59 replies to this topic

[Presentationrentals]

[Split from this thread.]

I'm working on a series of articles on why it's best to hire a professional web designer

Are you kidding? Before I read this, last week in fact I thought of the idea of writing articles about how with forums like this and easy to use site builder programs that even small business that can ill afford thousands of dollars on professional web designers can do farley well on creating a dynamic website with first page results when combining keywords + location.

Edited by Jill, 21 September 2004 - 03:22 PM.

[BrianR]

Are you kidding?

And why should they be?

I'm not a web designer. However, I can readily recognise the added value that is delivered to a small business by having a professional web designer design their site.

Don't get me wrong - template sites have their place and I'm not knocking them. But equally, I believe it's a little one-sided to suggest that all small businesses should ignore the option of a one-off professional design for their website - 'horses for courses' comes to mind.

Just my tuppence worth...

BrianR

[Presentationrentals]

Hey Brian,

all small businesses

All?

I’m saying today with the economical easy to use tools that exist and the free information that is available on sites like this one its easier then ever for the small business that can not afford to hire that professional to get there spot on the internet.

Using a poor analogy, cars. Once limited to a toy of the rich the model ‘T’ helped bring the automobile to the masses.

Sure you can spend thousands on professional feature rich sites but if you can’t afford that don’t have to be sidelined.

[torka]

Guess it depends on which the business owner has more of, and which s/he would rather invest... money or time.

In most cases it basically comes down to "There's good, fast, and cheap. Pick any two."

--Torka

[BobetteKyle]

Very little - if anything - is "black and white" in business. IMO, outsourcing decisions are situational. It's perfectly valid to write an article (or a series of articles) explaining one viewpoint or situation.

[Presentationrentals]

Hey Torka,

"There's good, fast, and cheap. Pick any two."

I’m not saying never use a professional. When my kids get sick we head to the pediatrician. I’m simply saying today its easier then ever to make your own website.

Being a small local business that can gain from a website but does not have the funding necessary to hire a professional does not prevent the business from a reasonably good internet website anymore. I concede on the time requirement.

Getting back to the start of this thread, my experience is the opposite of the above statement

it's best to hire a professional web designer

Id have to say "it's best to hire a professional web designer if you have the funds but not the time. "

[Jill]

Id have to say "it's best to hire a professional web designer if you have the funds but not the time. "

Yep, I'd agree.

And even if you do hire a designer, etc., if I had a site I'd still want to at least know a bit of HTML so that I could make minor changes as necessary. Or to have a good CMS built in.

It stinks to want to make a minor change and have to go through a designer. I don't know how people deal with that. It would frustrate me to no end. Learn to at least do the minor things yourself as it will help keep your site fresh and up-to-date.

[Presentationrentals]

Hey Jill,

I don't know how people deal with that. It would frustrate me to no end. Learn to at least do the minor things yourself

First, I must complement you for your patients of a saint. I’ve not been here at highrank for long yet I see newbie’s (I still count myself as a newbie) making the same mistakes and asking the same questions over and over. At times it reminds me of my kids at the grocery story asking “Can I have some of that” Me “no” Two seconds later “Can I have some of that” Me “no” Two seconds later “Can I have some of that” Me “no” Two seconds later.....

I did spend 2 hours with a professional designer (at $35/hour) and was amazed at her skill. She was honest about everything I asked and shared with me that professional designers look down on us amateurs that use FrontPage or Dream weaver or other off the shelf at Best Buy type of crutches to build our sites. As I asked around to dig a little deeper I learned that older versions of FrontPage kept the code very hidden. Just FYI, that is no longer the case.

With the latest versions you can view the page in Design view, Code Vies, Split the page 50/50 or preview, sort of a wysiwyg feature.

I have never felt that looking down at those people here and complement you for being above that. Over the last few months I went from never going into code view to going directly from code view to wysiwyg. Its rare now that I even look at the design view anymore. This crutch has for me eased my ingress into the world of code.

Ive also found lots of free online code tutorials. The one I use the most is
here

This post was not really for Jill but more in hopes that other newbies use what I have done to help.....

at least do the minor things yourself

[Jill]

I just really think that everyone in the world should know a little html! 2 out of 3 of my kids know it fairly well.

You just never know when it may come in handy!

And PresRen...I only play the part a patient person on the forum....

[crendogal]

Good design involves a lot more than learning how to use some software, or finding a nice-looking template. A good web designer understands usability issues, color psychology, and marketing. Emphasis, balance, "where do the visitor's eyes go first?", speed of download, and page focus are all just part of what a professional takes into consideration when sketching out the rough ideas for how to put a website together.

Professionals know how to take a crappy digital photo and enhance it so your product looks like a million, they understand that each page needs a call to action as well as a consistent look-and-feel, and they care about little things like setting up a site architecture so it can be easily maintained by anyone (have you ever looked at the architecture of some of those templated sites? Just try to find where the image goes if you need to FTP it up by hand...go ahead, I dare you). They test the forms (not just once but multiple times), look at the site in multiple browsers and on multiple platforms, and quite often before the site goes "live" they call on their network of dozens of other designers and ask them to take a look around just to make sure there isn't something they missed.

If your website is just a vanity piece, or if you just want it so you can say to your fellow small business owners "I have a web site" then go ahead and DIY. Also, if you're the kind of business owner who does his/her own taxes, packs your own boxes for shipping, does all your own deliveries, answers your own phones, and even builds your own computers then DIY might be the best thing since you'd probably be uncomfortable trusting someone else to do exactly what you want. But if you're focused on running a business and trying to make sales then please remember that a graphic design professional may just know a bit more than just how to use a certain program or where to buy a good template -- and that little bit more that the professional knows and that you don't may be exactly what your business needs in order to be a long-term success.

[BrianR]

Good post, Tamra! Web designers are so often undervalued, so it's great that you've set out the added value that you and your designer colleagues provide.

BrianR

[Presentationrentals]

Agree with the

Are you sure you are not in sales?

[cyanide]

Additionally ....

Time is one of the biggest factors for me.
Many of my clients are first-timer entrepreneurs, so I ask them, why they would want to mess around with learning a new craft when they should be concentrating on their business and out selling

Web designing reminds me of the Hospitality industry(my former forte), specifically cooking and chefs.

Obviously experience is important, but anyone can become and be called a chef.
You don't need a degree, diploma, some written certification.
But, like web designing, there's the good, the bad and the ugly

[juliesjewels]

I agree with Tamra regarding the "value added" components of a professional web designer. But, it is also true that no one will work harder or care more about the success of your business than you do. I've used two SEO firms in the past that, while they did fulfill their contract, never really "went the extra mile" for my business.

This is the main reason why I think Jill's post about learning as much as you can about SEO/SEM is so important. Rather than totally putting the success/development of your website in the hands of a SEO person, you should work very closely with the SEO to improve the overall product.

It's kind of like using a CPA for the financial area of the business. I think everyone would agree with the statement that every business owner should have a good solid understanding of income/expenses and profit/loss. But, we don't need a master's degree in accounting to run the business. :learn:

I used to teach business classes at a local community college and always told my students to learn as much as possible and become as "well-rounded" as possible that way when you need to turn to an "expert" for advice you will have a good understanding of your needs and can better assess performance of the expert.

Just my

Julie

[projectphp]

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become as "well-rounded" as possible that way when you need to turn to an "expert" for advice you will have a good understanding of your needs and can better assess performance of the expert.

As professionals usually charge by the hour, this can save you many many $$, as the accouintant isn't required to hold your hand and walk you through a lot of the steps.

IMHO, the best thing one can learn is how to decide who to trust. This is the skill that most needs developing. Not all accountants, lawyers and SEO/SEMs are equal, and learning how to choose wisely those that become your "partners" is vital in building a successful, long term business.