Ryanair model for web development?

[easycheapweb]

Driving along one day recently thinking about the RECESSION word, I wondered whether there would be a market for really cheap web development. Did some research and found there are very cheap and sometimes free web development options. However, all of them depended on the user having some understanding of html tags and the like.

I've met many people for whom the sight of something 'complex' like tags sends them running. So I wondered about a very simple forms based means of creating a site. Limited options of course, but I was thinking of small businesses who need a simple brochure site, one picture per page, plus a map showing where they are located.

Easy and cheap, I thought. Pitched to businesses with no website and very limited computer skills. So now I'm testing it and would like volunteers to test it. In return they get a free website for 2 years.

Is there a market for this? Comments appreciated.

[Eureka EFS]

I'm interested and will PM you shortly

Freddie

[SLF]

You dont need any knowledge to use those inclsuive sitebuilders you get with hosting such as with 123 reg and similar other ones. They are just bsic text editors in the most primative form. Ther are also other template cms systems out there that are free or just dirt cheap. so what im saying is, there is plenty out there already catering for the cheap end of the market who cant afford a proper one.

Im not clear on what you are actually offering here - is your website with a cms the punter can use thmselves or are you just producing a basic static page and adding their comntent for them?

[easycheapweb]

Even if one doesn't need knowledge to use them, there are lots of people who are intimidated by them. Think in terms of your local plumber, cafe owner, hairdresser. Able to use the web, but not much more.
My system is effectively CMS, but VERY simple. I'll make suggestions to the punter when they first upload, so they avoid the big mistakes.

[DotNetWebs]

You dont need any knowledge to use those inclsuive sitebuilders you get with hosting such as with 123 reg and similar other ones. They are just bsic text editors in the most primative form. Ther are also other template cms systems out there that are free or just dirt cheap. so what im saying is, there is plenty out there already catering for the cheap end of the market who cant afford a proper one.

I agree. There is also the likes of Microsoft Office Live etc.:

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/smallbusiness/products/office-live/overview.mspx

Regards

Dotty

[Eureka EFS]

I can have a good go at writing copy, but I do feel intimidated by the technical side.

It isn't for cost reasons alone that I don't have a web presence, but also because I'd stubornly refused to accept defeat - until now. The new year and all that!

However, thanks to Dotty's link, I may have a go with MS Office Live. And if by so doing I can learn how to upload photos - yes, as basic as that - then I would consider it a success.

Whether anyone will ever find my site is something else all together. No, seriously, it will just be a brochure site to which I can point my potential clients. No bells or whistles required just yet.

Freddie

[Esk247]

if you want a cheap online presence but don't want to bother with .html and .asp files and you don't need lots of flash or clever css tricks then we do them cheap for start-ups..always have done..for student businesses too.

If you have a student NUS card we can add a 10% discount on your final payment.

We can do websites from £5.99 per month for a one page business card style website and then you just keep adding pages and add that to your monthly fee etc. Includes .co.uk and continual hosting.

Lots of people on here do cheap easy web solutions! if you want a really good, top notch website though, be prepared to pay over the £500 mark.

[SLF]

There is nothing technical about entering a username and password to log in, clicking a tab and clicking some links. If the plumbers and hairdressers can use an email system you can be sure they can use a very very basic text editor. I bet you a lot of thee hairdressrs and plumbers can use Facebook and place poker without any intimidation!

[Esk247]

i don't think its technical difficulties that are the problem..i've indentified it as a time issue...plumbers and engineers etc have no time to faff about with building a website no matter how simple it may be...they don't know where to start and spend very little time online anyway. infact..saying about facebook etc, real plumbers and diy people don't even do that..they work till 7pm and spend the rest of the time with family or at the pub with mates...they pay a web designer to handle the i.t. side of things..i have customers who are fully capable of doing it themselves but are far far far too busy in the shop 6 days a week or out on the road dealing with their own customers problems.

[stugster]

I tell you what though, there may already be loads out there, but if you can market your product in such a way that it looks easier/better/different, then you'll reel in the fish.

[dp0848]

I tell you what though, there may already be loads out there, but if you can market your product in such a way that it looks easier/better/different, then you'll reel in the fish.

Do fish need websites????? :D

[owbe]

I do web development from £15, and never more than £50. Personally, I think professional web designers charge extautionate rates for sometimes a lax service. In fact - I was directed to a development agency the other day. Their web pages consisted of screenshots of text and images from word, and they wanted £295 to build a 5 page website...

[zoezoe]

[quote=owbe;731549]I do web development from £15, and never more than £50. Personally, I think professional web designers charge extautionate rates....quote]

But what could you seriously do in just 3 or 4 hours (max!)..

[easycheapweb]

Perhaps what owbe is banking on (as I'm also) is the repeat business of an annual payment?

[owbe]

[quote=owbe;731549]I do web development from £15, and never more than £50. Personally, I think professional web designers charge extautionate rates....quote]

But what could you seriously do in just 3 or 4 hours (max!)..


A fair bit actually. Website design is one of my passions - I don't do it for money as such, I do it for sheer enjoyment. I am also very young, meaning that I don't need to raise massive ammounts of money to pay the bills! The only thing that costs me as a rule is my domains and hosting for my website.


Perhaps what owbe is banking on (as I'm also) is the repeat business of an annual payment?

I do get a fair amount of return custom yes...

[Esk247]

as above...this is what i do...it goes like this:

3 years

year one - no returns, lots of building and networking, some portfolio building
year two - setup of customer base and websites at rock bottom prices to build my experience
year three - next set of customers e.g. 1 a month, year two's customers paying per month for my hosting and my customer services and tech support

i'm availabe 24 hours a day to my customers, by telephone, email or you can pop round if you have any queries or concerns.

for small businesses it makes sense...for corporate organisations they need the big development companies, the SEO gods, the ultimate in web design and coding. for small business all they need is a little place on the net..if they expand then good luck to them..i'll be there if they need me :)

and also..by next year..i'll be a hub for the big companies to plug in to...if my websites are doing well and need something more solid, a proper cms, flash pages and forms etc i'll be sure to pass them on to companies for a referral fee! only the best and most supportive of big companies will get those orders though..it makes sense for the big companies to acknowledge our presence. we can do things at prices they can never afford...e.g. £3.99 per month if required.

[KM-Tiger]

I tell you what though, there may already be loads out there, but if you can market your product in such a way that it looks easier/better/different, then you'll reel in the fish.

And more to the point, make sure your product is easier, better, different, and then your clients will stay with you, and secure your future income.

I'd say there is an opportunity here if your total offering is right.

One thought is SEO. While no one can guarantee being top of Page one, making sure your clients are at least on Page one for "plumber anytown" or "hairdresser othertown" would be a strong selling point, and not that difficult to achieve.