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Actually, not at first. But at some point, as your business continues to grow,
it's in your best interest to consult a professional to make sure your Web site (1.) looks
as professional to your online visitors as you would want your offices to appear
to walk-in customers, (2.) is customized and specifically tailored to the needs
of your customers and business and (3.) that your investment is protected (that
the site's features and tools are not dependent on any one service provider who
could leave you hanging if they ever go out of business).
"Build it and they will come" simply is not true. There is much more involved in building a popular website than simply putting together some pages and information.
I tell people that in spite of all the hype in recent years, they should generally
consider their Web site as another form of advertising - similar in effect or purpose to printed brochures, yellow-page ads in the local phone directory,
business cards and flyers, or newsletters they provide to the local community. But as with any other form of advertising, if (1.) you're not talking to your audience,
or (2.) your potential audience isn't seeing you, then all you've got is an investment in a website that isn't giving you any return.
Related to this advertising metaphor, it is important to note that the Web does have far greater advantages over
traditional print advertising or yellow-page placement, in that your website can help you access
a much, much larger audience and number of potential customers. Also, for many businesses, the Web can be an
excellent cost-saving tool that can be used to provide automated
"self-help" service and support for customers 24/7/365. Either way, at
some point, those do-it-yourself service-providers just won't cut it, and you should
consult an expert to make sure your Web site is in the best shape
possible.
If you are thinking about building their own Web site - without any outside
help - there are many free or relatively inexpensive "self-publishing"
or do-it-yourself services you could use. These providers are great if you're just starting to build your online presence
and want to "test the waters" without too much expense.
...But when you're ready for professional help...
When your business grows to the point where you might require online
features and tools that are more customized and specifically tailored to your
needs (and your customers'), then you should hire someone like me to help. Also, if your
Web site is becoming very important and/or critical to you and your business,
you should begin taking steps to protect your investment, as well as to ensure
consistent service to your customers.
With all of the "dot-bomb" stories you've heard recently, it is definitely
NOT
a good thing to have your Web site completely dependent on a set of tools
built by a particular "self-help" provider who could just disappear into bankruptcy without
any notice. If someone like me builds tools and features for your site that are
independent of the site's host (the computers that store the web pages and
files), then it'd be much easier for you to just move everything to another host if the
current one goes "belly-up".
The following table details some of the typical costs associated with
implementing and maintaining your own, small business Web site. Note:
In most cases, you can obtain a complete Web site, custom tailored to
your specific needs and business, for about as much as a set of business cards,
some printed brochures and an ad in your local phone book.
* You can generally expect (whether you hire me or someone else) smaller,
informational sites to cost from $250 to $2,500 (depending on the
size, number of pages and features). Larger sites which include more
dynamic functionality (search engines, member directories,
subscription mechanisms, etc.) might cost twice as much or more,
depending on the client requirements. "Off-the-shelf" e-commerce
sites and dynamic online product catalogs are actually quite reasonable these days,
somewhere between a basic site and larger ones - but if you want features not provided by the
standard software, the complexity, dynamic functionality and additional development required for these
types of projects can often range from $2,500 to
even tens-of-thousands, or more than $100,000. (ouch!)
And one more note: Most of my "peers", unfortunately, are still charging too much for too little. I decided long ago to keep my fees
lower and provide much more service than others might - for the simple reason that my clients are much more satisfied with the
results (and are much more likely to refer other clients to me). I'd rather charge low fees to
my clients and get ten times more business through their referrals, than
overcharge just one (and risk losing all my business).
Also, the entire technology market has changed. Most people in my line of work
still consider themselves to be pretty elite - expecting exorbitant salaries
greatly in excess of reality. Your best bet in this area is to find someone who
has accepted the current reality that they provide a service no more or less
comparable to any other contractor you'd ask to work on your office or home.
Logo design and branding development, ad-banners, signage, printed or other promotional designs,
and more...
Basically, if you're looking for any type of graphical design or Web-related
service or consultation, just tell
me what you need and I'll send you a proposal and estimate - usually
within 24 hours. In many cases, I also provide design comps or online demos
during the proposal and estimate phase - FREE! I don't charge, or even start
charging any fees until or unless you approve my proposal and final estimate.
Thomas W.
Krafft
website design &
development
www.krafft.com
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