[Sigia-l] site redesign sales proposals

[Jodi Bollaert]

Hi,

Interesting topic!  I'm a usability/IA consultant
(about 4 years on my own now).  During this period, my
proposals have gotten shorter and shorter (usually 3-4
pages).  I generally don't feel I should be putting
more than 1-2 hours of time into a proposal.  If it
requires more than that, I'm basically starting the
project, and feel that I should be paid.  I don't
think a heuristic evaluation is something we should do
for "free" (even if it is fun) in the hopes of getting
more design work.  For one thing, it does diminish the
value of this service, and for another, there's
something about it which seems rather self-serving.

(Slightly different topic.) I'm not sure "designers"
should even be in the heuristic evaluation business. 
If I were a customer, I think I would feel more
confident getting the input of a usability expert who
just focused on usability, not someone who is hoping
to win my design business.  I've recently learned that
a major automotive company feels the same way.  They
hire big expensive firms to design their digital
marketing, but hire third-party usability firms to
evaluate/test those designs.  Of course, I'm sure this
has a lot to do with not wanting to hire the person
that designed their web site to also be the judge of
it.  But perhaps it also has something to do with
perceived expertise (I hope).  While my tiny little
business has done some web design in the past, I'm
starting to think I will move away from this, and
become more focused on just usability services. (I
also do IA, but prefer not to do both at the same time
due to the bias factor.)  I'd be curious to hear other
people's thoughts/experience.

Jodi



*****************************************
Jodi Bollaert, Principal 
Blue Sun Works, Inc. - We Make IT Easier

http://www.bluesunworks.com 
Email: jodi at bluesunworks.com
Phone: 248.310.6774