Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

where can I get a website built for less than $1500, I am just starting my business and only have one client so every expensive is coming from me, any suggestions?

That can be done... the cost I would charge has a lot to do with what features / functions you need for the site.

PM or email me, I`d be happy to talk to you about your needs.

~Roland

 

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

IMO $1500 is on the high end for a brochure-type site, and on the low end for e-commerce. So you`d have to know what your goals are.

I`d start planning before you ever contact anyone - it helps to have a plan when you meet with developers so you can assess if they will meet your needs. If you need help with planning, this StartupNation podcast has information for you.

Sure it can be done. The cost could change depending on your needs and the features.

email me your request and needs. I will be glad to help you.

You can get something up quick for less than $200, usually, especially an HTML-only "brochure site".  Decent templates to start with can be purchased for under $50. This doesn`t include monthly costs, for hosting (which can be $10/month for cheap hosting).

Look around, pick a website or template that seems like something you like (or even a blog template), and find someone here to implement it.  A blog you can implement yourself pretty easily.

Hi Donna,

The best resource that I know of for getting your website developed is elance.com

At elance.com you can post a job that you want to get done and get several bids from very  talented individuals who can help you develop your website at a very affordable price.

If you are in the market, check it out.

P.S.

If you want to save big bucks, you can create your site yourself. There`s a cool guy by the name of Jim Edwards who put together a home study course to help you create your own site in about 3 weeks if you are pushing.  It costs about $600, and he offers financing.

P.S.S.

I am no guru on web site development, but those are some of the resources that I used to get up and running.

To Your Success,

Dwayne Garrett [dwaynegarrett@payoffplanning.com]

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For More Information...
Email: DwayneGarrett@PayOffPlanning.com

I think that choosing between DIY and going with a pro is an important one. There`s a discussion here about that very topic.

If you don`t have the startup cash, you can certainly go with the bootstrapping model for getting up your site.

But if you do have the money, and $1,500 is certainly enough, I think you should make the investment in your site (and in your company) to get it done right the first time. It`s just like anything in your business ... you invest in a lot of things, so why would you just go with the cheapest option? You`d go with the one that is going to work best for your needs using the capital you have available for the project.

I`ve had plenty of clients that originally went with bargain-basement websites ... only to have to redesign the whole thing completely in 8 to 18 months. "Paying twice" for a site isn`t the best way to go either! So if you have to go low end on the budget, don`t go low end with a lower-priced designer ... go with the DIY bootstrapping model and then find a designer that meets your needs later on. You will save money in the long run this way.

I agree with nhgnikole...I am a new business owner and have been searching for a web designer for months.  (luckily I have the time as I do not have my product yet).   I basically search for people that are on these types of forums.  Check out their portfolios.   Then I also perform numerous google searches and check out their portfolios...I have seen many websites and eventually realized they were all looking the same,  Not that they were bad or anything, just all running together.  I finally starting googling key words that apply to my business venture, beach, surfing etc.  and then I found some standout, grab ya, WOW websites.  

The good news, I have found a web designer,who originally was an artist, and graphic designers...and they are 1 hour up the road from me.   Do your homework, find other sites in your same type business and find out who did their web design.

 

p.s.  I am in northeast florida, and my web designer is charging 2k for my website that includes ecommerce.  it will be well worth it as my business centers around the brand identity and showing off the products personality.

Good luck

Don`t, however, confuse a "Web Designer" with a "Website creator/manager"...

Web Designers tend to perform the graphics role, creating buttons, images, logos, look-n-feel, navigation themes, the overall visual imagery of the site.

Website creator/managers actually put the web pages together and test them across browsers, using programming and scripting techniques (HTML/JSP/CSS), installing widgets, createing databases/programs, creating/managing directories and security, establishing and managing hosting/statistics, performing configuration management and backup tasks, etc.

You might also have a "technical project manager", i.e. one who plans and keeps all the parts and personnel working smoothly together, within your schedule and spend limits.

You`ll likely also need separate SEO/SEM help, i.e. the person that shapes the text copy and labels into search-engine-attractive keywords/key phrases, establishes good anchor links and alt text, and then deals with all the external visibility, marketing and link-building efforts.  Also creates copy for articles, ads, offline material, blogs, etc.

So, yes, find a good "Web Designer", but make sure you`ve got the right kind of resource to do all the other work.

My wife and I typically split up our services to clients....I do the Website build/test/management, the SEM, most copywriting, and Information Architecture/Usability Design.  My wife does the PPC management, Technical Project Management, and client relationship management.  We typically outsource the "Web Design" and graphics, and sophisticated programming, to partners in our network (around the world).

Hi Donna,

I have used Nebrask Networks www.networks.net for several web sites and recommend them to my clients. They just put together a web site for a new musical call Bert n` Eddie www.bertneddie.com and are re-designing my web site www.insidetheindustry.tv They provide a pretty comprehensive package for $700 to $1100 which includes hosting for a year. The two most recent web sites I just listed are or will be e-commerce sites.

Best regards,

 

Julian

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Julian Vazquez
Executive Producer
JennTess Productions
Inside the Industry
www.insidetheindustry.tv