| Have you tried to do a website all by yourself? This | | | | 'creating your own web site'. The last thing you |
| article could potentially save you thousands of dollars | | | | should ever do if you are starting a business is to |
| and a great deal of time and trouble. I've been a | | | | spend time making a website. The seminars cannot |
| professional designer for over ten years, and if | | | | possibly teach you in a couple hours how to make |
| there's anything that my experience has taught me, | | | | websites and any materials they sell in the seminar |
| it's that a business or individual should never try to | | | | will only lead you to realize how involved it is. |
| create a website by themselves. This may be the | | | | More on Templates |
| best advice I can possibly give to anyone who needs | | | | You don't want to be caught wearing the same |
| a website. Here's why. | | | | outfit as your client. It's worth developing your own |
| Web design is a serious profession | | | | vision and getting a professional to create that |
| Web designers have years of training and on the job | | | | because they know how. And templates won't get |
| experience that cannot be replaced by a program, | | | | you online. Customizing them is still a job that requires |
| Apple, or a novice. They log thousands of hours in | | | | web skills. |
| learning technical graphic design skills as well as HTML, | | | | The Home-Spun Looking Site |
| CSS, JavaScript code, Dreamweaver, Flash and | | | | We've all seen them, websites that look like a Word |
| languages like PHP, .NET and Java. Learning to create | | | | document or like they were created in 1992. There is |
| cross-browser compatible code takes years and a lot | | | | no way that you can show that to your clients, |
| of experience. Trying to do it yourself is not so | | | | customers and friends and make a professional |
| different from trying to cut your own hair or | | | | impression. Don't do it. No site at all is better than |
| perform your own root canal. | | | | that. You want the best web site design you can |
| The Art and the Craft | | | | get. |
| Creating good and professional-looking design is part | | | | Money vs. Time |
| experience and skill, and part innate artistic vision and | | | | Money is time and you will spend a lot of money |
| ability. | | | | learning about how long it will take you to actually |
| Software and Templates are Bait | | | | learn to make a website. And unfortunately there are |
| I understand that you want to keep your web | | | | many in this business who bank on you not |
| design prices low and yet still have a cool web design. | | | | understanding this. If you are passionate about your |
| So do the companies that want you to buy their | | | | business you deserve to get it done right and many |
| templates and do-it-yourself software. But the only | | | | graphic design companies have reasonable web |
| way you can really create a custom website is by | | | | design pricing. |
| knowing the code that makes it work and these | | | | A Final Word |
| companies know that so they are banking on it | | | | But here's the really good news. Learn the skill of |
| through your pocketbook. It's all an up-sell to get you | | | | being a good client and working with a professional. |
| to buy their custom services. | | | | That's a great skill in itself and it makes you a real |
| The Seminar Trap | | | | entrepreneur. Hire a pro and feel good about making |
| Small business owners and prospective business | | | | a wise and professional choice for you and your |
| owners are often a target for seminars about | | | | business. |