How to choose a web designer.
Installing a hard disk drive one time doesn’t make someone a “Tech”. Web design is a somewhat different. Shop around, because now days everyone and their grandma claims to know how to use computers. anyone can be a designer, anyone can download a new theme and change the look of their social networking page, though appearance is only a small part of a website’s functionality. Good web technicians are not easy to find, so what good is a website that looks good, but doesn’t work correctly?
Where to begin?
A good place to begin is view sample sites, if you like their style provided they are not using a pre-existing templates or theme. Do some research and contact several customers and ask them who actually designed their website, and the cost.
What is a website worth to you?
With many hundreds of web designers to pick from, its easy to pay too much for something that even the greatest web designer cannot guarantee will increase sales, gain customers, or attract the desired visitors.
The average website can be completed anywhere from a single day to several days, but usually not more than two weeks. So why would anyone pay several hundred dollars month for something that took less than 80 hours produce? Many web designers can create a custom website for a one time fee of $200 to $500 or more depending on features.
To pay, or not to pay?
Like music, it almost doesn’t matter how much a website cost to create, as long as it works properly, and looks the way you want it to. You’re not going to impress anyone by paying too much for anything.
One might say “Hummer owners have FOOL printed on their foreheads”, spending so much on fuel, when an economy car suffices.
Do I have to pay to have my site added to search engines?
No, besides all the money in the world is not going to get your name to the top of search engine lists. However, it is not necessary to pay for such promotion when it happens automatically. Once a website goes online it takes time to propagate over the World Wide Web. This may take anywhere from a few days to a several weeks. A good web designer will embed any necessary keywords into the code of your website.
Even still, once you have found your website via search engines, well, you know the old saying “you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink it”. Rest assured you will get visitors.
Who will see the content of my website?
Content posted on the internet is available to virtually anyone in the world, including child abductors, rapists, stalkers, criminals, thieves, hackers, etc. So unless you wish to allow access to your personal information such as your name, phone number, children’s names, ages, photos, etc. it is NOT advisable to post this sort of information on not only your website, but especially not on social networking sites such as myspace, facebook, etc. You are responsible for all content you post online, as well as how it is used.
Things to avoid.
1). Avoid web designers who try to cater to specific professions such as law firms, Realtors, and doctors. This is a clue they desperately want a continuing part of your income! Its almost like they feel you still owe them something, even though its your business, not theirs.
2). Never agree to pay ongoing monthly fees!
3). Without naming names, try to avoid domain registrars who, in the event the annual domain registration payment lapses, make it difficult to purchase the domain back. How? Research, the Internet is full of resources and unbiased experiences from people just like you.
Beware web designers who charge ongoing fees!
What kind of web designer would dare to ask for continuing monthly fees? Domain registration is only $10 per year. The average cost to host a website is only $4 – $15 per month. So once a website is complete and paid for, why do some web designers continue to charge several hundred dollars in monthly fees?
Is it because they discovered how much money your website makes?
Or maybe it’s because they feel you still owe them something long after they publish your website, and feel they deserve more than a one time payment for their one time creation.
It would seem many website designers feel entitled to a percentage of your monthly revenue by charging ongoing monthly fees.
Insane, yet some continue paying hundreds of dollars every month, to greedy web designers!
How dare they ask for more and more money each month! Do your self a favor, ask your current website designer what are you paying for?
Behind the scenes.
A domain is registered, website files are uploaded to a file server, text and images are added, and the site is done.
Truth is, once completed a website is virtually independent and maintenance free. With the exception of requested additions, updates, or the unlikely event any data becomes corrupted, websites do not require periodic maintenance, or ongoing costs.
Things web designers don’t want you to know!
The majority of today’s websites use software that has already been written, most of which is obtained free of charge. Yes it’s true, over 200,000 major businesses use freely acquired software, which has been customized. Any old programmer will tell you, “why write code that has already been written?” Now days most websites are made from templates, and some templates are very stylish, while others are somewhat common. Many so-called designers may try to say they have created a custom site for you, when it is really just another template. There are many creative young web designers out there, but very few of them are rewarded for their works. Even this site is based on freeware, using a custom theme.
Ways to protect yourself.
1). Register, and maintain the domain, do not share the password with anyone, not even the web designer. When a website is first published, the name server will need to be configured. This is a one-time configuration. All that is needed are two addresses. Example: ns1.host.com ns2.host.com In the event your web designer disappears, dies, or skips town, the domain will need to point to a new host.
2). Maintain current backups of the website’s files, settings, and configuration. Most of which are all contained in a single database backup file. These files will be needed to relocate to a new host.
3). Acquire an FTP user name for the file server. Its best not to limit file access to the only web designer. In the event a new tech is hired, he or she will require access.
Don’t end up like this person!
An unsuspecting local Albuquerque small business owner reported paying several hundred dollars per month, to one such greedy web designer. This store owner never questioned why the cost was so high, and just assumed that was the going rate to accommodate a small business. When asked, the store owner hadn’t a clue why they were paying so much.
Due to the outrageous expense the business is no longer. However the extent of the damage was beyond financial. Now the store owner does not plan to ever have another website again. It’s everyone’s loss.
