Website Cost
For individuals and micro businesses, Website costs are really low. First you need a domain name, which DaySite supplies free of charge. Then you need a program to help you design your Website. These range from free up to $300. DaySite recommends Front Page by Microsoft for about $125. Yes you can use a simple text editor and a $15 book, however the learning curve is extreme and FrontPage makes it easy. Your time will be much better spent fooling with your kids or taking you favorite person to the movies. If you are more tech oriented, the program to have is Dreamweaver, just about the nicest HTML / Website manager you can want. Finally you need to have your site hosted at your favorite hosting company, DaySite Web Hosting, right?
Designing your site is a matter or time and skill. If you have it, and like it, do it. A small Website can be put together in a day, if the designer has some experience. However if OJT is involved, who knows how long it can take.
Small to Mid Size Company Website
Perhaps there is someone in your organization that has designed Websites, and you plan on assigning this task to that person. A far better idea would be to hire a professional designer to get the site going, and then assign your in-house person to manage the site. More often than not the in-house person has basic skills and knowledge that leave your site looking 3rd or 4th rate. And besides, these days Websites need to be as functional as they are appealing to look at. Interactivity is the key to Website success, and that means adding programs to your site. These programs have probably already been written, in languages like Perl, PHP, Java, JavaScript, C, C++ and other technology skills rarely possessed by part time designers.
The WWWeb is growing at a phenomenal rate. Existing design tools keep improving and expanding, and new technologies appear regularly. Which new programs should I be paying attention to? How much time should I spend honing existing design skills? Professional designers ask these questions of themselves regularly. A part timer just can't hope to keep up.
Design costs for a small to mid size will range from $1,000 to $20,000 and more depending on lots of factors. Then you must consider its upkeep. While hosting charges are very low, people maintain the Websites, and people cost. In fact ongoing maintenance is the most often overlooked factors about site design. You would be far better off spending a few dollars more up front to create a Website that can easily be maintained long term.
Factors To Consider When Selecting a Website Designer
If you agree that some people are better at doing certain things than others, then you will agree that certain designers are better at doing some things than others. [:) For example: The DaySite Website was created by someone who is not particularly good at creating great looking sites. Yet this same person is good at making it functional. This site is totally database driven, individual pages can be updated, or site wide changes can be made instantly. In fact this entire Website is maintained by one person, with a minimal investment in time.
When considering a designer consider the Websites purpose. If your site is relatively static, and good looks are important, find a designer with strong artistic skills. If the site is commercial with shopping carts, databases and needs a high tech feel about it, find a designer who is more technology oriented. And if you need both, good luck finding a single person. Humans have brains with two sides, artistic and technical, and rarely are both sides optimized. [:) A goof option would be to get an artist to work with a technically oriented developer to come up with an artistic theme. Then let the tech maintain the site.
Website Planning
Some factors to consider when planning a Website.
- Purpose(s): for public or in-house use
- Logos and Artwork: use existing or new
- Desired Style
- Will a database be needed
- Who will maintain the site
- Security
- Programs to design and manipulate
Websites are going to be with us for a long time, at least for our life time. And why not, they serve a variety of purposes that simplify our clients lives and improve business efficiency. If you do not already have a Website, jump in. If your site is basic, consider bringing it up to at least your competitors standards, or....
