Web Design All-in-One for Dummies®

Chapter 2. Defining the Audience

In This Chapter

• Performing market research

• Gathering information on the target audience's computer use

• Assessing a site's competition

• Understanding how to characterize a target audience

• Determining benefits to site visitors

After the planning phase of your Web project, as explained in Book I, Chapter 1, you should have enough information to successfully move into the contract phase, where you estimate fees for the project and then draft and submit a proposal to the client.

Tip

When the client gives verbal approval of the proposal, you can write up an official contract and present it to the client for signatures. If you're in need of a sample contract, you might want to start with the example shown at www.premiumwebdesign.com/contract.htm. After you create your own copy, you can modify it as needed to suit your individual projects.

At the same time as you receive the signed contract from your client, you can also collect financial retainers or deposits along with any content or materials needed to begin development of the site. Try to get at least a 25 percent deposit from the client before you do any work. This shows good faith on your part for doing the work and good faith on the client's part that she is serious about having you do the work and is willing to pay part of the fees to retain your services.

After you get the contract and deposit, you can safely ...