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From: Ken Carroll
Date: 06-27-07 08:38 am
Subject: Web Design, Your Budget, and The Wizard of Oz
ID: 1
Message: Web Design, Your Budget, and The Wizard of Oz
By Ken Carroll
It is hard for a business to choose a good website design firm. Estimates can vary thousands of dollars, design firms and freelancers have many different ways to approach website development and some businesses are technically savvy while others are more knowledgeable in design. So how does an average business wade through this world of fact and fiction to get an effective website design?
A good first step would be to know what kind of firms/freelancers are available to choose from today. Here is a quick rundown.
1) THE ROOKIE -
This is the person who went to a local store, purchased a computer, took a few classes on web design or simply bought a standard web design package off the shelf. These guys are often real cheap, but are real deficient in either design, technical knowledge, or all too often, both. The Rookie should be avoided at all costs (well tell you how in a bit).
2) HIGH BALLERS -
High Ballers charge too much. They mark up everything and charge for going to the bathroom. They usually charge more, a lot more. High Ballers get work because businesses think that the more expensive estimates simply must know more than the lower bids.
3) THE RENEGADES -
The renegades are designers who have recognized the problems with the market and have either been fired for creating too many waves working for a firm OR simply resigned looking for a better way. Renegades come in many knowledge levels. The experienced people in this category are usually in the middle of the field in terms of pricing and have a pretty nice balance of design, marketing, and technical knowledge. The bad news is there are some Renegades with a few months or years under their belt and get in over their head quick.
4) SUPER NERDS -
Super Nerds are technically astounding but the design gets pretty ugly. And let's face the truth; it doesn't matter how technical the site is, if it's not attractive then it's destined to be a flop. Super Nerds are known for hammering "designers".
5) THE DIVINCI'S -
This category consists of the super-artsy folks. They will bicker over everything leaving some to believe that they must know a lot to complain about such small details. Divinci's usually don't have a high knowledge level and they tend to take control and override decisions that are not theirs.
6) THE PRIZE WINNING, SOFTWARE WRITING, HUGE STAFF, NICE FACILITY, WHITE COLLARS -
These are the guys who can get any job done. They have copywriters, designers, technical people, secretaries, and probably a nice meeting room as well. These guys should only be used if you plan on making your site a huge investment. Oh yeah, did I mention you would spend a lot with these guys?
And to make things worse, the internet market is completely unregulated. Anyone can market and charge whatever they want to. So what's a business to do?
FIGURE OUT WHY YOU A SITE:
Why do you want a website? Is it to have a site just because everyone else has one? Is it to sell a product or to educate about your product? Will it be used as a portfolio or a communication tool for personnel? Having a clear understanding of why you want a website is always the best first step.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO MARKET YOUR SITE:
Do you want consumers to find you on major search engines like Google, Yahoo or MSN, or will you promote your website with print collateral? To get ranked at Google, Yahoo and MSN is a costly process (of course some will say different, but that's another story...)
HOW WILL YOUR EXPERTISE HELP?
Web designers and marketing professionals don't know everything. You and your staff know why your business is successful and what your consumers need to hear. Don't take your personal experience too lightly.
NOW START LOOKING:
Now that you have a little better understanding of what kind of site you want you can start looking. If you are looking for every possible bell and whistle imaginable, then you should choose a high-end design firm. The truth is most websites don't need the Bazooka of a high-end design firm. Most sites can be designed by The Renegades, but here are the questions you should ask when interviewing potential designers:
1) What design experience do you have? THE BEST ANSWER IS AT LEAST 7 YEARS OF DESIGN EXPERIENCE
2) Have you worked in Marketing? THE BEST ANSWER IS AT LEAST 4 YEARS IN MARKETING
3) Have you worked with any major brands? THIS IS A MAJOR PLUS. A PERSON THAT HAS WORKED WITH 2 OR MORE MAJOR BRANDS IS A GREAT START.
4) How much technical knowledge do you have? AT LEAST 4 YEARS IS GOOD, BUT ALWAYS CHECK ANY SITES THE DESIGNER MAY HAVE THAT CLOSELY MIMICS YOUR TECHNICAL DESIRES.
5) How much time will it take? ALWAYS GET A TIMELINE. OTHERWISE PROJECTS CAN GO ON FOREVER.
6) Do you "click"? WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT CAN TAKE WEEKS, MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER. IT'S GOOD TO FIND A PERSON WHO SEEMS TO GET ALONG WITH YOUR STAFF.
7) Do they have experience in any other areas? IF YOU NEED PRINTED MATERIAL OR A LOGO, IT'S GOOD IF ONE SOURCE HAS EXPERIENCE IN MULTIPLE AREAS.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Make sure that everything is spelled out in production. If you need a logo designed, make sure it's clearly stated. Otherwise the estimate can increase substantially. On site design is a major plus, as is stating the number of revisions included in each phase of development.
John Kenneth Carroll co-owns http://www.BelizeGraphics.com and has over 20 years experience in graphic design, marketing and web development. He has worked directly or indirectly with projects relating to Disney, CINAR Corporations, Choice Hotels, PBS, Zaboomafoo and more. John Carroll is heavily involved with each product produced by Beize Graphics and offers consultations for businesses to help them get a clear directive with their corporate ID Strategy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Carroll
http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Design,-Your-Budget,-and-The-Wizard-of-Oz&id=613821
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How to Build a Web Site for My Business - 03-01-07 03:36 am
Web Design, Your Budget, and The Wizard of Oz - Ken Carroll 06-27-07 08:38 am
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