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When I tell people I do Web
design, the first question out of their mouths is, How
much can I expect to pay for a Web site?
Well, I say, that
depends.
Here are some of the
variables you'll encounter:
- Do you want to sell
something? A shopping cart and secured shopping will
cost you more.
- Do you want to use
Flash and other specialized programs? That, too,
will run up your bill.
- Do you have the
text and graphics at hand, or will your designer
need to prepare them?
- Do you need a
database (a collection of files stored in table
format) that will be updated regularly (again, the
cost goes up).
- Who will be
updating your finished site (some designers offer a
price break if they can maintain your site as well
as design it, others won't do routine
tweaking for any amount of money).
Okay. Some time early in the process, you'll need to register a domain (your
company's name "dot-com") and arrange for Web hosting (a
place to store your Web pages). At Jolly Spider,
we'll work with you to set these necessities up; the
contracts you sign and fees you pay for these services
go to others, not us.
Which brings us to
design fees. At Jolly Spider, we write into our
proposal things like search engine optimization (coding
to help search engines find you), technical advice, and
browser compatibility (making
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sure your site is viewable on
different browsers, such as Internet Explorer or
Netscape Navigator). We also provide copywriting of
text and digital photography services if you need them.
Some designers charge by
the hour, but not Jolly Spider. We pride
ourselves on quick turnaround, remember, so that
wouldn't be fair to us. We're more inclined to charge by
the page (and no, we won't let you force us into putting
all your information on a single page that extends from
here to eternity so you can save a buck!).
If cost is a consideration (and these days, it
generally is!), ask your designer how you can work
together to save money on creation of your Web. Jolly
Spider believes no one should go out of business
marketing their business. When you succeed, we succeed.
We also recommend you call
your local newspaper and check the prices of display
ads. Call your area TV station and see what a 30-second
spot will run you. Then, armed with this information,
you'll be able to weigh for yourself the benefits of a
Web site that's available 24/7 vs. the initial outlay of
expenses in having such a site set up.
As to actual dollar
amounts, I've seen Web sites that ranged from a few
hundred U.S. dollars to several thousand dollars. While
it's not necessarily true that you get what you pay for,
it's almost a certainty that you can't get something of
value for nothing!
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