[webproducers] Re: cost to create a website?

This has been a very illuminating discussion about pricing, producing, and
designing.  I want to make a pitch that clients need to also be educated
around the true costs of solid integration of design, interface, and
production.

Many people can make a site with 20 embedded tables (I used to do it myself)
but clean, structured XHTML is the way of the future and combined with smart
CSS, a client can much more easily modify, update, and manage a site.  It
costs more to do it this way, but it's because good web practices in this
day and age demand integrity and short- and long-term planning.  For
instance, I'll never make "a site that looks like crap" -- it's not in me
and it's not good business strategy for my company.

Regards,

Andrew.

-- 
Andrew Boardman
MANOVERBOARD.
http://www.manoverboard.com
T 718 809-2085
F 718 504-4070


> From: "Michael Shirey" <mshirey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Reply-To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 03:09:36 -0500
> To: <webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [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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