There are several choices available to the small business owner for Web site design, development, and maintenance. If you choose the do-it-yourself approach, be prepared for a significant learning curve. I thought at first I could get some free templates and just build the site myself. Well, it was not so fast and not so easy! I consider myself pretty tech savvy, but I quickly learned that hiring a pro is the way to go. In my mind, time is much more valuable than money. The amount of time and hassle ones spends in digging through the Web design digital ropes is much better spent on doing what you do best: running your small business! If you have never designed a site yourself, attempting this task can be a rapid net loss for your business.
Some companies offer turnkey, template-based Web sites that allow you to create, edit, and update your site in a short time. For some small businesses this may be a good starting point, except most turnkey, template type sites look more generic than professional. If all you want is a cookie-cutter look and feel, then you can go this direction for site design. If you choose this approach, make sure you still apply the tips in this chapter to optimize and maximize your site visibility.
Once I decided that someone else needed to build my site, I looked at numerous options. There are tons of Web design companies whose services range in price from $300 to $30,000. The range is just that large. So make sure you determine your Web development budget. Once you have these figures in mind, you can start the hunt. The Web design companies may be local, regional, or global. Since most of the development communication is done through e-mail, file attachments, and phone calls, it is feasible to work with a company across the country or the world for your site. Just Google “Web site design companies” and you will have a starting point. You can also narrow the search to your local region or city.
After talking to five different nationwide Web design companies, I choose to go with a local designer because I like to outsource based on referrals from someone I know. A former supervisor of mine started her own company a few years back. I liked her site, so I called and asked some questions about her Web designer. The feedback was positive, so I called the designer, and we discussed my needs and budget. I also asked for links to sites she had designed in the past. I liked what I saw. Within about a week I made my decision, and we were off and running. Since I had already written the text for each of my pages, half the work was done. I told her which sites from her portfolio I liked, and that design was used as a rough starting point. Within about one month, my site was up and running!
Don’t go out and find a 15-year-old high school student. Hire an experienced Web designer who knows what he or she is doing. You just cannot risk the delays and pains involved with an amateur. Because your Web site is such a critical weapon in your marketing strategy, don’t take the risk. Furthermore, you will need support and have questions in the future. Having a local number to call with questions puts your mind at ease.
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