Web Design - Where to start?

[Mr.P]

Hi,

I am looking at getting a website built for my lead generation company, I have been searching the internet to put the wheels in motion.

Ive spoken to a user on UKBF who's pricing seemed competitive and seemed to meet my requirements, but I feel I may be jumping in without researching it properly.

In truth, I dont know where to start when it comes to this.

I have seen competitors sites which look excellent and appear on the 1st page of google etc, also, being a sole trader I need to establish an appropriate name for the domain.

Its really a case of finding someone who can guide me through the process step by step.

Anyone have any recommendations regarding what to look for?

Thanks

 

[Josh_Farmer]

Hi Mr.P

Firstly make sure you check out there previous work...

2. Get a few quotes to compare against

3. Go with someone you trust and feel you can work with

4.See if the competitors designers have put a link to there site in the footer

There are just a few options to get your started

 

[amhsolutions]

I hope you have deep pockets... We have just started seo for a lead generation company and there keywords are over 300 all quite competitive.

If you don't really know what you are doing it might be a idea to get a business partner who has some knowledge. You really are going up against the big boys with this sort of business.. Mind you I think every niche has there big players.

You may also want to consider using Adwords to generate leads, get yourself a expert.

 

[Cromulent]

You may also want to consider using Adwords to generate leads, get yourself a expert.

I agree with this. The market you are going into is hugely competitive and requires real expertise to exploit properly.

 

[chrisbuckley]

Find someone who you can trust and pay him/her what they are worth. As long as their prices are not outrageous then I would not start comparing on the basis of price.

There is nothing wrong with a little negotiation but he or she might expect something in return for a lower price such as a longer period for the contract. Make it work for both of you.

What you pay should relate to the forecast revenue boost that the person can give you. Remember, you are not looking for a web designer. You are not even looking for an "SEO guru". You are looking for a consultant who will ask you a lot of questions so they can know your area of business well and then give you a customised plan (not a standardised "package") to take your business forward.

Think of the money like a boxing promoter. Some people think that the percentages that boxing promoters make is outrageous but they help their clients to make money that they would otherwise not make so their fees are totally appropriate.

The same thing goes for a business consultant. If a consultant brings in £10,000 of new net profit for you then it is only appropriate to pay them say £1,000 to £3,000. Wanting to pay only £500 is like a slap in the face.

 

[robbydesigns]

It's hard to understand what 'process' you need explaining but let me give you my 2 pence worth. Being number1 in Google takes time (amongst a lot of other things) and even the age of your site is taken into account (http://onlinebusiness.about.com/od/searchengineoptimization/a/search-ranking.htm). As for 'not knowing where to start', a good web designer will ask you a lot of questions that he/she will use for research (if you pay enough, after all, pay peanuts...) but they will expect you to know a fair bit about your business and what you are trying to achieve with your website.

If the research you feel you need to make is about your business / it's place in the grand scheme of things then I would say you need to step back; some web designers would be happy to take your money and run, but not all of us are like that.

 

[Oakleaf Studio UK]

I have seen competitors sites which look excellent and appear on the 1st page of google etc,

Depending on the term required getting on the 1st of google can be easy or very hard indeed.

eg, try getting to the top of page 1 Google for 'SEO' as opposed to 'window cleaner bognor regis'

What search term would you require?

For your site to be successful it would need to be properly optimised with regards to onsite content and then follow with a strategy of ongoing SEO which can vary greatly in cost depending on who you choose and what you want to achieve.

There are no shortage of guys who could do this for you and within a reasonable budget, but obviously we do know each other well enough for me to recommend anyone in particular!

 

[LetisKo]

I guess you must having idea or imagination of that website you want to create, isn't it? You first need to imagine website according to you and then someone will work on it. Almost every web designer can create designs but someone who is dizzyingly skilled in designing, Can create such web site design for you. just go with his/her previous project and see what he have done so far. you will get to know about his skill.

 

[ukbf0001]

Have you done your keyword research ?
Do you have a rough idea of the numbers ?
Have you studied your competitors ?
What functionality do you need on the website ?

Do that first - or get someone to do it for you, and you will have a rough idea of how big the job is and also whether a Google #1 is likely. I think it would be fair to say - dont expect a No1 listing any time soon

 

[RevaxMedia]

Hi Mr.P

Firstly make sure you check out there previous work...

2. Get a few quotes to compare against

3. Go with someone you trust and feel you can work with

4.See if the competitors designers have put a link to there site in the footer

There are just a few options to get your started

Point 3 I would say is one of the most important ones due to the fact you will be speaking to them on a regular basis and if you can't get your idea accross or be open and honest with them then you are far more likely to end up with a website you are not happy with.

 

[WickITServices]

Last year I conducted a survey among clients and contacts to see how they saw the business and what was important to them. One of the questions was "Please rate the importance of some the qualities that you would consider if engaging an IT Consultant" and the result back was:
Quality of Adviser Vital Important Desirable Irrelevant Rating
Experience 55.60 22.20 0.00 22.20 3.11
Low cost 12.50 62.50 25.00 0.00 2.88
Patience 22.20 55.60 11.10 11.10 2.89
Friendly approach 33.30 66.70 0.00 0.00 3.33
Longevity 0.00 87.50 12.50 0.00 2.88
Discretion 37.50 50.00 0.00 12.50 3.13
Expertise 75.00 25.00 0.00 0.00 3.75
(Sorry about this messy spreadsheet paste :|) - however it backs up the above here in that most important is someone who knows what they're doing who you get along with. Then comes being able to trust them and them understanding your business followed by everything else. A non-scientific sample of course but I think it probably reflects how most people go about looking for a Web designer or indeed any consultant.

Not that this helps Mr P all that much in his particular quandary... however, a further question found that while "word of mouth recommendation" was most valuable in establishing trusting relationships a "good rapport" was a very close second. So Mr P, ask around among people you already trust and make sure you get along with the provider you choose.

 

[James Grant]

You may already be aware, but Elane, Odesk and PeoplePerHour are also good resources. Developers are happy to talk to you for you to feel them out better.

 

[James Grant]

You may already be aware, but Elane, Odesk and PeoplePerHour are also good resources. Some developers are happy to talk to you for you to feel them out better.

 

[francsutherland]

Hello,
I think you need to sit down with a website/SEO expert and have them talk through what it all entails. Getting a website to 1 in Google for such a competitive group of search terms is difficult and expensive.
I can recommend someone to you (NOT ME!) who can talk you through the process and the potential costs if you want to PM me.
Franc.

 

[unet]

there are a few good site developers on this forum. i am sure you could put out a tender on the site and see what happens. in terms of seo on a virgin domain you are looking at an uphill struggle ( understatment ).

your best looking for an expired domain that already has pagerank and then build your brand round that.

you have to hang round relevant forums and try and get the site viral. otherwise you are looking to spend 10's thousands just to make a dent. my 2p worth

 

[glencooley.com]

Firstly you need to pull together a decent proposition.

If you need the website to generate business then it needs to be clear concise with plenty of call to actions that will encourage the type of customer profile you want.

If you are planning to make the website a tool for your business, make it a tool for your customers too. This is very very important.

Be specific to what your potential customers want SEO is all well and good but you need to convert that traffic. Be clear in your proposition. Be upfront about the offer your company is making.

Start geographically specific, this will lessen some of the cost in Adwords and SEO that you will need to do. Look to engage and capture your local market effectively and leverage that to move further a field.

The design believe it or not plays a very small part in the buying process. Its more about a clear, professional look and call to actions that make it work.

Where I know work changing a button placement and call to action has seen a huge impact on conversion (talking millions) so its well worth looking at some of the leading online companies and seeing how they do things.

Most of all, have SEO in your mind but don't let that be the driving force. Make a proposition that is clear, defined and doable and focus on building the traffic from a local to a national arena.

 

[Tom_Ever]

Lots of answers here. Go to my companies website, give me a call and I'll happily talk you through all this.

ever-marketing.co.uk

Tom