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Education can also be dangerous in the hands of a potential client. I've had to explain to clients why they were paying what they were paying for a website when

Education can also be dangerous in the hands of a potential client. I've had to explain to clients why they were paying what they were paying for a website when one of the owners of the company pipped up saying "But it's just a bunch of HTML, I could do that, so why are you charging us so much?" In this situation, you really want to say "then go do it yourself if it's so easy", but that's not the best way to put it. They know what HTML is, but then when you explain that while the output might be composed of HTML, it's dynamically rendered from the Server using a programming language along with data stored in the database and also on the frontend with JavaScript and CSS. At that point, you kind of lose them and they're not any better off than a client that didn't know HTML (other than they now think you're trying to BS them for more money). I explained the above more eloquently than the short summary above and the other owners were less distrusting. However, what people are educated on can also easily backfire to be worse than if they stayed ignorant. I've also had clients that were actual developers and way too busy to do all the work they had. Those sort of clients go pretty well and they know what they're paying for. Not saying that education won't help, but we should be cautious to how the average person is educated on the behind the scenes details of software development.

julian37 14y ago
But it's just a bunch of HTML, I could do that It sounds like you might have the wrong kind of client. I can only recommend reading this great piece by fellow HNer patio11: http://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/09/21/ramit-sethi-and-patrick-mckenzie-on-why-your-customers-would-be-happier-if-you-charged-more/ http://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/09/21/ramit-sethi-and-patrick-... It's full of gems such as: The general thing that people find both in pricing products and in pricing services is that at the low end of the scale you deal with people who perceive less value from you, less value from your offering, and have more and more unreasonable demands. Like if you’re writing iPhone apps, you’ll receive reviews like “This 99 cent flashlight app didn’t do my taxes, one star!”
- yareally 14y ago
  That particular client was from my earlier college days of starting out in freelancing. They didn't give me any real issues after that point, but yes, they were not the ideal client to what I would want now :) Patio11 also has some great articles, so I have to agree with your link.
- chii 14y ago
  unfortuantely, that might be the only kind of client you get when you start out?
maratd 14y ago
If they're intelligent enough to run a small business successfully, they're intelligent enough to understand that even if they're just having a leak in the plumbing fixed, anything they do themselves will be a joke compared to what a professional will take care of in a fraction of that time. Even if they've been to Home Depot and know what parts to buy. > But it's just a bunch of HTML, I could do that, so why are you charging us so much? This is just a bullshit ball-busting test they throw at every contractor they talk to, regardless of the industry or work. Trust me. Answer: Well, I'd love to charge less, but then I get overwhelmed with work. The prices I charge are there to keep things reasonable. (look at watch) I have a meeting with another client in about 30 minutes. Are we proceeding with the project? You charge what you charge not because it's HTML or complex server code or whatever. It's because there are people there who are willing to pay your price because they appreciate what you do. This is a meeting to determine if this person can appreciate what you do. So ask them. Don't waste time in techno babble.

julian37 14y ago

But it's just a bunch of HTML, I could do that It sounds like you might have the wrong kind of client. I can only recommend reading this great piece by fellow HNer patio11: http://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/09/21/ramit-sethi-and-patrick-mckenzie-on-why-your-customers-would-be-happier-if-you-charged-more/ http://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/09/21/ramit-sethi-and-patrick-... It's full of gems such as: The general thing that people find both in pricing products and in pricing services is that at the low end of the scale you deal with people who perceive less value from you, less value from your offering, and have more and more unreasonable demands. Like if you’re writing iPhone apps, you’ll receive reviews like “This 99 cent flashlight app didn’t do my taxes, one star!”

yareally 14y ago
That particular client was from my earlier college days of starting out in freelancing. They didn't give me any real issues after that point, but yes, they were not the ideal client to what I would want now :) Patio11 also has some great articles, so I have to agree with your link.
chii 14y ago
unfortuantely, that might be the only kind of client you get when you start out?

maratd 14y ago

If they're intelligent enough to run a small business successfully, they're intelligent enough to understand that even if they're just having a leak in the plumbing fixed, anything they do themselves will be a joke compared to what a professional will take care of in a fraction of that time. Even if they've been to Home Depot and know what parts to buy. > But it's just a bunch of HTML, I could do that, so why are you charging us so much? This is just a bullshit ball-busting test they throw at every contractor they talk to, regardless of the industry or work. Trust me. Answer: Well, I'd love to charge less, but then I get overwhelmed with work. The prices I charge are there to keep things reasonable. (look at watch) I have a meeting with another client in about 30 minutes. Are we proceeding with the project? You charge what you charge not because it's HTML or complex server code or whatever. It's because there are people there who are willing to pay your price because they appreciate what you do. This is a meeting to determine if this person can appreciate what you do. So ask them. Don't waste time in techno babble.