B2B businesses balance many digital initiatives to stay competitive. Evaluate project-based web design vs. a retainer to tackle critical digital projects. Full article: webenertia.com/insights About us: We are a Silicon Valley-based website design agency that helps B2B clients build and accelerate their web, brand, and digital marketing by providing expert, trusted, data-driven solutions that deliver results. Our agency prides itself on delivering compelling narratives, thoughtful experiences, measurable benchmarks, and cutting-edge technology to support your brand story and website strategy.

1. WebEnertia > Insights
RETAINER VS. PROJECT-
BASED ENGAGEMENTS FOR
B2B WEB DESIGN

2. THE RIGHT AGENCY WILL
HELP YOU IDENTIFY THE
CLEAREST PATH TOWARD
COMPLETING YOUR
PROJECT.
B2B businesses balance many digital initiatives to stay competitive.

3. WebEnertia,Inc. 3
Project-Based Agency Relationship
Maintenance Retainer Web Design Model
06
10
Retainervs.Project-BasedEngagementsforB2BWebDesign
TableofContents

4. A project relationship conforms to your company’s deadlines.

5. A PROJECT-BASED MODEL
IS THE RIGHT STRUCTURE
IF YOUR COMPANY
ALREADY HAS AN
OUTCOME IN MIND.
The most clearly defined arrangement with an agency and its clients,

6. Retainervs.Project-BasedEngagementsforB2BWebDesign
Project-Based Agency Relationship
• You and your agency establish a budget and timeline for its completion
• Your organization has the assurance your project will arrive on schedule
Advantages
1. Outcomes are clearly defined
• Once an agency defines those terms, it’s their responsibility to stick to them
• Any overruns are then up to the agency to cover
2. Your agency takes of the risk in a set budget
• Project relationships exist within a specific timeframe
• You are familiar with their workflow and better understands your brand than a prospective newcomer
3. Projects help establish trust between the agency and client

7. Retainervs.Project-BasedEngagementsforB2BWebDesign
Project-Based Agency Relationship
• Budget has already been approved by your organization
• Can be difficult for some organizations to secure funds
Downsides
1. Cost
• Recommendations or changes to a given project can disrupt timelines with your agency and affect your project’s resources
2. Terms of a project agreement are rigid

8. A maintenance retainer allows for smaller projects to be completed
while not placing as great a strain on your budget.

9. A MAINTENANCE
RETAINER PLANS ALLOW
FOR FLEXIBILITY IN THE
CLIENT-AGENCY
RELATIONSHIP.
If your organization’s goals are less deadline-driven or smaller in scope,

10. Retainervs.Project-BasedEngagementsforB2BWebDesign
Maintenance Retainer Web Design Model
• Short on resources for time-sensitive website improvements?
• Smaller projects can be scheduled and completed through a retainer agreement to generate the results needed
Advantages
1. Smaller projects yield quick wins for clients
• Gain insights into how well an agency fits in with your workflow before trusting them with the larger investment
• Fuel strategic conversations between the agency and its client to identify upcoming goals
2. Retainer agreements build relationships
• Your agency also provides organizational support
• Establish expectations and provide support for the clients through reporting on hours and project status updates
3. An agency Account Manager relieves pressure on your firm

11. Retainervs.Project-BasedEngagementsforB2BWebDesign
Maintenance Retainer Web Design Model
• Comprehensive digital projects can be completed through the set number of hours per month in a retainer relationship
• Can be inefficient from a budget perspective and difficult to manage
Downsides
1. Large projects are difficult to schedule
• The amount of work for an agency can fluctuate, the work you need could exceed your allotted number of hours
• Your agency partner can identify situations where a supplemental project model can be scoped out as your needs demand
2. Your digital needs may not be consistent

12. Facebook
Do you understand your project needs? Check out the full article:
webenertia.com/insights/retainer-vs-project-for-b2b-web-design/
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