New client. New project. New budget. New schedule… everything new.
At Umbrella Noir we don't do standard template websites and we don't have fixed prices. So if someone asks: “How much does a website cost?”, it's difficult to immediately quote a price that the client wants to hear. We understand that some clients have never had a website built or are unfamiliar with this process, this is all new to them. Some clients simply request quotes from several agencies to get an idea of a target price... that's understandable, but it helps to have some information to support their search.
A (custom) agency cannot make an accurate quote without a project letter.
What is a project brief?
Don't just send a question to a webdesign bureau with just “How much does it cost?”, because you usually won't get a clear answer. A project brief is a good starting point and can be very basic or detailed, formal or informal. In short: your website project brief should answer as many of the following questions as possible:
- Overview of your company
- Current website: pros and cons
- Who are your competitors?
- What should the new website achieve?
- What specific features do you want?
- Websites you like and why
- Project start date
- Project end date
- Budget project
You don't have to answer everything, but the more information you provide, the better. Why? Because then the agency can provide a relevant answer, not just a guesstimate price that keeps changing, frustrating you as a customer.
How do you determine your budget?
If you've never built a website before, perhaps because you have a new business, you might be wondering: “How much does something like that actually cost?” The simple answer: every website is different, because features and needs vary from client to client. If you're looking for a budget-friendly template website, agencies can often provide a guideline price or a starting budget.
You can determine your budget by looking at, for example:
- Did your boss allocate a marketing budget to you?
- What can you pay yourself?
- How important is your website for your business?
- If it's an online store, how many products do you need to sell to recoup your budget?
- Do you have a total budget that you can spread over, for example, monthly payments?
Why is it useful to share your budget with an agency?
It saves both you, the client, and the agency a lot of time. Imagine: you ask an agency to prepare a proposal, but you don't know your budget. The agency does research, prepares a detailed quote, and you say: “That's way too expensive!” – that's a waste of time.
If you do submit the budget, together with a project letter, the agency can immediately say:
A) This budget isn't realistic for what you want → we can't work together, or
B) This sounds good → we will make you a proposal.
This immediately puts you in a stronger position as a customer.
How do I know I'm not being scammed?
Do you think the agency is just using your budget to make more money? Most reputable agencies with a solid portfolio and satisfied clients will be honest. They might tell you your budget is too high or offer advice on how to best spend it. This might also mean they recommend additional services, such as: search engine optimization SEO, or technical improvements that make the site easier to use. This way, everything runs more smoothly and efficiently for you as a customer.
And now?
Do you want to start a new project and is it something that appeals to you? Do you find us and our digital services interesting? Then go to our project planner, fill in all the information and we will give you a specific answer.
