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Hi,
I am in the process of attempting to build or have built a website with flash animation. Does anyone know what I should expect as reasonalble pricing? Being that I`m just starting my company I don`t have a few grand to spend on this, I need to get a good look that I like and clients will like that I can upgrade later when I have more funds. I have checked out the different template designs that are available, some are close but just not right. Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Ruth
Good morning Ruth -
An entire website built in Flash can end up being very pricey. Another option would be to add flash elements to the website. I am starting my own company, but I`m also finishing up a website for a client that wanted just a little animation:
I`ve also incorporated a bit of Flash on my own website:
I believe my rates are very reasonable, but there are different factors to take into account. Do you have your own logo? Are you incorporating a shopping cart?
Just send me a private message if you are interested in this type of website.
Thanks!
Ruth,
My main question is: Why are you building a Flash website?
In truth, Flash should only be used for elements within a site where Flash is the BEST option for delivery. A website should NEVER be created entirely in Flash. This was a practice that some companies did years ago (and unfortunately some still do) when Flash was new and intriguing...but has since been found to be detrimental to the user-experience as well to web business goals (such as getting your site listed in Search Engines).
I understand that many people believe that adding "animation" or "flash" makes a website more professional or seem "prettier" to the client, visitors, etc. This is a myth. (and often ends up doing the opposite) What makes a website valuable to the end-user or visitor is effectively presenting the information that they came there looking for. In essences, making it "easy to do what they came there to do".
Recent studies show that website visitors will measure a site more "fun", if they can easily find what they were looking for. A user`s measure of "fun" is not realated to graphics or animations. (unless they came to the site looking for graphics and animations!)
Now....this is GOOD news for you. As "storybookstudio" mentionned above, Flash sites tend to cost more because it takes longer and requires a specific skill set to develop Flash. Since it doesn`t sound like you are really looking for "Flash", but rather a darn good website...let me point you in the right direction.
Check out www.templatemonster.com. This is a site that sells website templates for all makes and models of businesses. They are very cheap, with the average price being around $60.00. Some of these do contain Flash, but I`d look for the ones that offer a non-Flash version. You will defintitely need someone to customize the template for your business, so if you have a web developer or designer in mind....great. If not, Template Monster also offers this service. (I should make commission off of them for the number of times I recommend this site....but it ranks up there among my top ten favorite sites!)
If you need me to go into more specifics as to why Flash can be evil...and how to use it appropriately...let me know.
Good luck with your new site Ruth!
Thank you for your great advice, and you are right. I do not want the entire sight to be flash. The Storybook website is great(not to mention I think I might have to buy some things for my girls from there:) I have checked out template monster and they have a few things that are close and would work great with a little tweeking.
Thank you
Hi Ruth,
Sorry if I came across harsh in that last post...
. You have no reason to apologize for your question....it`s a great question and it`s better to have asked it rather than to go down a road that wouldn`t be the best for your business.
Ok...what exactly on your home page are you looking to have done in Flash? What I`m trying to draw from you is what specific item requires Flash to most effectively deliver it. (hint: The answer is not "animation") Remember, Flash is a technology to deliver content....not content itself.
Your response was not harsh at all and not taken that way. I was looking for honest real business answers and If I can`t handle an honest answer then I shouldn`t ask the question. As for my website, What I really want is for my first page to be like opening an invitation... opening a very nice envelope, then the invitation folds open and that is where you would find my logo with the buttons for the different pages.
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