Limiting text on websites

[Acorn]

Totally agree Bill. Less is more. Especially given the short span of attention most people have. People visit a website to get information. The easier you make it for the visitor to get the information she/he is looking for the better.

Gary 100% agree. When I do a website for a client I'll be paid, because it's my job. I limit the count of words. If the customer wants more, he has to pay more. That helps keep the text short.

Both laudable but Bill still has a real-world client to deal with.

@ernie-f, I do not believe you are telling your client they cannot have their prose but you are advising that prose cover 10 extra pages and each page delivered has a cost, regardless of content.

I believe Bill has to advise his client that there is additional design work involved that extend the original agreement, be it pop-ups, accordions or pages.
I felt my suggestion addresses the problem and the expectation of the client so that Bill would be in a sound bargaining position.

Acorn

[ernie-f]

Both laudable but Bill still has a real-world client to deal with.

@ernie-f, I do not believe you are telling your client they cannot have their prose but you are advising that prose cover 10 extra pages and each page delivered has a cost, regardless of content.

I believe Bill has to advise his client that there is additional design work involved that extend the original agreement, be it pop-ups, accordions or pages.
I felt my suggestion addresses the problem and the expectation of the client so that Bill would be in a sound bargaining position.

Acorn

Oh yes he can, but with costs extra.
My calculation is a fix one and every page or other text legnth is an extra and is paid.

Until now nobody in the graphic industry in Germany handle it otherwise.

And again: I do professional work for professionals and not a give away job for someone.

[bwood]

The post card analogy is especially good. I do web for a animal shelter with young staff, and they understand being from the smartphone generation.
I also do web for a museum, and that one is a challenge, but the challenge is met with the odd pop up, and extra pages of text if they wish.
Interesting that the older gen also use tablets to a larger extent than I would have thought.
Thanks all.
-W