Comments for Jasper Espejo http://www.jasperespejo.com on life, web, design and freelancing Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on How to avoid PayPal fees when sending payment for freelance work by Foo-Me http://www.jasperespejo.com/5620/how-to-avoid-paypal-fees-when-sending-payment-for-freelance-work/#comment-217 Foo-Me Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:22:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5620#comment-217 Thanks so much for sharing this!  Thanks so much for sharing this! 

]]> Comment on How to create a custom Facebook Page (1 of 3) by Robust Group http://www.jasperespejo.com/5689/how-to-create-a-custom-facebook-page-1-of-3/#comment-216 Robust Group Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:33:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5689#comment-216 That is a very good tutorial- Thanks for taking time to do all the screenshots and marks That is a very good tutorial- Thanks for taking time to do all the screenshots and marks

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by Raina http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-198 Raina Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:36:28 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-198 It's sad that the local market is way too harsh with prices so we have no choice but really try to get paid in dollars. With so many designers and Worpdress developers out there, it helps to specialize in a certain fields like, oh let's say PHP, Ruby or Python. Outsourcing is one of those that has a few great effects for freelancers and start-ups as well. By getting "outsourced", you open yourself up to clients that can be around for a long time, giving you a constant flow of incoming projects. You'll realize it was worth it to lower the price the first time and show them how well your work with them and with the project. The time will come when they will just settle for you instead of searching for others with lower rates because you're easy to work with and they're sure of your output already. By then you can set yourself up to gradual increase of rates. You just have to work hard the first time and try to sacrifice a little. It's better than being turned down the first time by a potentially great client with several projects at hand. I think a faster turn around time for each project will really help if the its price is low. It should be easy for basic websites with very common features and with our years of experience working with websites, I assume we are well-versed with it by now that we can do it faster. A simple Wordpress project (conversion, development, everything except design) can be done in a week or less depending on the actual design. It’s sad that the local market is way too harsh with prices so we have no choice but really try to get paid in dollars. With so many designers and Worpdress developers out there, it helps to specialize in a certain fields like, oh let’s say PHP, Ruby or Python.

Outsourcing is one of those that has a few great effects for freelancers and start-ups as well. By getting “outsourced”, you open yourself up to clients that can be around for a long time, giving you a constant flow of incoming projects.

You’ll realize it was worth it to lower the price the first time and show them how well your work with them and with the project. The time will come when they will just settle for you instead of searching for others with lower rates because you’re easy to work with and they’re sure of your output already. By then you can set yourself up to gradual increase of rates.

You just have to work hard the first time and try to sacrifice a little. It’s better than being turned down the first time by a potentially great client with several projects at hand.

I think a faster turn around time for each project will really help if the its price is low. It should be easy for basic websites with very common features and with our years of experience working with websites, I assume we are well-versed with it by now that we can do it faster. A simple WordPress project (conversion, development, everything except design) can be done in a week or less depending on the actual design.

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by ilokano http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-215 ilokano Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:59:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-215 Hi epicpotato. First of all, thanks for letting me know I'm on page 1 of Google for "cheap web design in Manila". That can't be a bad thing, right? It's still a referral! Second, there's no need to feel embarrassed. Times are tough and every penny counts. Third, there is a third option for you and other designers will hate me for saying this, but why not buy a commercial WordPress theme? My opinion is, if you are starting a small business and hard-up on cash, I don't find it practical to spend too much on an all-original designed website, with a theme built from scratch. If you're a big company, with plenty of capital to spend, and very particular about your brand image, then go ahead and hire an expensive kick-ass designer to make you a website like no other. If you're not, then maybe that money can be put to other use. Like buying painting materials. In the future, when your business has flourished and you have the extra cash, then perhaps you can again consider having an original website made just for you. There are a lot of excellently designed WordPress themes that can be bought for less that USD100. I know some are just around USD35. They have features built-in that, if you were to ask a web designer to make something similar from the ground up, would easily cost you no less than USD1000. And if you are concerned that your website will look like somebody else's, the better themes have options that allow you to customize fonts, colors, background images, layout. etc. And really, with so many commercial themes being created every month, and each theme being customized by the owner, what are the chances that your site will look exactly like the other guy's? Here are some of the links I gave to people who had same problem as yours. And yes these are affiliate links. If I cannot earn from making you an original site, then I will make do with small commissions via referral links ;-) http://url.designhubph.com/themeforest http://url.designhubph.com/elegantthemes http://url.designhubph.com/wpzoom http://url.designhubph.com/templatic http://url.designhubph.com/woothemes http://url.designhubph.com/bizzthemes I have also used some of these themes myself for personal projects and also for other clients who needed cheap and quick websites. If you do buy one of those themes and need help setting them up or modifying them a little, let me know. Maybe we can work something out that won't cost you too much. Thanks for reading my blog. Hi epicpotato. First of all, thanks for letting me know I’m on page 1 of Google for “cheap web design in Manila”. That can’t be a bad thing, right? It’s still a referral!

Second, there’s no need to feel embarrassed. Times are tough and every penny counts.

Third, there is a third option for you and other designers will hate me for saying this, but why not buy a commercial WordPress theme?

My opinion is, if you are starting a small business and hard-up on cash, I don’t find it practical to spend too much on an all-original designed website, with a theme built from scratch. If you’re a big company, with plenty of capital to spend, and very particular about your brand image, then go ahead and hire an expensive kick-ass designer to make you a website like no other. If you’re not, then maybe that money can be put to other use. Like buying painting materials. In the future, when your business has flourished and you have the extra cash, then perhaps you can again consider having an original website made just for you.

There are a lot of excellently designed WordPress themes that can be bought for less that USD100. I know some are just around USD35. They have features built-in that, if you were to ask a web designer to make something similar from the ground up, would easily cost you no less than USD1000.

And if you are concerned that your website will look like somebody else’s, the better themes have options that allow you to customize fonts, colors, background images, layout. etc. And really, with so many commercial themes being created every month, and each theme being customized by the owner, what are the chances that your site will look exactly like the other guy’s?

Here are some of the links I gave to people who had same problem as yours. And yes these are affiliate links. If I cannot earn from making you an original site, then I will make do with small commissions via referral links ;-)

http://url.designhubph.com/themeforest
http://url.designhubph.com/elegantthemes
http://url.designhubph.com/wpzoom
http://url.designhubph.com/templatic
http://url.designhubph.com/woothemes
http://url.designhubph.com/bizzthemes

I have also used some of these themes myself for personal projects and also for other clients who needed cheap and quick websites.

If you do buy one of those themes and need help setting them up or modifying them a little, let me know. Maybe we can work something out that won’t cost you too much.

Thanks for reading my blog.

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by Pandelicious http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-214 Pandelicious Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:19:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-214 This is absolutely enlightening! I was googling "cheap web design in Manila" and came by your site! As someone who is looking for a Mr. 5000 i feel embarrassed that i can't shell out more for their work. As an artist myself (in the more traditional sense, FA like you) i should know how it feels to have my work undervalued. I guess it's either i save up or learn CSS myself! :) This is absolutely enlightening! I was googling “cheap web design in Manila” and came by your site! As someone who is looking for a Mr. 5000 i feel embarrassed that i can’t shell out more for their work. As an artist myself (in the more traditional sense, FA like you) i should know how it feels to have my work undervalued.

I guess it’s either i save up or learn CSS myself! :)

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by Kris Bolton http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-213 Kris Bolton Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-213 Hi Jasper, I can relate to your post. Im from the UK but i live in the Philippines. Im an internet entreprenuer. I have had at least 10 sites made using web designers, some for myself, some for clients. I used odesk a few times, i can definately relate to getting high priced qoutes from designers in India and Philippines. Infact the Philippines is awful right now for web design, i live here in manila and yet i have never had a website constructed by a Filipino, infact me and my girlfriend talk about this alot whenever we are launching a new online venture how siyang it is that some filipinos have a serious misplaced pride. They see american or european prices and think they deserve the same, but its simply not true. Cost of living in Europe and USA is about 5-10 times higher than the Philippines, so the designers in Europe naturally are more expensive. I can relate to that Australian guy you mentioned too, damn i hate it when designers in the Philippines qoute the same as western prices, thats just pure greed! I hung up immediately last time i heard that because it just means they either think im stupid or their greedy. Onto the next designer who done the job for 20% of the price. When i get a qoute from the UK for 50,000 pesos for 1 high end ecommerce website, im expecting it to cost about 10,000 pesos in the Philippines because i know it would take 7-10 days to complete the website and western people usually would check daily salaries in the country they are going to hire a freelancer and then estimate the time it takes to make the website IF YOU ARE SKILLED, which you should be if your selling services, in the Philippines an employed designer would be earning 500-1000 pesos per day x a 7 day project, should be charging 3500-7000. Most designers usually already have frames for templates for the websites too. it often cost MORE in the Philippines than the UK prices!!! Which is crazy and like usual its such a waste because the Philippines has so much potential if some of the designers here stopped being greedy. But it might be because uk/usa designers are more experienced better educated in computer skills so can do the work faster? I can now get ecommerce sites in the UK for about 20,000 pesos! That would be like the Philippines charging about 3000 - 5000 pesos for a fully functioning ecommerce website. Also, THE ONLY REASON WESTERNERS outsource is simply MONEY, it needs to be alot cheaper in the Philippines than the western countries. Remember web design is no longer a rare skill, nowadays its a overcrowded industry. This industry wont die, its only going to get bigger, and for those designers who are able to make a name for themselves by creating high quality budget websites will be the ones with constant work. An indian guy i hired 6 months, he was great, since then ive recommended him to people in the uk in my business circle about 10 times, and hes got 5 new contracts just from my recommendations just because he worked hard, fast and cheap. Fast meaning he will be building your site all day, NOT half the day learning how to do it and the other half trying to build it. My suspicion of overcharging in the Philippines is possibly due to lower computer skills here? Meaning maybe it takes designers here twice as long to do the same projects as indians who are highly trained in all IT skills. People are not willing to pay for a designers incompitance. I really hope designers in the Philippines start being competitive with their pricing. Filipinos are missing out on so much business because most are just not competitive in pricing even though this country has such a low cost of living. e.g. personally, i spend only 40,000 pesos per month living in manila. I actually landed on this blog because im looking for philippine webdesigners for several projects in the UK because im always trying to put the Philippines first, but guess what? I cant find any that dont charge crazy prices. I even offered designers here a business opportunity to be partners in several projects in the UK which we hope to sell off in 2-3 years to investors in London because i have investors and hedge fund contacts of people who pay alot of money for clever internet businesses. I told several designers here they would provide the webdesign, we would provide all costs, e.g. online marketing cost and running costs which is considerably expensive. Imagine that, ownership of a company just for building a website, still, they said no they want cash. I couldn't believe how short sighted their response was. Anyway i wanted to write this so that more designers in the Philippines can understand what we (western market) are looking for when we outsource. If you ever want to talk about pricing you can drop me an email at <span id="enkoder_0_1819752376">email hidden; JavaScript is required</span><script type="text/javascript"> /* <!-- */ function hivelogic_enkoder_0_1819752376() { var kode="kode=\"110 114 103 104 64 37 114 110 104 103 95 37 64 110 114 103 104 95 37 95 95 110 64 103 114 95 95 104 95 95 95 37 110 95 95 103 64 95 95 114 104 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 103 102 95 95 112 64 113 114 49 120 117 104 119 119 95 95 122 108 95 95 95 95 104 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 63 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 43 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 100 95 95 95 95 107 104 95 95 95 95 35 117 95 95 95 95 105 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 112 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 64 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 100 95 95 95 95 111 114 95 95 110 108 108 119 101 61 111 117 114 118 67 114 114 119 112 113 108 107 49 119 114 100 95 95 111 102 95 95 95 95 112 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 65 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 117 95 95 95 95 118 95 95 95 95 114 119 95 95 113 110 107 108 119 101 100 111 111 114 102 67 112 114 63 112 95 95 108 49 95 95 95 95 114 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 50 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 100 95 95 95 95 65 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 44 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 62 95 95 95 95 62 95 95 95 37 123 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 62 95 95 95 95 64 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 105 117 95 95 108 114 51 43 108 64 43 62 114 63 104 110 111 103 113 49 119 104 48 106 44 107 108 52 64 62 44 46 123 53 64 126 114 46 104 110 102 103 100 49 68 107 43 117 46 119 44 108 110 52 103 46 49 114 107 104 117 102 119 100 108 68 128 43 114 44 104 110 123 103 43 64 63 46 114 108 104 110 111 103 113 49 119 104 66 106 114 107 104 110 102 103 100 49 68 107 43 117 114 119 104 110 111 103 113 49 119 104 48 106 44 107 95 95 52 61 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 44 62 95 95 95 95 62 95 95 95 37 123 95 95 95 95 64 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 62 95 95 114 105 43 117 64 108 62 51 63 108 110 43 103 114 49 104 104 111 106 113 107 119 52 48 62 44 46 108 53 64 126 44 46 123 110 64 103 114 49 104 107 102 117 100 119 68 108 43 52 46 46 44 114 110 104 103 102 49 100 107 68 117 43 119 44 108 110 128 103 114 64 104 46 123 108 43 110 63 103 114 49 104 104 111 106 113 107 119 110 66 103 114 49 104 107 102 117 100 119 68 110 43 103 114 49 104 104 111 106 113 107 119 52 48 95 95 44 95 95 95 42 44 95 95 95 95 61 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 62 95 37 62 123 95 42 95 95 62 64 95 42 95 95 105 114 117 43 108 64 51 62 108 63 43 110 114 103 104 49 111 104 113 106 119 107 48 52 44 62 108 46 64 53 44 126 123 46 64 110 114 103 104 49 102 107 100 117 68 119 43 108 46 52 44 46 110 114 103 104 49 102 107 100 117 68 119 43 108 44 128 110 114 103 104 64 123 46 43 108 63 110 114 103 104 49 111 104 113 106 119 107 66 110 114 103 104 49 102 107 100 117 68 119 43 110 114 103 104 49 111 104 113 106 119 107 48 52 44 61 95 42 95 95 95 42 95 95 44 62 62 95 37 64 123 95 42 95 42 105 62 117 114 108 43 51 64 108 62 43 63 114 110 104 103 111 49 113 104 119 106 48 107 44 52 108 62 64 46 44 53 123 126 64 46 114 110 104 103 102 49 100 107 68 117 43 119 46 108 44 52 110 46 103 114 49 104 107 102 117 100 119 68 108 43 128 44 114 110 104 103 123 64 43 46 63 108 114 110 104 103 111 49 113 104 119 106 66 107 114 110 104 103 102 49 100 107 68 117 43 119 114 110 104 103 111 49 113 104 119 106 48 107 44 52 95 42 61 44 95 42 62 37 62 123 64 42 42 62 105 114 117 43 108 64 51 62 108 63 43 110 114 103 104 49 111 104 113 106 119 107 48 52 44 62 108 46 64 53 44 126 123 46 64 110 114 103 104 49 102 107 100 117 68 119 43 108 46 52 44 46 110 114 103 104 49 102 107 100 117 68 119 43 108 44 128 110 114 103 104 64 123 46 43 108 63 110 114 103 104 49 111 104 113 106 119 107 66 110 114 103 104 49 102 107 100 117 68 119 43 110 114 103 104 49 111 104 113 106 119 107 48 52 44 61 42 42 44 62\";kode=kode.split(\' \');x=\'\';for(i=0;i<kode.length;i++){x+=String.fromCharCode(parseInt(kode[i])-3)}kode=x;";var i,c,x;while(eval(kode)); } hivelogic_enkoder_0_1819752376(); var span = document.getElementById('enkoder_0_1819752376'); span.parentNode.removeChild(span); /* --> */ </script> It was interesting reading your post. Thanks. Hi Jasper,

I can relate to your post. Im from the UK but i live in the Philippines. Im an internet entreprenuer. I have had at least 10 sites made using web designers, some for myself, some for clients. I used odesk a few times, i can definately relate to getting high priced qoutes from designers in India and Philippines. Infact the Philippines is awful right now for web design, i live here in manila and yet i have never had a website constructed by a Filipino, infact me and my girlfriend talk about this alot whenever we are launching a new online venture how siyang it is that some filipinos have a serious misplaced pride. They see american or european prices and think they deserve the same, but its simply not true. Cost of living in Europe and USA is about 5-10 times higher than the Philippines, so the designers in Europe naturally are more expensive. I can relate to that Australian guy you mentioned too, damn i hate it when designers in the Philippines qoute the same as western prices, thats just pure greed! I hung up immediately last time i heard that because it just means they either think im stupid or their greedy. Onto the next designer who done the job for 20% of the price.

When i get a qoute from the UK for 50,000 pesos for 1 high end ecommerce website, im expecting it to cost about 10,000 pesos in the Philippines because i know it would take 7-10 days to complete the website and western people usually would check daily salaries in the country they are going to hire a freelancer and then estimate the time it takes to make the website IF YOU ARE SKILLED, which you should be if your selling services, in the Philippines an employed designer would be earning 500-1000 pesos per day x a 7 day project, should be charging 3500-7000. Most designers usually already have frames for templates for the websites too. it often cost MORE in the Philippines than the UK prices!!! Which is crazy and like usual its such a waste because the Philippines has so much potential if some of the designers here stopped being greedy. But it might be because uk/usa designers are more experienced better educated in computer skills so can do the work faster? I can now get ecommerce sites in the UK for about 20,000 pesos! That would be like the Philippines charging about 3000 – 5000 pesos for a fully functioning ecommerce website.

Also, THE ONLY REASON WESTERNERS outsource is simply MONEY, it needs to be alot cheaper in the Philippines than the western countries. Remember web design is no longer a rare skill, nowadays its a overcrowded industry. This industry wont die, its only going to get bigger, and for those designers who are able to make a name for themselves by creating high quality budget websites will be the ones with constant work. An indian guy i hired 6 months, he was great, since then ive recommended him to people in the uk in my business circle about 10 times, and hes got 5 new contracts just from my recommendations just because he worked hard, fast and cheap. Fast meaning he will be building your site all day, NOT half the day learning how to do it and the other half trying to build it.

My suspicion of overcharging in the Philippines is possibly due to lower computer skills here? Meaning maybe it takes designers here twice as long to do the same projects as indians who are highly trained in all IT skills. People are not willing to pay for a designers incompitance.

I really hope designers in the Philippines start being competitive with their pricing. Filipinos are missing out on so much business because most are just not competitive in pricing even though this country has such a low cost of living. e.g. personally, i spend only 40,000 pesos per month living in manila. I actually landed on this blog because im looking for philippine webdesigners for several projects in the UK because im always trying to put the Philippines first, but guess what? I cant find any that dont charge crazy prices. I even offered designers here a business opportunity to be partners in several projects in the UK which we hope to sell off in 2-3 years to investors in London because i have investors and hedge fund contacts of people who pay alot of money for clever internet businesses. I told several designers here they would provide the webdesign, we would provide all costs, e.g. online marketing cost and running costs which is considerably expensive. Imagine that, ownership of a company just for building a website, still, they said no they want cash. I couldn’t believe how short sighted their response was.

Anyway i wanted to write this so that more designers in the Philippines can understand what we (western market) are looking for when we outsource. If you ever want to talk about pricing you can drop me an email at email hidden; JavaScript is required

It was interesting reading your post. Thanks.

]]> Comment on How to avoid PayPal fees when sending payment for freelance work by Dirk_flail http://www.jasperespejo.com/5620/how-to-avoid-paypal-fees-when-sending-payment-for-freelance-work/#comment-212 Dirk_flail Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:35:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5620#comment-212 Thanks for this quick, easy fix you gave. Every peso really counts when you're here in the Philippines. Thanks for this quick, easy fix you gave. Every peso really counts when you’re here in the Philippines.

]]> Comment on How to avoid PayPal fees when sending payment for freelance work by ilokano http://www.jasperespejo.com/5620/how-to-avoid-paypal-fees-when-sending-payment-for-freelance-work/#comment-211 ilokano Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5620#comment-211 Anong benta mo? Do you think free online stores (with PayPal payment) in WordPress will sell to online sellers like you? Free pero may google ads ako ;-) Anong benta mo? Do you think free online stores (with PayPal payment) in WordPress will sell to online sellers like you? Free pero may google ads ako ;-)

]]> Comment on How to avoid PayPal fees when sending payment for freelance work by kitiwiti http://www.jasperespejo.com/5620/how-to-avoid-paypal-fees-when-sending-payment-for-freelance-work/#comment-210 kitiwiti Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:56:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5620#comment-210 i sell on etsy & ebay, i know the evils of paypal , etsy & ebay so well. if you cost in the fees, your final price will now be higher... but so will their % now too. bottomline, learn to pad enough for those fees..they end up being like close to 10% (etsy+paypal) i sell on etsy & ebay, i know the evils of paypal , etsy & ebay so well.
if you cost in the fees, your final price will now be higher… but so will their % now too. bottomline, learn to pad enough for those fees..they end up being like close to 10% (etsy+paypal)

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by ilokano http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-209 ilokano Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:53:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-209 Probono for 3 years? Wow how do you survive? Probono for 3 years? Wow how do you survive?

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by Jegatorn O Rei http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-208 Jegatorn O Rei Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:48:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-208 Though i'm into graphic design, this is just inspiring. i'm having this dilemma on how to price this certain client coz ive been working probono for 3 years now. this helped a lot jasper. thank you. :) Though i’m into graphic design, this is just inspiring. i’m having this dilemma on how to price this certain client coz ive been working probono for 3 years now. this helped a lot jasper. thank you. :)

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by ilokano http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-186 ilokano Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:23:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-186 Hi Anne. Indeed, it's survival of the fittest. Like I said in my comment to Edmark, we need to learn to adapt to changing situations in our work field. I guess it is not only true to web design but to any line of work, especially in these uncertain economic times. Thanks for commenting and have a great day too. Hi Anne. Indeed, it’s survival of the fittest. Like I said in my comment to Edmark, we need to learn to adapt to changing situations in our work field. I guess it is not only true to web design but to any line of work, especially in these uncertain economic times.

Thanks for commenting and have a great day too.

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by ilokano http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-207 ilokano Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:23:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-207 Hi Anne. Indeed, it's survival of the fittest. Like I said in my comment to Edmark, we need to learn to adapt to changing situations in our work field. I guess it is not only true to web design but to any line of work, especially in these uncertain economic times. Thanks for commenting and have a great day too. Hi Anne. Indeed, it’s survival of the fittest. Like I said in my comment to Edmark, we need to learn to adapt to changing situations in our work field. I guess it is not only true to web design but to any line of work, especially in these uncertain economic times.

Thanks for commenting and have a great day too.

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by ilokano http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-206 ilokano Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:17:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-206 Hi Edmark. I remember a time when one could charge a high price for logo design. Now you can have one for just USD10 from places like prizes.org, and since the job is presented as a contest you even get to choose from several options. I guess it's the same with web design. With the rise of commercial wp themes that are (I grudgingly admit) excellently designed and with theme option panels offering a variety of features from sliders to social networking, it is hard to compete. We need to learn to adapt to the current situation because they are not gonna go away. I'm adapting by learning to use commercial themes and especially frameworks to create new sites for clients. It's not a bad thing, if anything I find I finish websites faster with frameworks/commercial themes. I may be charging lower fees now, but I can turn around a project much faster than before so I guess it cancels out. Hi Edmark. I remember a time when one could charge a high price for logo design. Now you can have one for just USD10 from places like prizes.org, and since the job is presented as a contest you even get to choose from several options. I guess it’s the same with web design. With the rise of commercial wp themes that are (I grudgingly admit) excellently designed and with theme option panels offering a variety of features from sliders to social networking, it is hard to compete. We need to learn to adapt to the current situation because they are not gonna go away. I’m adapting by learning to use commercial themes and especially frameworks to create new sites for clients. It’s not a bad thing, if anything I find I finish websites faster with frameworks/commercial themes. I may be charging lower fees now, but I can turn around a project much faster than before so I guess it cancels out.

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by ilokano http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-185 ilokano Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:17:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-185 Hi Edmark. I remember a time when one could charge a high price for logo design. Now you can have one for just USD10 from places like prizes.org, and since the job is presented as a contest you even get to choose from several options. I guess it's the same with web design. With the rise of commercial wp themes that are (I grudgingly admit) excellently designed and with theme option panels offering a variety of features from sliders to social networking, it is hard to compete. We need to learn to adapt to the current situation because they are not gonna go away. I'm adapting by learning to use commercial themes and especially frameworks to create new sites for clients. It's not a bad thing, if anything I find I finish websites faster with frameworks/commercial themes. I may be charging lower fees now, but I can turn around a project much faster than before so I guess it cancels out. Hi Edmark. I remember a time when one could charge a high price for logo design. Now you can have one for just USD10 from places like prizes.org, and since the job is presented as a contest you even get to choose from several options. I guess it’s the same with web design. With the rise of commercial wp themes that are (I grudgingly admit) excellently designed and with theme option panels offering a variety of features from sliders to social networking, it is hard to compete. We need to learn to adapt to the current situation because they are not gonna go away. I’m adapting by learning to use commercial themes and especially frameworks to create new sites for clients. It’s not a bad thing, if anything I find I finish websites faster with frameworks/commercial themes. I may be charging lower fees now, but I can turn around a project much faster than before so I guess it cancels out.

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by Edmark Matusenos http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-205 Edmark Matusenos Sat, 05 Nov 2011 07:33:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-205 I totally agree with you on this, I'm a web designer as well, just starting out to establish my own outsourcing company for web design. I'm currently looking for clients to be part of my portfolio and I was forced to lower my desired rate to as low as 10%! Why? I dunno about these folks on free listing sites charging as low as 5k for a wordpress powered site. They make it sound so easy and based on the results they produced, the process may seem so. It lacks complexity, you can even find the theme they used on free wordpress theme sites. No revisions whatsoever! But I'm still optimistic. If you can deliver results nobody else can create for the price they offer, then you're still on the right track. I guess you just have to know the market you are targeting, and make extra efforts to convince them and deliver results before they see the other ridiculous offers. Only then would the client be satisfied with what they have, and appreciate the amount of work involved in producing a great product. I must say I'm a fan of your work. Making the most of what wordpress can offer and making it your own kinda blown my mind a little bit. :) I totally agree with you on this, I’m a web designer as well, just starting out to establish my own outsourcing company for web design. I’m currently looking for clients to be part of my portfolio and I was forced to lower my desired rate to as low as 10%! Why? I dunno about these folks on free listing sites charging as low as 5k for a wordpress powered site. They make it sound so easy and based on the results they produced, the process may seem so. It lacks complexity, you can even find the theme they used on free wordpress theme sites. No revisions whatsoever!

But I’m still optimistic. If you can deliver results nobody else can create for the price they offer, then you’re still on the right track. I guess you just have to know the market you are targeting, and make extra efforts to convince them and deliver results before they see the other ridiculous offers. Only then would the client be satisfied with what they have, and appreciate the amount of work involved in producing a great product.

I must say I’m a fan of your work. Making the most of what wordpress can offer and making it your own kinda blown my mind a little bit. :)

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by Edmark Matusenos http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-184 Edmark Matusenos Sat, 05 Nov 2011 07:33:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-184 I totally agree with you on this, I'm a web designer as well, just starting out to establish my own outsourcing company for web design. I'm currently looking for clients to be part of my portfolio and I was forced to lower my desired rate to as low as 10%! Why? I dunno about these folks on free listing sites charging as low as 5k for a wordpress powered site. They make it sound so easy and based on the results they produced, the process may seem so. It lacks complexity, you can even find the theme they used on free wordpress theme sites. No revisions whatsoever! But I'm still optimistic. If you can deliver results nobody else can create for the price they offer, then you're still on the right track. I guess you just have to know the market you are targeting, and make extra efforts to convince them and deliver results before they see the other ridiculous offers. Only then would the client be satisfied with what they have, and appreciate the amount of work involved in producing a great product. I must say I'm a fan of your work. Making the most of what wordpress can offer and making it your own kinda blown my mind a little bit. :) I totally agree with you on this, I’m a web designer as well, just starting out to establish my own outsourcing company for web design. I’m currently looking for clients to be part of my portfolio and I was forced to lower my desired rate to as low as 10%! Why? I dunno about these folks on free listing sites charging as low as 5k for a wordpress powered site. They make it sound so easy and based on the results they produced, the process may seem so. It lacks complexity, you can even find the theme they used on free wordpress theme sites. No revisions whatsoever!

But I’m still optimistic. If you can deliver results nobody else can create for the price they offer, then you’re still on the right track. I guess you just have to know the market you are targeting, and make extra efforts to convince them and deliver results before they see the other ridiculous offers. Only then would the client be satisfied with what they have, and appreciate the amount of work involved in producing a great product.

I must say I’m a fan of your work. Making the most of what wordpress can offer and making it your own kinda blown my mind a little bit. :)

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by Love Rainne http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-204 Love Rainne Wed, 26 Oct 2011 06:21:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-204 Hi, This is very true. I am not a web developer whatsoever, but i know quite a few people in this industry. It is really sad to say that this is what's happening now. Lucky are the very few who manages to close good deals. But for those who has to make both ends meet, needs to work more than what is ideal and desirable for a lower price offer. The amount of work done is no longer relative/equal to the monetary reward, thus undermining the capacities and capabilities of the people involved in this profession. But hey, survival of the fittest. If you can find workarounds, then you are a step ahead of the pack. Have a great day! -Anne :) Hi,

This is very true. I am not a web developer whatsoever, but i know quite a few people in this industry. It is really sad to say that this is what’s happening now. Lucky are the very few who manages to close good deals. But for those who has to make both ends meet, needs to work more than what is ideal and desirable for a lower price offer. The amount of work done is no longer relative/equal to the monetary reward, thus undermining the capacities and capabilities of the people involved in this profession. But hey, survival of the fittest. If you can find workarounds, then you are a step ahead of the pack.

Have a great day!

-Anne :)

]]> Comment on A case for affordable web design: How to lower your price without killing yourself, your business, the market or bringing on the ire of other designers by Love Rainne http://www.jasperespejo.com/5222/a-case-for-affordable-web-design-how-to-lower-your-price-without-killing-yourself-your-business-the-market-or-bringing-on-the-ire-of-other-designers/#comment-183 Love Rainne Wed, 26 Oct 2011 06:21:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5222#comment-183 Hi, This is very true. I am not a web developer whatsoever, but i know quite a few people in this industry. It is really sad to say that this is what's happening now. Lucky are the very few who manages to close good deals. But for those who has to make both ends meet, needs to work more than what is ideal and desirable for a lower price offer. The amount of work done is no longer relative/equal to the monetary reward, thus undermining the capacities and capabilities of the people involved in this profession. But hey, survival of the fittest. If you can find workarounds, then you are a step ahead of the pack. Have a great day! -Anne :) Hi,

This is very true. I am not a web developer whatsoever, but i know quite a few people in this industry. It is really sad to say that this is what’s happening now. Lucky are the very few who manages to close good deals. But for those who has to make both ends meet, needs to work more than what is ideal and desirable for a lower price offer. The amount of work done is no longer relative/equal to the monetary reward, thus undermining the capacities and capabilities of the people involved in this profession. But hey, survival of the fittest. If you can find workarounds, then you are a step ahead of the pack.

Have a great day!

-Anne :)

]]> Comment on bITs: How to check how your site looks like on iPhone and iPad using your desktop Safari by ilokano http://www.jasperespejo.com/5208/bits-how-to-check-how-your-site-looks-like-on-iphone-and-ipad-using-your-desktop-safari/#comment-203 ilokano Tue, 04 Oct 2011 23:36:00 +0000 http://www.jasperespejo.com/?p=5208#comment-203 Thanks Jeff. I forgot that it wasn't there by default. Thanks Jeff. I forgot that it wasn’t there by default.

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