Would you pay to have your first webiste created?

Jozo · Jul 21, 2009

This question may sound a bit strange, I know.

When you started your own internet business:

Did you create your first website?

Did you get someone else to do it for you?

If somebody else would be to create your first website how much would you be prepared to pay?

fisicx · Jul 21, 2009

That is a strange question. I'd always get someone to build a website for me in the same way I'd get a shopfitter in to do a B&M shop.

As to cost, anything from £100 to £100,000, it really depends on the business plan.

wood1e2 · Jul 21, 2009

What ever the going rate...

Seems there is always questions about costings of websites... Get three quotes go with the cheapest or with one you feel comfortable with.

As you would do with any trade!!!

Or go free, spend all your time figuring out how to set up a free website, then wonder why your business never took off!!! Oh and you are left with a crap looking website, or none at all, if you never figured it out

LandingNet · Jul 21, 2009

I agree with fiscx; if this is going to be your business and you intend to ultimately make a living from it, always always employ the best team you can afford to give you the best possible start.

If you get a bedroom designer to build your site, could you be sure their still going to be around / be bothered to sort out problems a few months down the line when you discover they haven't built the site properly and things start going wrong?

GetTaylored · Jul 21, 2009

LandingNet said:
If you get a bedroom designer to build your site, could you be sure their still going to be around / be bothered to sort out problems a few months down the line when you discover they haven't built the site properly and things start going wrong?

Totally agree. If i couldn't build my own and was starting a business i would have to get a web developer to build it, many people don't see web development as an investment which is what it is.

Get your site done properly and it will pay for itself. Make a mess of it and it'll cost you in the long run.

iQDesk · Jul 21, 2009

It's a no brainer! One of the biggest mistakes newbies make is trying to build their own website using templates and wizards on the net. Unless you are a professional web developer and graphic designer I wouldn't build one myself.
Would you buy or do business with a dodgy looking website? I wouldn't...

As for budgeting,it really depends on how many pages, what sort of website you need. Type of website,Graphic design features etc. It can be anything from $800 including design for a simple website and the sky is the limit.

I suggest you get a few quotes and go for the best not necessarily the cheapest. I happen to own a web development company so feel free to contact me for a quote

roythehandyman · Jul 21, 2009

I have to put my two pennys worth in here. Remember that saying "give a man a fish and he will feed his family for a day, Teach him how to fish and he will feed his family for a lifetime" ? something like that anyway. If had to pay someone to build and run my website I would be in real trouble should a time come when I have a cashflow prob. I taught myself how to build and maintain my website, It may well be bog standard but it works and when it doesent, I can fix it. I think website designers are very gifted people but the net would not die without them. Neither does my website. It is very successful. I may have considerd paying someone to teach me how to build a site but I would never allow myself to be fully dependant on a designer.

Recycling Man · Jul 21, 2009

Bad speling not good - webiste

roythehandyman · Jul 21, 2009

It shows that I am human

GetTaylored · Jul 21, 2009

roythehandyman said:
I have to put my two pennys worth in here. Remember that saying "give a man a fish and he will feed his family for a day, Teach him how to fish and he will feed his family for a lifetime" ? something like that anyway. If had to pay someone to build and run my website I would be in real trouble should a time come when I have a cashflow prob. I taught myself how to build and maintain my website, It may well be bog standard but it works and when it doesent, I can fix it. I think website designers are very gifted people but the net would not die without them. Neither does my website. It is very successful. I may have considerd paying someone to teach me how to build a site but I would never allow myself to be fully dependant on a designer.

You might be right up to a point but the original poster was talking about starting an internet business and an internet business with a bad website is already at a disadvantage. Whilst your handy man website probably gets you a fair amount of business you could probably get as much from word of mouth or local advertising so your business isn't totally reliant on its website.

In terms of being able to fix stuff yourself if it goes wrong, personally i'd give a client as much help as i could if i was told they had cash flow issues, by this i mean i'd probably make a few changes/updates to their site free of charge, if it was something more i'd show them how to do it themselves.

Although, i'm not sure this actually applies to the original poster so nevermind.

GetTaylored · Jul 21, 2009

roythehandyman said:
It shows that I am human

It happens to all of us.

SFD · Jul 21, 2009

roythehandyman said:
I have to put my two pennys worth in here. Remember that saying "give a man a fish and he will feed his family for a day, Teach him how to fish and he will feed his family for a lifetime" ? something like that anyway. If had to pay someone to build and run my website I would be in real trouble should a time come when I have a cashflow prob. I taught myself how to build and maintain my website, It may well be bog standard but it works and when it doesent, I can fix it. I think website designers are very gifted people but the net would not die without them. Neither does my website. It is very successful. I may have considerd paying someone to teach me how to build a site but I would never allow myself to be fully dependant on a designer.

I agree with what you are saying and agree, to an extent.

With a basic HTML site it is fairly easy to pick up the basics. What if you wanted to start an ecommerce store though, would you try and teach yourself how to code and skin one of those?

I'd rather pay someone and have something working within a week rather start doing it bit by bit myself for the next year.

roythehandyman · Jul 21, 2009

GetTaylored said:
You might be right up to a point but the original poster was talking about starting an internet business and an internet business with a bad website is already at a disadvantage. Whilst your handy man website probably gets you a fair amount of business you could probably get as much from word of mouth or local advertising so your business isn't totally reliant on its website.

In terms of being able to fix stuff yourself if it goes wrong, personally i'd give a client as much help as i could if i was told they had cash flow issues, by this i mean i'd probably make a few changes/updates to their site free of charge, if it was something more i'd show them how to do it themselves.

Although, i'm not sure this actually applies to the original poster so nevermind.

Ah but, you sound like one of the good guys. But there are not many of those out there, especialy when you really need one.

Recycling Man · Jul 21, 2009

- this an auto response - we hope you have day good.

fisicx · Jul 21, 2009

roythehandyman said:
I taught myself how to build and maintain my website, It may well be bog standard but it works and when it doesent, I can fix it. I think website designers are very gifted people but the net would not die without them. Neither does my website. It is very successful.

I agree Roy, but setting up a static site is a little different to setting up an ecommenrce store. And have you researched the effects of whitespace, typography, information chunking, CSS, usability and acessibility, passive and active copy, funnel and converting pages and a whole lot more. Building a website is easy. Making it effective can take a lot of work. In just a couple of minutes I've spotted a whole bunch of things you could do to your site that would increase the amount of work it brings you.

And if everyone took your attitude you would be out of work. Nobody would need a handyman because they have learnt to fish for themselves.

GetTaylored · Jul 21, 2009

fisicx said:
And if everyone took your attitude you would be out of work. Nobody would need a handyman because they have learnt to fish for themselves.

Spot on.

roythehandyman · Jul 21, 2009

fisicx said:
I agree Roy, but setting up a static site is a little different to setting up an ecommenrce store. And have you researched the effects of whitespace, typography, information chunking, CSS, usability and acessibility, passive and active copy, funnel and converting pages and a whole lot more. Building a website is easy. Making it effective can take a lot of work. In just a couple of minutes I've spotted a whole bunch of things you could do to your site that would increase the amount of work it brings you.

And if everyone took your attitude you would be out of work. Nobody would need a handyman because they have learnt to fish for themselves.

If you goto the bottom of my index page you will see that I am too busy to take on any more work than I have already! and that has been there for months! But you make a fair point. I would like to say though, most of the work that I do for customers is because they are either to lazy, or busy to learn, to do it themselves. But the main question was: would I pay someone to build me a site:No But if I were too busy or couldnt be bothered to learn, thhen I would ask one of you guys for a price because without the internet I would have gone bust ages ago

khanjee · Jul 21, 2009

website is a way to connect people all of world

Jozo · Jul 21, 2009

very interesting responses

meadsy · Jul 22, 2009

Hi, I've only picked up an idea of everyones responses, but I would say pay someone to build it for you. It is not so much about the build but the design. A badly designed and laid out website can be so much a turn off it is untrue.

It needs structure and to lead people in to what you want to tell them. It also shows quality and gives them confidence on your site.

As for cash flow issues, everyone get them. And if you find a designer and developer worth their salt, they will try to be as flexible as possible, either spreading payment, fixing issues for free or setting up a CMS system for you to edit your own site. And its all not as expensive as you might think.

Personally the amount of work I have done recently for clients which I haven't charged for is probably slightly on the mad side, but at the end of the day it boils down to customer service, and that is what I try to excel at as well.

Cheers
Rich

bdw · Jul 22, 2009

In defence of Professional Standards...

I taught myself how to build and maintain my website, It may well be bog standard but it works and when it doesent, I can fix it.

Roy, you may have more work than you can handle but I would guess that this is more down to word of mouth than your website. In your line of work local referrals are much more important than websites but I think you will already be aware of this. Please do not take this personal but you stuck your head above the parapet and I feel entitled to comment. Your website has many errors and omissions.

You say that you are busy so thankfully your kitchen fitting skills must be better.

I ran your home page through the W3C validator and it reports 102 errors. This is because you do not fully understand what you are doing.

With respect, it may look OK to you but to most other people it will look like what it is - a DIY website. If I was looking for a professional tradesman and I found a website like yours I would see it as someone who does not worry too much about the fine detail and who breaks many of the most basic design principles (for example three or four different fonts on your home page). Many people like me would see your website reflecting your professional standards and I am afraid that they would looking elsewhere.

I am quite handy myself and I would compare your website to the kitchen I once fitted for myself. It used the worktop joining methods you scoff at on your website but it was a good "bog standard" job. The worktops were not properly levelled and when water from the sink landed on the worktop it ran away towards the wall. I could go on about the mistakes I made but it looked OK and many well-meaning friends congratulated me on my "skills". If I had asked you for your opinion you would have had a field day but then I had the sense to keep my head down when the pros were around.

Fortunately when I next replaced my kitchen I had the sense to employ a professional and I now have a proper kitchen. I am afraid that no matter how you look at it you do not have a proper website.

So this cuts both ways and getting back to your biblical quote, this is not entirely appropriate because it is evident that no one has "taught you to fish". You have tried to do it yourself.

"Have enough sense to know, ahead of time, when your skills will not extend to wallpapering."
Marilyn vos Savant

biomed86 · Jul 22, 2009

I built my website using Joomla and a template...so really I just figured out how to use joomla and added content. I didn't have the money at the time to hire a professional with experience. If I did have the money, I would have done so, because it would have saved me much more time and energy, and they would have done a better job

roythehandyman · Jul 22, 2009

bdw said:
In defence of Professional Standards...

Roy, you may have more work than you can handle but I would guess that this is more down to word of mouth than your website. In your line of work local referrals are much more important than websites but I think you will already be aware of this. Please do not take this personal but you stuck your head above the parapet and I feel entitled to comment. Your website has many errors and omissions. You say that you are busy so thankfully your kitchen fitting skills must be better.

I ran your home page through the W3C validator and it reports 102 errors. This is because you do not fully understand what you are doing.

With respect, it may look OK to you but to most other people it will look like what it is - a DIY website. If I was looking for a professional tradesman and I found a website like yours I would see it as someone who does not worry too much about the fine detail and who breaks many of the most basic design principles (for example three or four different fonts on your home page). Many people like me would see your website reflecting your professional standards and I am afraid that they would looking elsewhere.

I am quite handy myself and I would compare your website to the kitchen I once fitted for myself. It used the worktop joining methods you scoff at on your website but it was a good "bog standard" job. The worktops were not properly levelled and when water from the sink landed on the worktop it ran away towards the wall. I could go on about the mistakes I made but it looked OK and many well-meaning friends congratulated me on my "skills". If I had asked you for your opinion you would have had a field day but then I had the sense to keep my head down when the pros were around.

Fortunately when I next replaced my kitchen I had the sense to employ a professional and I now have a proper kitchen. I am afraid that no matter how you look at it you do not have a proper website.

So this cuts both ways and getting back to your biblical quote, this is not entirely appropriate because it is evident that no one has "taught you to fish". You have tried to do it yourself.

"Have enough sense to know, ahead of time, when your skills will not extend to wallpapering."
Marilyn vos Savant

Fantastic post:redface: Fair points made, I will reply when I have fully digested the contents. I love constructive Critisisem.

AnnaPop · Jul 22, 2009

What are the business objectives of your website?

A simple static text website can be knocked up relatively easily using tools such as Sitebuilder, that a trained monkey could use. This will give you a basic internet presence, but any more complex functionality or professional looking should really be undertaken by a web developer/designer.

Define your objectives, do some cost vs benefit analysis, work out your budget then make your decision.

evil_grrrl666 · Jul 22, 2009

bdw said:
With respect, it may look OK to you but to most other people it will look like what it is - a DIY website. If I was looking for a professional tradesman and I found a website like yours I would see it as someone who does not worry too much about the fine detail and who breaks many of the most basic design principles (for example three or four different fonts on your home page). Many people like me would see your website reflecting your professional standards and I am afraid that they would looking elsewhere.

I am quite handy myself and I would compare your website to the kitchen I once fitted for myself. It used the worktop joining methods you scoff at on your website but it was a good "bog standard" job. The worktops were not properly levelled and when water from the sink landed on the worktop it ran away towards the wall. I could go on about the mistakes I made but it looked OK and many well-meaning friends congratulated me on my "skills". If I had asked you for your opinion you would have had a field day but then I had the sense to keep my head down when the pros were around.

No offense, I would disagree with the above. I understand that being into web design, one will look differently at websites and criticise them more harshly (been there, done that). And having a totally professional looking website is extremely important when you are trying to sell web development services or at least related services to web designers and other web savvy people. But it is not really that vital when marketing yourself as a tradesman.

Plenty of tradesmen or other offline businesses have "DIY websites"; or worse, no website at all! This usually does not put many average prospects off (by average I mean people not into web development / design themselves). I think that for a small business / sole trader, as long as the website gives enough information and examples of previous work undertaken, it will do the job. However I would be a bit worried if a large company didn't get a professional web site done for themselves.

Also, the comparison with fitting your own kitchen does not fit in my opinion - one may be able to tell that it was a DIY job, but who would judge for instance your cooking skills, based on how well you installed your kitchen?

bdw · Jul 23, 2009

No offense, I would disagree with the above. I understand that being into web design, one will look differently at websites and criticise them more harshly (been there, done that).

No offense taken but this is not about being "into web design". It's about aesthetics. People do not have to be web designers to differentiate between good and bad design.

Many people use word processors nowadays and the same principles apply. When they start they almost all make the mistake of using lots of different coloured text and fonts just because they can and what the hell - they're having fun! Bad design is bad design whether it is on the web or on a piece of paper or in a choice of kitchen and I believe that most people are more discerning than you give them credit for.

You may be right in that tradesmen's websites may get away with this. Tradesmen may be perceived (rightly or wrongly) by some to have manual skills as opposed to design or written English skills. (I am a time served electrician by the way.)

Also, the comparison with fitting your own kitchen does not fit in my opinion - one may be able to tell that it was a DIY job, but who would judge for instance your cooking skills, based on how well you installed your kitchen?

I think you have missed the point. It has nothing at all to do with cooking. I was using my ability to build a kitchen as an analogy with Roy's ability to build a website.

evil_grrrl666 · Jul 23, 2009

bdw said:
No offense taken but this is not about being "into web design". It's about aesthetics. People do not have to be web designers to differentiate between good and bad design.

Many people use word processors nowadays and the same principles apply. When they start they almost all make the mistake of using lots of different coloured text and fonts just because they can and what the hell - they're having fun! Bad design is bad design whether it is on the web or on a piece of paper or in a choice of kitchen and I believe that most people are more discerning than you give them credit for.

You may be right in that tradesmen's websites may get away with this. Tradesmen may be perceived (rightly or wrongly) by some to have manual skills as opposed to design or written English skills. (I am a time served electrician by the way.)

How boring would it be if everybody had the same opinion.

I don't think most people would really care about the design as it's not related to the services being sold, but that's just my personal opinion. Of course as mentioned previously, this would change if we're talking about a larger company.

bdw said:
I think you have missed the point. It has nothing at all to do with cooking. I was using my ability to build a kitchen as an analogy with Roy's ability to build a website.

Yes I realise that. My point was that simply because you cannot install a kitchen to the same standard, does not imply anything about your ability to do something completely unrelated. You could substitute cooking for any other skill if you like.

So if he cannot build a website to the same standard as a professional web designer does not mean he cannot install a kitchen properly.

mylee · Jul 23, 2009

This is a strange question, if you get someone to build a website, don't you need to pay?

bdw · Jul 23, 2009

I give up.

Jozo · Jul 23, 2009

Don't give up just yet!

LandingNet · Jul 23, 2009

Can't help but think this thread is going away from the original post (below). The way I read it was about paying for a website for an online business and not a brochure site for an offline business....

Jozo said:
This question may sound a bit strange, I know.

When you started your own internet business:

Did you create your first website?

Did you get someone else to do it for you?

If somebody else would be to create your first website how much would you be prepared to pay?

If I was looking for a tradesman I would have no problem what their site was like provided it had their contact details on. However being biased I would prefer if they were all professionally built

However, if you're looking to have your whole business concept online then I would throw as much cash as possible to make it look the best, work flawlessly and stand out from the rest. You wouldn't want to be sat there in the knowledge that you site is bringing in all the cash it could when it's your only source of income...

bdw · Jul 24, 2009

That's the problem with going with the big media studios. They have high overheads and have to charge accordingly.

SOME ADVICE
Our standard ecommerce (online catalogue) solution is normally around £1200 but I appreciate the problems facing people who are looking for a designer. It is difficult to decide who to go with and many of them are not very transparent about their prices. You can waste time dealing with companies that are way outside your budget. Personally I can see no reason for concealing prices. We try to be as transparent as possible and when I am talking to prospective clients I always offer a typical price up front. There is no point in wasting each other's time.

For those who are considering using a web design company just make sure that they are a proper business with an address. Beware of the companies whose contact details page contains only an online form and who have no landline. They could be anywhere.

When you have narrowed the field try contacting some of the people from the websites in your candidates' portfolios. Don't ask them for testimonials because obviously they will provide only good ones. Decide yourself who you are going to approach from the companies in their portfolio. The availability of good testimonials should be one of the most important factors in your decision.

roythehandyman · Jul 26, 2009

Firstly I apologise for taking this thread off the tracks, But after reading the all of the posts, I have come to the following conclusions, My website works well, it looks naff, it is no longer wc3 compliant due to so many quick edits, although even Googles own search page which is almost empty has 42 errors and 2 warnings! I take on board what BDW says, I have never been taught to build a website and consequently my site contains errors and would not win any beauty prizes. I think that a badly knocked together website could have a detrimental effect on a company no matter how large or small it is. I feel that unless one is very adept at site building then he/she should pay someone to build what is after all the public face of a company. As a direct result of the input on this post I have decided to re-build a more attractive and WC3 compliant site. I have done my css and produced my new index page which I have checked and is 100% compliant. I care not that I dont need any more work than I already have, I do care though about my image as someone that cares about the detail and design of my site. I could not blame people coming to the conclusion that my slap dash site in the virtual world could be indicative of the quality of the work that I produce in the real world. Right, I am off to make a post to get your views on another subject now.

RBS · Jul 26, 2009

Jozo said:
Did you create your first website?

Did you get someone else to do it for you?

If somebody else would be to create your first website how much would you be prepared to pay?

No I did not. Also I dont repair my car(because I`m not mechanic), I dont fix my own teeth(I am not dentist), I dont cut my hair(I am not hairdresser). I hope you get idea

Yes, I got professional to do it.

Prices can be from 50£ per template to no limits, all depends what are your needs.

Website imo is VERY important, it shows your potential customers your "face". It must be good looking, easy to navigate, compatible, fast, up 24/7/365, "light".

RBS · Jul 26, 2009

One more thing to add - there are quite a lot of talented european(mostly russians) freelance web designers in Europe. They do amazing sites for very good money(compared to UK). Lets say unique website design for 600-800 GBP.

RBS · Jul 26, 2009

So far I have seen at least double prices for some quite basic few page websites. I meant eastern european designers. Dont try to tell me that UK prices are similar to eastern European ones

UK web designers charge A LOT.

roythehandyman · Jul 26, 2009

Place of design said:
To be absoloutley fair. WE ARE IN EUROPE, and there are a lot of very talented webdesigners here in the UK, who will also produce a unique design site for £600 - £800

Just a quick question, I noticed that your website is of the wordpress type and contains 63 errors. Do you think that would put off potential customers?

roythehandyman · Jul 26, 2009

Also just noticed that one of your sites lencarta has 96 errors and two warnings!

RBS · Jul 26, 2009

roythehandyman said:
Just a quick question, I noticed that your website is of the wordpress type and contains 63 errors. Do you think that would put off potential customers?

Why it would put off any customers if my website ir showing ok in any browser? My website works in all browsers, no visual problems.
Most of them are because of two directory listing codes which have errors in them.

Skynews website has 278 errors, so? You cannot trust 100% WC3 validator.

Queeniee · Jul 26, 2009

GetTaylored said:
It happens to all of us.

:|
Hi my names Kate! nice to meet you. I'm a very new user to this site, and even a computer. At the minute I'm a hair Extensionist, but just having a baby. I have come out of work for the minute.

At first I started looking on ebay for bargains, but then I thought that I would have a go at making some money from an Ebay business myself...
But the thing is when I first opened my Ebay account I was just selling things that I didn't want anymore. Mostly baby clothes, baby accessories ect ect..
But now well about a month ago, I opened another account for the hair extensions, and that type of market, everything you need to have extensions, tools for it ect, But because I don't have any feedback well I have 5 feedbacks at the moment. But those were not for me selling the hair that I had bought, it was for things I had bought!!. I bought some stock, and it is just not selling on that user name. ( I have 2 one that I first ever opened for all the baby clothes and stuff like that. But the new one that I opened for the hair business just has left me with hefty bills for ebay fees.) I was wondering wether the best idea would be to sell the hair and the baby clothes on the same user name, but would that be a bad idea. I though maybe because it had loads of feedback that it would sell. But I want to make it a business. Have a website and an ebay business, have them both together, but I don't have a clue with computers and how to set up a website. What do you think would be a good idea for me to do. ( I have only just today registered on here!) I hope you could give me some advice...maybe...I would be so appriciative of this if you could. Or if not do you know anyone on here who could give me advice. I've just started this venture but so badly want to make it work, and be a sucess.

Would you pay to have your first webiste created?

iQDesk

Recycling Man

Recycling Man

meadsy

bdw

bdw

bdw

bdw

Queeniee

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