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This is a very general question and I believe it will be relevant to other people in my situation.

I've been involved as a hobbyist in web design and development for over 2 years now. I have produced a number of websites but charged nothing or a token gesture to the people (my friends) that I've worked with.

Going forward as a freelance web developer, I'd like to know what tools do people use to engage their clients with

In all my successful ventures and going forward, I have used bootstrap, it offers the versatility of being designed from mobile devices upwards (I explain that to the client).

One issue with bootstrap, is, it doesn't provide a pretty backend WYSIWYG editor (like wordpress does) for the client to use - This means that I cannot charge a one-off payment to the client but instead have to negotiate a long term arrangement. The long term arrangement isn't the issue, but getting there is. In many cases clients want a solution they can manage themselves, and I refuse to use wordpress (snob - maybe).

So, these are my questions:

  1. Negotiation: Whats the best way to negotiate a long term arrangement in terms of webpage design, hosting and ongoing maintenance? I gather charging an hourly rate for work done when the site is complete is the obvious answer but how do people factor this in to their original project proposal?

    1. Template Documents: Are there any pro forma documents used for web design and costing that people have found to be beneficial?

    2. Time scales: When it comes to proposing time scales for the implementation and having read: How granular should an estimate be for building a web page? are their any pro forma documents that people use to do that?

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  • Many thanks for making this more readable Tiago.
    – scriptmonkey
    Dec 6, 2013 at 2:46
  • On a side note, Bootstrap is a css library, as such it can be integrated with various platforms including wordpress.
    – Kami
    Dec 6, 2013 at 17:49

2 Answers 2

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  1. Question 1: we use the free or cheap edition of Balsamiq (also available online in the browser). Everything understands how to use it and it allows XML (BMML) format to exchange ideas.
  2. Question 2: I don't understand the question. Do you mean templates?
  3. Question 3: If you mean templates, I assume the answer is "Yes". But I think the question is something different. Please reprehrase.
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  • 1. When you say the cheap edition, do you mean the $79 one? (thank you) 2. I mean bootstraphero.com with more functionality. 3. Is a question about documentation from B2C -> how does one invoice for web design.
    – scriptmonkey
    Dec 5, 2013 at 9:05
  • Ah, ok. 1: cheap is approx USD 79, free is online. 2: We use DotNetNuke as Content Management System. Still many users find it too hard to use, but when they are willing to spend time they can do (we have non-techies using it all the time, but it requires training). 3: Do you invoice locally or internationally? From what country?
    – Guido Leenders
    Dec 5, 2013 at 10:29
  • Thanks Guido for the reply, excuse the length of time taken to reply, sleep was in order... Invoiced from the UK locally. Will look at netnuke :)
    – scriptmonkey
    Dec 5, 2013 at 15:48
  • Clear. The original questions have been edited, so I am a little lost, but from my knowledge on UK you can invoice by the hour or fixed price. And deliver with or without intellectual ownership. Pro forma documents: maybe these instructions of a collegeau help you invantive.com/about-invantive/news/entryid/1025/…. You also might want to consider a free or paid service application for subledger accounts receivables.
    – Guido Leenders
    Dec 6, 2013 at 8:47
  • You're welcome. Good luck with business.
    – Guido Leenders
    Dec 6, 2013 at 12:01
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One issue with bootstrap, is, it doesn't provide a pretty backend WYSIWYG editor (like wordpress does) for the client to use

Here are a few WYSIWYG editors for Bootstrap:

References

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