A method for getting early estimates right

A method for getting early estimates right

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Almost all clients who approach your agency about a project want to know up front what the total cost will be. They hand you some loose notes and expect a fixed number of hours or price. To many this presents an impossible task. What is often forgotten is that an exact estimate isn't expected. What you need to produce is one that is accurate enough to close the sale. In this session you'll learn a method for producing early estimates to support your sales process.

In this talk I will introduce an early estimation method we've developed at NodeOne. It's being used daily in our own sales process. Using this method we're able to tell a client early on the expected size of a project, judge the response and can adapt our sales pitch. Using it we close sales faster and provide estimates early on allowing our clients to make early decisions regarding the scope and focus of the project.

You will learn how to:
- Within an hour or two get a picture of the client's requirements
- Use fixed estimates to manage uncertainty
- Break requirements down into features
- Draft an early rough Drupal solution that outlines how each feature is made
- Produce estimates that are based on experience instead of guesswork

This talk is presented by Jakob Persson, co-founder of NodeOne. Jakob works as a project manager and Drupal solutions architect at NodeOne. His infatuation with Drupal began in late 2005.

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