a proposal which I'll submit to the appropriate people once I'm done explaining how I can help them and give them something their website may not right now. For example, this site which I do not know who the original designer was, doesn't seem to be targetted enough to an artistic audience, and I think that a project like this deserves a clean, smart looking website. I'm going to explain to them that if they look professional and sleek, that maybe more people would be interested in the project. Their current website can't really offer them that.

When I approached George (the other designer) when I explained who I was and that I was interested in design, he didn't even wait for me to fully pitch myself, he just said "no, I dont need help" and that was it. I've spoken to him since and he maintains the same attitude.

Edit: Here's my working sales pitch :)

Attached File  Sussex_Murals_Letter.pdf   35.25KB   400 downloads

Edited by Jaymz, 30 December 2005 - 11:07 PM.


#11 Hoot

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Posted 31 December 2005 - 07:44 PM

He's the kind of guy who's just in it for the quick cash... no real time/effort involved...

If I were a paying for someone to design me one I would go with someone who works hard on it and puts effort in!

Hoot

#12 AnDy89

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Posted 31 December 2005 - 07:57 PM

Can we see 'sussex mural project.jpg'?

Anyway the only problem in that letter was when you stated 'in my opinion'. They dont care what you think, only visitors of the site

#13 Jaymz

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Posted 31 December 2005 - 08:23 PM

Can we see 'sussex mural project.jpg'?

Anyway the only problem in that letter was when you stated 'in my opinion'. They dont care what you think, only visitors of the site


www.designbyjaymz.com/temp/Sussex-Mural-Project.jpg

I'll try to establish that that is my opinion as a viewer ;)

#14 Jamie Huskisson

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Posted 01 January 2006 - 08:15 AM

James,

I wouldn't send a letter - i'd ring him up personally and get a face-to-face meeting

If you ARE going to send a letter, don't put your age or anything about yourself in detail... they won't care, but they might consider your age as a negative factor in their decision.. what you want to do is keep it short to a paragraph about yourself (sticking to experience only) and include the design, mention a few ways in which you think it would improve their site/company (ie you can do letter heads, business cards?) and don't get technical with them at all...

Also double check your letter in word - you've got about 15 too many commas :) Shorten the entire thing to about half a page, maybe two thirds.. so it can be read quickly 'on the go' - the guy might be very busy and simply wave it away because its too long. Also you might want to consider they aren't going to shell out big bucks if they are a small business

Things to take into mind anyhow :)

#15 Ghost

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Posted 01 January 2006 - 08:20 AM

If I did a job for a client and then some one else re-did the job, I dont think it would bother me too much. I'd feel kinda bad for a day or two...then forget about it and that would be that, lol. :) GL with yours though :)

#16 Jaymz

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Posted 01 January 2006 - 01:41 PM

James,

I wouldn't send a letter - i'd ring him up personally and get a face-to-face meeting

If you ARE going to send a letter, don't put your age or anything about yourself in detail... they won't care, but they might consider your age as a negative factor in their decision.. what you want to do is keep it short to a paragraph about yourself (sticking to experience only) and include the design, mention a few ways in which you think it would improve their site/company (ie you can do letter heads, business cards?) and don't get technical with them at all...

Also double check your letter in word - you've got about 15 too many commas :angry: Shorten the entire thing to about half a page, maybe two thirds.. so it can be read quickly 'on the go' - the guy might be very busy and simply wave it away because its too long. Also you might want to consider they aren't going to shell out big bucks if they are a small business

Things to take into mind anyhow :D



I thought I'd put that bit into the letter because the last guy I spoke to was completely thrown off when we arranged a meeting, he tried to tell me that I lied to him about my age because I didn't mention it. They're not really a small business, they're a collaboration of several small businesses and a couple major corporate sponsors, and I plan on charging a very reasonable rate :)

Edit:

I have decided that I am not really after the money on this project, and I'm going to offer to do it pro-bono in exchange for recognition on their site. I believe this project will be big and the recognition will be worth it.

I've also taken Jay's advice to heart and revised my letter, see attached file :)

Attached Files


Edited by Jaymz, 02 January 2006 - 02:53 PM.


#17 adam123

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Posted 02 January 2006 - 02:46 PM

I'd imagine they'd find your second version alot more inviting :)

And the new masthead is sexy ;) :P

#18 Jaymz

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Posted 02 January 2006 - 02:54 PM

I'd imagine they'd find your second version alot more inviting :)

And the new masthead is sexy ;) :P


Thanks :)

#19 _*Speed_*

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Posted 02 January 2006 - 04:21 PM

Once they look at your website, and see your code, how do you think they will respond to this?

<td width="305"><img src="images/top_sexy_curve.gif" alt="Design Element" width="305" height="40" border="0" /></td>
</tr>


Top sexy curve?Couldnt you have thought of something else such as image_1.gif or top_tab_1.gif?


And why did you use
http://www.designbyjaymz.com/dts/images/temp_stuff/stock_sample.jpg
when you could have used
http://www.dairytownstudios.com/images/temp_stuff/stock_sample.jpg

Better yet, why not just use
./images/temp_stuff/stock_sample.jpg

And your second pdf is a major improvement from your first one. The first one had many errors in it.

#20 adam123

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Posted 02 January 2006 - 05:11 PM

Once they look at your website, and see your code, how do you think they will respond to this?

And why did you use

http://www.designbyjaymz.com/dts/images/temp_stuff/stock_sample.jpg
when you could have used
http://www.dairytownstudios.com/images/temp_stuff/stock_sample.jpg

Better yet, why not just use
./images/temp_stuff/stock_sample.jpg

I can answer this as I am helping James with coding his new site; If you notice, DTS is still in development stages and as of yet the stock images section has not been coded therefore the images in the side bar are only there temporarily and do not have "proper" addresses as such. ;)
Tthe files are stored in /dts/ for the same reason, the site is in development stages and will be moved to the root directory once live.

Edited by adam123, 02 January 2006 - 05:16 PM.





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