[webproducers] Re: cost to create a website?

I always like to make certain points in any "give me a ballpark"
conversation;

1 - I am small business and make decent small business sites.  If you
want something big and flashy, I am not an appropriate choice.

2 - I will design the site so that it is structured intelligently, has a
consistent look and feel, and adheres to industry standards (no frames,
appropriate keyword etc set-up, consistent font that is NOT Times New
Roman, colors that do not make the retinas bleed.......)

3 - If you really want a site that looks like crap, I will argue with
you, but I am capable of doing it...and will likely charge more to make
the crap.

I am comfortable with giving out ballpark figures, but try to do so with
sufficient warning.  I have found that the answer "There is just no way
to tell how much without 50 more questions answered." does not make
people feel comfortable.  I also never give a ballpark figure as an
actual estimate.  Finally, I typically follow up my ballpark figures
with a string of "if you want flash....if you want graphics
manipulated....if you want forms......" cost disclaimers.  

People always nod with understanding.  I'm sure the only thing they hear
is the figure.  "Blah blah blah, Ginger....."

Michael Shirey
Maertz Technical Consulting
http://www.maertz.net


-----Original Message-----
From: webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of morry
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 1:40 AM
To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [webproducers] Re: cost to create a website?

This is an interesting point. I have worked with clients who thought
that
design was just about cosmetics and that they really didn't matter that
much. Of course this perception is often I see the need for premature
redesigns.

Good design is more than a pretty face and isn't about just picking
colors.
Often times just having something up can do more harm than good. Be it
online or off good design helps a client to get their message through
but
also can help get and retain clients.  This reminds me of the study done
on
retail merchandising and customer shopping habits. A retailer might
argue
that they don't need fancy over priced merchandisers and designers to
decide
where products should go and how they are displayed but that's short
sighted
and can cost them business. Good designers know that shoppers tend to
walk
in and go to the right immediately and we also know from retail
observations
that a majority of female shoppers will move away from a display and
even
leave a store if they get bumped into by other shoppers or other
displays
are too close.

We can certainly see the argument for just putting the stock out there
if
the shopping area isn't "designed" appropriately and isn't appealing on
many
levels then you risk losing business (if we're talking commercial).

Good design is rhetoric and is part of an overall strategic plan to be
sure
your goal is reached. The old form vs. function argument has become more
and
more blurred over the years. In his new book, Donald Normal backtracks
on
his positing in a previous book in light of research proving what good
designers have been saying all along- "pretty things work better."

4) i'm not sure you need to bring "big guns" of a professional
design firm to this project for a 20 page corporate site UNLESS
the company is really serious about its image and content. a lot
of companies don't care and as long as the final product isn't
horrid, they'll be happy with having something up rather than a
professionally designed masterpiece.




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