[webproducers] Re: cost to create a website?

Ok, I visited the example site of a "ballpark $1500" site, and this is what
I think:

The color is dull, the background image is distracting, the text size is too
small and cramped (on top), the navigation lettering is overstuffed running
into one another and unnecessarily italicized, the "clever" pyramids idea is
poorly executed with the image of the pyramids, as the accompanying text is
disconnected from it in terms of layout, making the image a standalone -- 
and the first thing you see when you visit the site making is seem like a
ridiculous stock photo.

I like the inside pages much more, but don't understand why you have to have
frames -- top navigation is better anyway.  The problem here is that your
bottom navigation is sub-navigation -- this is highly unusual, confusing to
the user, and no at all intuitive.  I do not get a good idea about your
company, even though you have passed the "online brochure test", from your
site.  It is good enough to support your offline sales efforts in which you
already have a relationship, perhaps, but otherwise it is not a very
compelling site in terms of how well it sells your value proposition to me
and motivates me to contact you.

Lastly, while I understand that offshore can be a 1/3 to 2/3 savings, there
is something to say about face to face.  In order to really pull off
offshore, you must have an excellent producer/project manager on this end to
really understand the client needs, develop the site strategy, write the
creative brief, devise a sensible IA and finalize content, as well as
communicate it all to the offshore development team.  That adds significant
cost to the price, and the guy was looking to budget for a website for a
department budget.  Just giving the cost of offshore development is not
going to help him budget for a website.  And, the suggestion doesn't seem
well-aligned with his needs, if he or his company doesn't know about
websites -- they are going to need some time to interface with the site
strategist to assess their needs and come up with an
approach/specifications, etc.

~Darren

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrey Chashkov" <chandr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 6:07 AM
Subject: [webproducers] Re: cost to create a website?


> Well, I do believe you can get a brochure like corporate web site for
> $1500 and this might include some extras as well. You should not
> underestimate off-shore designers and developers - they are just as
> groovy and professional as local teams. Indeed, no one says they would
> cover marketing, copywriting and other related issues - all this stuff
> you should direct to your neighbor professionals. You'd better pay much
> more for marketing, while the production (web design, flash, back end,
> coding, database - anything like that) deserves what it really costs.
>
> For instance, www.loconotion.com
>
> My 2 cents,
> Andrey Chashkov
> CEO, TechnoArt Labs / www.TechnoArt.net
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Darren Ernest
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 10:25 AM
> > To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [webproducers] Re: cost to create a website?
> >
> >
> > > 20 pages of HTML with "some" graphic design - ummmmm...I'll say....
> > > %1500...ballpark.
> >
> > absolute minimum.  You can find someone on craigslist who
> > will quote you $500, but you can't really do it. Another
> > route to go is buying a template for the design and a coder
> > to customize it for you ($500-$1000).  You can go to a
> > freelance designer who will hire a coder (after trying to get
> > an all-in-one on many in-house and client projects, I have
> > vowed never to do that again unless I can pay over $85/hr and
> > even then better to get a code specialist and a design
> > specialist).  Expect to pay the designer $85/hr for a minimum
> > of 20 hours and the coder $50/hr for a minimum of 10-20 hours
> > for a price of $2,700.  A highly reputable web development
> > firm can be persuaded to do it for $6,000-$7,000 and bring
> > professional project management, client management,
> > discovery, design, code, information architecture, and other
> > professional disciplines to the table for a very
> > professional, smooth, no risk, dream of a site.  Copywriting
> > will cost more.  I am a marketing communications professional
> > and often produce sites for my clients by brokering talent or
> > vendors, doing the discovery myself, developing the site
> > strategy and content, and managing the production people.  No
> > matter what size the project, my piece of the project
> > requires a minimum of 20 hours, but has its own ROI
> > considerations.  Any extras like special flash, back end
> > development such as content management systems for updating
> > the site internally through a user friendly interface for the
> > news or other sections, will be features that can add to the cost.
> >
> > I would suggest if the company is a small business with more
> > than $250,000+ in annual revenue and a valid use or plan with
> > measurable ROI for having a website, it should have a web
> > development budget of at least $5,000-$10,000. $1500 will
> > only get you by, and hardly at that.
> >
> > > A friend of mine needs to create a departmental budget for his
> > > company, and he wanted to know (ballpark estimate) how much
> > it would
> > > cost for a basic website.  HTML, no more than 20 pages of content.
> > > The budget would need
> >
> > If your friend wants to discuss the specifics, I could help
> > him assess his company needs more specifically and define a
> > truly aligned budget for his company's needs.  Tell him to
> > call me for a free chat that should prove very helpful to his
> > process.(approx. 30 mins)
> >
> > Darren Ernest | www.BeUnderstood.com
> > (212) 844-4090
> >
> >
> > * BeUnderstood is currently developing a new website and
> > invites you to be a part of the process.  Visit the
> > site-in-progress at www.BeUnderstood.com/beta and share your
> > input.  We are always adding and editing, so come back
> > anytime.  Please note: all content on the site is unedited
> > 1st draft, and the site is not yet fully functional.
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > [mailto:webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> > Keren Solomon
> > > Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 9:07 PM
> > > To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: [webproducers] cost to create a website?
> > >
> > > Hi All.
> > >
> > > A friend of mine needs to create a departmental budget for his
> > > company, and he wanted to know (ballpark estimate) how much
> > it would
> > > cost for a basic website.  HTML, no more than 20 pages of content.
> > > The budget would need to
> > > cover somebody who could do the site structure, some
> > design, and all the
> > > coding.  There may be some in-house design resources
> > available, but the
> > > project person would need to have enough of a creative background to
> > > design
> > > something that reflects the company's "creative-y" product.
> > >
> > > What would a ballpark budget number be?  What type of
> > > person/title/experience should he be looking for if he decides to
> > > hire? Of course if the project happens I'll post details to
> > the list.
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > >
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