It helps to do a little bit of research before you choose a developer to build a web site. It also pays to get organized before your approach someone. Doing your homework will result in hundreds and even thousands dollars in savings over time.
Here are a few important questions you should ask before paying anyone a dime.
- I want my web site to...
- act as an online brochure and allow customers to initiate further contact.
- sell goods or services over the Internet.
- streamline processes within my normal business by using the Internet.
If you can simplify the description of what you want out of your website you reduce the odds of wasting any time. You also reduce the risk of a developer or service provider selling you services that you don't need.
Inside Knowledge: There are basically two types of developers out there building web sites. Graphic designers and programmers, both are important to building a succesful web site. Most firms and independent consultants will have strengths in either programming or design. As a customer it would be ideal that you find a developer that shows a balance that favors your project. For example, CTS has always been strong in programming. We concentrate on function before form, but have a healthy respect for the aesthetic needs of good web sites. If you want your web site to take appointments for your business or sell products, a good programmer is required. If your organization is image driven, such as an art gallery or a restaurant, a firm with good graphic design resources is important.
- What is my budget?
- < $150
- $151 - $1,000
- > $1,000
The second question customer's ask is, "How much do you charge?" That is quite often asked after the most common first question, "Do you build web sites?"
Web sites can run the range from inexpensive to extremely costly. Look at all the ways a business can exist in the "brick and mortar" world and you will being to understand. A hot dog street vendor doesn't need an office building to sell hot dogs, they can use a cart. At the same time, a major corporation needs a big office building and the infrastructure to support it. If these businesses traded physical locations it would be doubtful that either could survive.
Building a web site for $0 to $150 is not impossible. There are businesses that will provide you with "free" hosting in trade for the ability to advertise on your web site. Not a bad place to start, but when the advertisements syphon business from you to competitors it stops being worth the trouble.
Teaching someone how to build a web site is not hard, almost anyone can be taught how. But if you have a growing business and you're the sole contact, isn't it worth it to pay someone else? You have customers that need your attention!
Web sites in the price range from $151 to $1,000 is our target market at CTS. We furnish our customers with fully operational web-sites starting at $600 annually. For $600 we will secure and register your domain name, provide you with hosting, and customize our content management system's appearance.
Hosting and a domain name (Example: www.cts-llc.net) will usually cost most customer's $165 to $200 annually. At CTS we host your web site and purchase your domain for you. It results in savings for our customer's and less bills to manage for your web site. The rest of the money charged for a CTS built web site goes to pay for technical support and customizing your site.
Web sites for $1,000+ are quite common, and sometimes they are worth the money. Design shops that want to help you update your web site monthly will sometimes charge $400 or more a month for updating content. Programmers and graphic designers are expensive, you don't want to pay for too many hours of either one working on your web site.