A conflict of interest? - Issues of a webdesigner

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I had a little question to all you webdesigners and business savvy people. I'm in the process of looking for clients but I'm asking myself

Should I be designing websites for businesses in competition with each other?

For example, if I make an accountant a website, should I no longer explore making other accountants in the area a website? Should I turn them away if they come to me?

My thoughts are it's fine so long as they are not in the same area. But what do you think?

its
#offline marketing #conflict #interest #issues #webdesigner
  • Hi Its,

    Great question.

    If you are just doing websites, then it is not a conflict of interests.

    However, if you also promote lead-gen and SEO etc. as well, then it almost certainly will be a conflict of interests if, for example, you were working with two accountants in the same town.

    The problem that you have is that if you take on two clients of the same business in the same town and they BOTH want SEO services from you - you will be in dilemma - who do you work with?

    Mark J.
    UK
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Great reason to raise your prices if you are doing work beyond web design--you can only ethically use your superpowers for one business of that type in town.
    • [ 3 ] Thanks
    • [3] replies
    • This one definitely belongs in the "Best of Kanigan" book I know you're writing.
      It's a shame more people don't understand the concept. You can't offer premium products
      if you sell them for scrap prices.
    • This needs to be expanded into a blog post or video. Great advice and in your face logic.
    • Sure, if you're charging a high monthly fee for exclusive SEO. But even then a client only remains a client for so long (I only assume, I use a fixed price). Why limit yourself? Why can't you build badass websites for three, four, five accountants in that same city?

      And why does everyone here keep shouting 'raise your prices' as if that's the solution to everyone's problem? If the OP is "in the process of looking for clients" what's he gonna raise his price from? Telling people, especially newbies, that you should be charging $x,xxx minimum for their services - without knowing their abilities, qualifications, or value they bring to the table - is absurd. There's nothing wrong with cutting your teeth on $500 projects in the beginning. That' how you learn what works, what doesn't, what you can bring to the table... and hey, you make some money too.

      In saying that I'll take a step back and say this:       $100-$500 sales are not what you want. A good developer/designer will be charging $1,000+ at least... and prospects know $1,000+ is more realistic for a good site. But you have to get there before you get there... your worth has to exceed the numbers printed on your check. If it doesn't, a bad reputation is hard to get rid of.
      • [1] reply
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