State of the Web Design Industry

down down, deeper and down

[shuffler]

I run a small UK based Internet Consultancy.
Our primary service is web design & development (static HTML, database driven sites, e-commerce, etc)

In the last few months I've been finding it increasingly difficult to find new business. The jobs we get now are paying around 50% of what they would have just 18 months ago.

Also, the average turn around time from intial enquiry to signed contract is getting longer and longer. 2-3 months+ isn't uncommon.

My observation is that there is some kind of crazy price war going on at the moment with companies producing sites at little above cost price.

Or have my sales skills gone to pot?

[shuffler]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. In the last 2 weeks I have switched a lot of focus to my e-commerce site. It's been redesigned to improve the shopping experience and is already starting to pay off.

As for the 'design' side of the business - I've had a major rethink about how we market ourselves - hopefully this will pay dividends too...

[weisinator]

Crazy_Fool: "it's about time the governments regulated web design."

{object id="voice" type="Yoda"} Design regulation leads to content regulation, content regulation leads to people manipulation, people manipulation leads to hate, hate leads to suffering!{/object}

I have another reason to object: more competition brings fresh perspectives.

Sure, you get the Front Page wizard who spins his Micro$oft magic to produce what is mediocre at best, but they never last long anyways.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.