website statistics?

[melvinsmiley132]

Hey guys, I'm sort of preparing a sales infrastructure for my web business and in order to do that I'm going to need statistics basically saying that having a website will effectively drive more customers in the clients direction. Making websites is relatively easy but haven't actually tried selling any yet so any other advice would be extremely useful. So I was wondering if you guys have any statistics for it and maybe a source so I can quote it.

[Aronya1]

Greetings,
I have a question for you. What makes you think you need these kind of statistics to be able to sell your services? My experience has been that those people who don't see the value in having a website for their business aren't worth chasing. The real sales job is selling your services over others'.

Just my 2cts.
Good luck.

[melvinsmiley132]

Great point about the customers, although the real point is not actually to convince someone who is opposed to it. The purpose of the statistics is to pull people who are sitting on the fence over to my side. Any suggestions on the how to sell yourself part?

[Aronya1]

One of the 1st rules of sales: people don't buy the product so much as they buy YOU.

A portfolio to point at is always high on the list of tools to have in your sales "toolbox", but if the potential client doesn't feel comfortable with YOU, they aren't going to buy from you. Even price is less of an issue than how the customer feels about you, the salesman.

My method has always been to be direct and honest about what I want to do, and what I CAN do. I have turned down jobs because I simply didn't have the skills. People appreciate that. It can often turn into referrals down the road. Other people have been willing to put up with "growing pains" while I investigated & experimented with new (for me) technologies, like CSS & PHP.

Also, once someone starts asking the "price" question, unless the job is very simple and clear-cut, I tell them I will put together an estimate. Then, as fast as I possibly can, I put together a quote which is as detailed as I can make it, and I email it to them. That way, we each have a copy in writing, and nobody has any reason to be surprised at the cost.

It all works toward making an impression of being honest and "up front". I don't want an unhappy customer any more than those customers want to be unhappy. Another sales mantra: Tell them what you're going to do, do it, then tell them you did it.

Hope this helps.

[melvinsmiley132]

How much do you charge for different kinds of sites and # of pages. text, and pictures?

[Aronya1]

My basic rate is about $125/page for business sites. Add for dynamic content, graphics work, etc.

You might want to take a look at this thread. (http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34484)