We frequently get requests in to assist people

We frequently get requests in to assist people with building their websites - not any surprises there; we are, after all, an online design company.

But these requests typically need to be translated from some form of Klingon or other alien language ever since often it feels as if the potential consumer is just making a fleeting visit to the world.

Some examples:

"Hi, i would like to start an advertising business (sic) that allows me to create money while people are surfing in my web. The problem is I just might not have enough info about Enzine. "

"I require a website that I can use to possess customers registering and bidding over the internet, also need to have a feature where customers can buy tokens. "

"I wish to have a web, graphic and search engine application. If you can't you can't design me the program, how about you give a search engine quote. In search of only 5 pages and the relaxation I will do. I am a web custom so I find it difficult to design search engine just for my self. "

We also get requests from people who want to have Facebook clones, eBay type sites or even a shopping cart 'like Amazon'.

One of the biggest issues seem to be that of unrealistic expectations regarding what a website can do or are unable to do, and how much it will cost.

What people do not realize are some of the following factors:

This leaves us, as the web design firm, with an ethical dilemma. Do we use the site and leave the client in order to his own devices? A version of 'take the money and run'? Or can we tell the client that his fantastic idea is just never going to fly. Unfortunately that means that we will probably go out of enterprise too since about 50% from the websites we build are based on many crazy business idea. The other alternate web design australia is to act not only as a website development company but also as a consulting organization, dispensing advice, coaching and helping the client. After all, that is really what customers expect from a web design firm, not so?

The question is - how much is this advice worth and how does one job it into the business model of the web development company? This type of advice and contacting takes up an inordinate amount of time and effort and working that into the priced at of a website tends to push the expense up even more - try and job those costs into the 'new awesome social networking site that will merge Youtube, YouTube and Twitter, to be referred to as YouTwitFace, site' and see what happens to website costs!