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One website to go and I want fries with that |
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If you have been using internet actively for more than a year, chances are - you have a home page somewhere. Chances also are that you haven't touched it (except maybe by adding new photos from your last vacation) for quite a while. And chances are - no one will notice.
It's an entirely different game for small businesses. For some of them, having a website that attracts visitors is crucial for keeping afloat. Think online stores or online front-end of small boutiques. A lot of these web sites look like they have been made in FrontPage 3.0 back in 1999. And many of them look just like any other web site with default skins of a long un-patched shopping cart software and making it impossible to tell the difference between this store and thousands of others.
So what would an entrepreneur do if one doesn't want to learn all aspects of web design and programming or simply doesn't have the time to play around with various fancy web site software packages called scripts?
In fact, there are many options for those who need a new or updated web site. I'll mention three that range from the most inexpensive solutions to those that require significant investments from a small business owner.
The most inexpensive solution is purchasing the most updated version of FrontPage, since it's unlikely that version 3.0 is still around. After all, if you bought a computer recently, it most likely came with MS Office. The advantage - you don't have to invest anything but time (with the cost of web hosting average at less then $10/month it is not even worth mentioning). The drawback - you don't have the time.
Another solution is to use the widely available software packages which provide you with the tools you need to set up your web site in no time. Depending on your background, mastering the different packages may be challenging, since they do not have a common interface that you might be accustomed to (like the Windows software, for example). But once you've mastered the software - you don't have to worry about anything but submitting the content. A good example of such a software package is Mambo Open Source - you can make it look like a professional portal, a creative web site, or an online store - just by selecting the right template.
Many of the software packages are available on their respective official web site and many more - on numerous supporting sites. Do a little research and you may end up having a full-blown professional-looking web site with an online store and a forum for a nominal dollar amount. Once you familiarize yourself with one of the packages, just stay awake and regularly check for software updates and security patches - some of them might literally save your business if applied in a timely fashion. Remember, that there are people with bad intentions and once you're out there on your own, you don't want to give them any opportunities to put a hand in your pocket.
The next approach is to use one of the freelancers' web sites to recruit either a single designer or a team of designers and programmers to create a web site for you. The average cost of such jobs varies from $500 to $2,000. If it you find it for less - you're most likely dealing with a non-professional, and even though the chances of obtaining the desired results still exist, there is a likelihood that you will end up with a web site that looks worse than the one you already have, one that works only in a certain type of web browser or simply hurts your eyes just by looking at it.
The disadvantage of this approach is the uncertainty of when or whether you will get the final result. Another hidden pothole are the people who mistakenly think that they are designers, when in fact they are not. They use the commercial templates available from www.TemplateMonster.com or other similar web sites, and then claim it's their own "genuine" design, while charging fees higher than those of than other contractors. Unfortunately, it's very hard to tell a good designer from a good impersonator, so just be aware, ask for a portfolio and check references. Usually, freelancer web sites do a good job providing customers with feedback, but a shadow of doubt wouldn't hurt. Also, after the work is completed, you may ask the developer to support your web site and make some small changes, which may require a separate contract and additional fees, but it may all be well worth it since you will have a constantly updated web site that focuses on the customers' needs rather then on needs of web site.
If you are not happy with the quality of work offered by freelancers, it's time to consider a good web design studio. Make sure you know what you want: if you're selling cooking appliances, you don't want your site to look like a promotion for a rave party. Try to select studios that have the most experience in the fields similar to yours. Nike.com may look cool, but if you sell soil for home plants it's hardly a site to look at. Don't expect a busy studio to submit a collection of drafts before you sign the contract. Occasionally, you may run into people who agree to such terms, but it's usually a sign of desperation, so studios avoid it whenever possible. It is also very time-consuming and rarely pays off, since nothing prevents an ill-minded person to take such a draft and create their own design at almost no cost at all. Again - check references, portfolios and ask around.
Also, make sure you and the studio both sign a written contract which outlines the timelines of first draft delivery, the final review and final delivery date, as well as the payment amount and terms. Make sure you get copies of any written statements you provide, keep the receipts and store all the e-mails you exchange.
Prices vary significantly depending on the kind of web site you want, but in general, the price should fall within the range of $2,000 to $10,000. It's a good sign when a studio assigns a specific project manager who handles your web site from beginning to end - that way, you will always know the current status of your project and have a single point of reference to address all of your questions or concerns. After the work is completed, most studios will keep an eye on your web site for you for some time (if they do - it's usually stated in the contract), making sure that everything is functioning as it is supposed to. You may get a more expensive deal on further support then from freelancers, but the quality of work and response time are usually far better and well worth the money spent.
The idea of starting one's own business is appealing to many - whether they are trying to change careers, recover from the loss of a job or just looking for an alternative source of income. One of the major means to reach out for prospective customers is via Internet. Retail stores require real estate, a supply chain, storage space - all of which is unnecessary for online stores. You can get in the game without significant investments, start small and grow big. Remember - one of the first personal computers was built in the garage, and with Internet readily available, you don't even need a garage to start a successful business.
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