| You can create your own online site if you have the | | | | there is for the designer to get it wrong |
| time and the inclination. There are lots of website | | | | - Taking the time before hiring the designer to see |
| builder tools out there to support your laudable | | | | how they communicate, respond, etc. Ideally, you will |
| efforts, and doing your own work eliminates the time | | | | speak with other clients who have worked with |
| and effort you'll spend communicating what you | | | | them and you will have reviewed their portfolio. |
| want, a pain point for almost all design projects (just | | | | Hybrid |
| ask the two kindergarteners in a heated scrap about | | | | Some web design services are a mashup of website |
| whether red or blue blocks should go on the block | | | | builder tools and professional web design services. If |
| tower next). | | | | you go this route, you can expect to pay between |
| You can also look into web design services, hire | | | | $500 and $2000, depending on whether it's a |
| someone to create a site for you: someone well | | | | brochure or ecommerce site, what size of website |
| versed in web design, someone who really knows | | | | you'll need and how much help you want. |
| what they're doing. Or maybe they just think they | | | | For example, you can get a basic five page website |
| are experts. Maybe they don't have the experience, | | | | created by a professional using a website builder |
| the talent, the communication skills, the resources, or | | | | template that you selected, have a chance to look it |
| the training to do what they want you to pay them | | | | over and request changes, and be up and running at |
| to do. | | | | the lower end. |
| Either way, if you're a regular everyday business | | | | Or you can spend more on a custom website that's |
| owner, someone without deep pockets and with | | | | time-boxed (where a designer does most of the |
| plenty of other things to do besides sit in front of | | | | work, it's customized, but it's scheduled throughout |
| your computer, you are probably thinking that no | | | | and will move forward with or without your say-so) |
| matter how you go about getting a website, design | | | | and customized. This higher end option still provides a |
| cost is your bottom line. Which makes sense, as | | | | custom result and you get more input, more |
| money truly does not grow on trees. | | | | opportunities to have the design changed if it doesn't |
| So, just how much can you expect to fork over for | | | | suit you, but the overall cost is much more definite. |
| a decent web site? Design tools and design services | | | | Instead of an accumulation of hours you get with a |
| are certainly out there, as any five-second Google | | | | private web designer, companies that offer these |
| search will tell you, but if this range of cost were a | | | | hybrid services (elements of control + cusomization) |
| strong swimmer, it could probably make it across the | | | | can tell you exactly how much you'll have to pay. |
| English Channel without much trouble, maybe even | | | | Often you can request more modifications and tack |
| back again. It's big, extending from free (though you | | | | on additional costs once the agreed upon work is |
| can look here to see what free will get you), to | | | | complete, which is much different from finding out |
| doable, to a little bit beyond my budget... to terrifying. | | | | later that you've just spent more on your website |
| Speaking of swimming the English Channel, small | | | | than you ever planned to! |
| business owners who want to get online do feel that | | | | DIY |
| some propositions for web design leave them in the | | | | Software - You can make your own website for |
| cold. Because the price is high, the expectations for | | | | about ten bucks a month, depending on how you do |
| assets (all the info about your business and brand | | | | it. If you purchase website software (Dreamweaver, |
| that goes into a website) are too involved, or the | | | | FrontPage) you'll pay between $150 and $400. Cheap |
| lack of communication is preposterous, they are left | | | | versions are around too, but buyer beware. |
| floundering for a solution that they can actually | | | | Sometimes it's just worth it to pay more now and |
| afford, preferably one that looks, smells and acts like | | | | save later (on money, stress, time, do-overs, etc.) |
| a decent website. | | | | Tools - HTML editors, Flash software, form builders, |
| Enough chatter. Here's some info on pricing. It's | | | | graphics, and more tools are out there. If you are |
| subject to change, and can't possibly cover what's | | | | comfortable with these terms or you have the time |
| out there because that's a compendium and this is | | | | and energy to invest in learning about and using |
| just a wee article. Use well, and good luck. | | | | these free/cheap tools, you won't be disappointed |
| By the Hour | | | | by the selection. In fact, the opposite is more often |
| Expect to pay between $1,000 to $10,000 for an | | | | the case, and would-be DIY designers are quickly |
| ecommerce website, depending on how experienced | | | | overwhelmed by too many options and no one to |
| the designer is and where he/she lives. You can get | | | | guide them through it all. That said, if you have the |
| quotes online for offshore/outsourced designers, pay | | | | pioneer spirit and not a lot of ready cash, this might |
| a student to do the work, or invest in the talents of | | | | be your best bet. |
| a professional experienced designer. If your website | | | | Templates - Companies that recognize the time |
| is just an online calling card, or brochure site, the cost | | | | capital limitations for businesses and anyone else have |
| is about half that. You can look for the best deal | | | | come up with solutions that make it easy and fast to |
| online and shoot out the job for designers to bid on, | | | | set up a web site. Design templates that can be |
| or you can shop local. One benefit of getting a local | | | | tailored to fit with your business and brand are |
| designer to create your website is that you know | | | | better than ever. In addition to the basic website, |
| where they live, and that simply means they have a | | | | you can expect a load of apps to make your site |
| local rep they probably trying to build, so other local | | | | interactive, critical these days. |
| merchants or businesses will use their services. | | | | Bottom Line |
| Whether you get an hourly quote from a random | | | | Reinventing the wheel is an option if you have the |
| designer offshore or from a clever college grad who's | | | | time and you want to learn to build websites. But it's |
| aunt goes to the same church as your sister's | | | | definitely not mandatory these days. As long as you |
| dentist, you should beware of unexpected costs, a | | | | know how to avoid the pitfalls of exponential costs |
| longer timeline than you expected, and a designer | | | | and unending timelines, as long as you can sift |
| client mismatch. You can guard against these issues | | | | through your options-and especially if you have on |
| by: | | | | hand someone in web design who knows what |
| - Getting all the facts up front regarding cost | | | | they're doing-you can expect to have your own |
| - Having a clear idea of what you want before you | | | | unique URL in no time, a place for your current and |
| begin, since the more you know, the less leeway | | | | future customers or clients to find you. |