Why leaving your website
to a web designer is a good idea
Are you a web designer? If
you're not, that is the NUMBER ONE reason why
leaving your website to a designer is a GOOD idea.
But why? Your business card and website are your
MOST important promotional tools --put some time
and money into them. It's the repeat visit (or
pickup of the card) that gets the sale. Ok...
so you've heard that story. But who knows your
business like you do? How can you possibly trust
anyone else to present YOU the way you think YOU
can?
This is the next GOOD REASON to hire a designer.
A good designer will have some marketing background
and work with you to create visuals and copy to
represent and sell YOU. Before anything happens,
a designer should ask you questions (some that
you may never have considered) about your business,
your market, your current activities... so they
can get a feel for what you're about.
Now... are you seeing the wisdom in hiring a
professional. After all... do you tell your potential
clients that you are the professional they need?
Of course you do. Why would a conference planner
do all the speaking himself? Why would a CEO think
she could train her entire staff in the latest
computer software? Why would a lawyer type his
own transcripts? They simply wouldn't.
So why would you build your own website? You
have better things to do...
Is your business important to you? Do you want
it to expand? You started because you were good
at something... or you had knowledge that people
wanted you to share. If it wasn't webdesign, that's
ANOTHER reason to leave your website to a designer.
You need to focus on your business... on attracting
clients, delivering products and services, expanding
your reputation. Can you do that while you're
struggling with html codes that just don't make
sense? NO.
A designer won't tell you how to run your business,
they won't give you a topic for a new workshop...
they'll build your website (and if you're lucky,
your other promotional materials) so that it complements
the work you're doing and INCREASES the results
of your efforts.
A good designer doesn't necessarily have to cost
you an arm and a leg, but you generally get what
you pay for. Having a clear idea of what you want
you can cut down design time significantly. Find
a designer who works on a project fee basis -
and usually you'll get more than you pay for.
They'll work with you to clarify the purpose and
function of your site, and bring you ideas for
look and feel that will already have your preferences
AND your market taken into account.
What's a ballpark for a good BASIC, custom designed
site that will serve you well? $800 - 2000 US,
depending on number of pages, interactivity and
custom graphic work. Add realtime ecommerce and
backend databases, etc, and plan on a minimum
of $5000. Some designers have cheaper prebuilt
templates -if you're on a tight budget that can
be a good way to beginÉ but PLAN to spend
more later.
Some things to consider when thinking about your
website:
- it's not going to happen overnight. And if
it does... don't say we didn't warn you.
- good design - like fine wine - takes time.
- good design is evolutionary too... find a designer
you like, because you should be together for a
while. You MUST keep your site up to date and
fresh.
Does that get the point across?? Webdesign is
not quick. You may think that throwing together
a FrontPageª template site in a couple hours
will do the trick, but it won't.
Even if you get a site you LOVE in a few hours...
it's no good if people don't know about it...and
we'll get to that NEXT TIME.(see Promoting your
Site)
Things to look for when hiring a designer:
- project fee flexibility
- marketing experience
- good writing skills
- versatility in their portfolio
- a portfolio, period... it doesn't have to be
big, or even paid/published work, it just has
to be THEIR work.
- referrals
- questions (if they ask good questions, you're
on the right track)
- network - if they have others they collaborate
with, you'll probably get better results...
- WEB DESIGN EXPERIENCE
- PRINT DESIGN EXPERIENCE
(We emphasize those because they are very different
media, and not all designers cross over)
by Kera McHugh, designer
somethingelse web+graphicsÊÊ
Article © 1999-2002 Kera McHugh. Kera is
the creator and owner of somethingelse web+graphics
in the beautiful Sunshine Coast of Canada. She
does everything from website to print to bring
her clients in the speaking and entertainment
industries integrated creative promotional materials.
In her spare moments, she is a featured columnist
and mother to an amazing thirteen-year-old.
www.time4somethingelse.com
somethingelse web+graphics
www.time4somethingelse.com,
getitdone@time4somethingelse.com
RR10, 230 Pratt Road, Gibson's, BC V0N 1V3 - 604.886.5919
