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I didn't make this story up, I promise you. I didn't have to, because truth is *always* better than fiction.

The other day, I was waiting in line (for once, I was first, can you believe it!) for a local store to open so that I could exchange a defective Christmas present.

As is sometimes case, I got to talking with another fellow, also waiting patiently (have you noticed how often customers have to wait, even to *buy* something these days? But, that's another story!)

Jim (he introduced himself) and I started to exchange horror stories, of type that *every* shopper encounters just about every day, y'know what I mean?

Seems like Jim had just come from freeway and had turned into one of those very famous fast-food chains, on service road.

You've seen 'em, but no need to mention names here.

Now, this was at quarter to eight in morning, so all shops were pretty much deserted (I live in a pretty quiet town, a ways north of Brisbane), except for this big hamburger joint. It also *looked* unattended, but had a big sign - "NOW OPEN" - up high, and stretched between two large poles placed at each end of store - easily seen for a hundred yards or more.

Jim needed a bite to eat, so what more was needed?

He turned his car into drive-thru and went to order window. "We're not open" woman replied when Jim tried to place his order.

Well, he looked at her, looked up at big sign, and asked her to define "NOW OPEN", seeing as how she was telling him that place wasn't. "Lookit, it's a new location here, for us, so, yeah, we're NOW OPEN for business, but not until 9AM, OK!"

(Actually, I *knew* that place had been NOW OPEN for three weeks or more, but I didn't interrupt Jim's account).

Jim ponders that for a few moments, then asks her, "Well, y'see, me and wife here have been travelling a ways to get here, couldn't you make an exception?" He could see inside that staff were getting ready for day's operations.

When putting together a basic web site proposal, you should include following elements:

Your Information: Your background or company history, qualifications, skills, past achievements and contact details.

Project Overview: The company you are submitting proposal for, your understanding of their products and services, target market, goals of web site and a rough outline of how you will acheive them.

Theme: A description of style of site you are proposing. Elements from client's current branding you will utilise or new elements you will develop.

Special Considerations: such as language, security or other issues pertaining to company, site or target market that will need to be addressed.

Flowchart: A diagram showing different pages of site how navigation will occur.

Flowchart Description: A detailed description of each page.

Development Timeline: This should be a description of each stage of development, estimated completion date and notes regarding client consultation and supply of information/feedback from client. This may also include milestone payments for involved projects and site promotion activities. Make it clear that traffic takes time to build up after implementation and promotion should only occur after site has been tested thoroughly. Improper implementation can cost months of traffic.

Costing: A descriptive breakdown of costing and total of quote including an end date before price will need to be re-calculated. This will include items such as domain name registration, hosting fees and outsourcing for sections of site you will not be able to develop yourself. Ensure you take into account items including travel time, electricity,telephone amd consumables. Factor in cost of proposal as well; a good proposal will take hours of your time and you should be compensated for that. In your eagerness to gain contract, you may lose money if you quote too close to bone. Bear in mind that things rarely go strictly to plan in web design and delays can be expected. Time is money. The going rate for web design services seems to be between US$25-$75 per labour hour at present; dependent upon complexity of task and competency of designer.