| Designing Your Site: How to Do It Yourself or Hire a Designer |
|
|
|
|
Countless small businesses rely on Web consultants every day
to design and build their Web sites, enhance existing sites, and put together
the pieces of each company's distinctive e-commerce strategy. If you're trying
to get your company's site up and running, you can choose among independent site
developers, Web design shops, technology consulting firms, system integrators,
traditional advertising and public relations firms, and interactive agencies.
Some of these outsource the Web site hosting and site promotion functions, while
others keep these functions in-house. In addition, Web design and strategic
consulting are often provided by Web hosting companies. And like the Web consultants themselves, the variety of prices that consultants charge for their services are extreme: They can charge several hundred dollars for a simple site consisting of a few pages to $1 million or more for a more sophisticated e-commerce site with such features as easily updated product databases, search engines, animated product demonstrations, secure online transactions, and audio and video enhancements. In addition, Web consultants vary in how they price their services: Some consultants, typically individual designers, charge by the hour; others, usually Web design firms, charge by the project. In general, however, experts say that consultants or Web hosting companies can put together a basic, professional-looking Web site for a small business for $1,500 to $5,000 (not including monthly Web hosting service charges), and an e-commerce site for about $10,000 to $50,000. A word of caution: Finding a Web site consultant can be tricky. Although the Web continues to grow at a rapid pace and has become a useful tool for both buyers and sellers, it's also quite unwieldy. As a result, very few organized associations or Web sites exist to help find reputable Web design firms. So when you do locate a potential design partner, make sure the company you want to work with is reputable. Check out a list of sites the company's worked on and look closely at its own site. Ask about arrangements for maintaining the site, and make sure your new designer is interested in your company and its goals.Doing It Yourself If you do choose to do it yourself, first we'll assume you've got a decent computer and the hankering to put your business Web site up for all to see. But you can't do that without amassing an arsenal of Web authoring software. Thankfully, the days of cooking up a Web page by slaving over a hot text document are over. The current crop of HTML editors provides page previews, tag shortcuts and more wizards than Dungeons and Dragons. There's a program out there for every type of entrepreneur, from rank amateur to technophile. Here's how to get started . . .The Basics First, how will users see your Web site? The Web community is split between Explorer and Navigator, so it's essential to design your Web site with both in mind. Most HTML appears pretty much the same using either, but the browsers do have numerous, yet small, differences. It's best to test your Web pages in both platforms before launching them online. Check for a consistent appearance, make sure all links function properly, and pay special attention to any frames, tables, JavaScript or plug-ins that your pages use.Because a lot of surfers don't upgrade their browsers regularly, you should also test with earlier versions (like Netscape 3.0 and Internet Explorer 4.0). You can visit Netscape to download versions of Navigator and Microsoft to download Internet Explorer. Fortunately, you don't have to memorize all the text tags in HTML 4.01 to put up your Web site. But if you want to take full advantage of programs like CoffeeCup HTML Editor, you may want to check out the libraries of Web-building resources and tutorials at Builder.com and WebMonkey.com.The Software Now we're ready to tackle the software that'll do most of the grunt work for you. Before we wander into the Microsoft camp, let's look at Macromedia Dreamweaver and NetObjects Fusion.In addition to its high-octane Shockwave and Flash Web animation software, Macromedia also makes the popular Dreamweaver for Macintosh or Windows, an HTML editing program that includes features like an integrated text editor for users who already know some HTML, Microsoft Office integration, and Flash buttons and text for adding spice to your site's appearance. Dreamweaver is especially good for integrating multimedia. If you're not already somewhat familiar with HTML and Web site design, Dreamweaver's palette of advanced features may seem a bit overwhelming. NetObjects Fusion is a less expensive way to try your hand and is also specifically geared toward building sites for businesses. Available for Windows only, Fusion is designed with a drag-and-drop interface, various e-commerce wizards and pre-designed templates that can simplify the process even more.Then, of course, there's Microsoft. Its HTML editor, FrontPage, offers integration with Microsoft Office and comes with more than 60 business themes to give your site a consistent appearance. To get the most out of your investment, check with your Web hosting provider to see whether it supports FrontPage extensions. Also, visit OutFront.net, a "Microsoft FrontPage Learning Community," for its full stock of Web templates, tutorials, forums and links. Want Extras?A good HTML editor will handle most of your Web site building, but sometimes extra programs add icing to the Web cake. Adobe LiveMotion lets you create Web animations and interactive graphics. With a user interface styled after Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, LiveMotion is especially useful for those of you who have Adobe graphics backgrounds. NetMechanic offers a host of tools for optimizing your site. Its HTML Toolbox searches pages for HTML coding, link and spelling errors. (You can try it free.) NetMechanic's GIFBot is a freeware program that compresses Web images for faster-loading pages. Never overestimate the patience of a Net surfer when it comes to slow-loading Web sites.Most important, be sure to choose software that meets your HTML comfort level. Any of the programs we looked at can give your online business presence the room it needs to grow. Hiring a Software DeveloperIf you need to go beyond basic e-commerce--say you need to track customers' orders on your site or create a customized internal billing system--then you'll need to hire an altogether different animal: the software developer. Unless you're technically inclined, trying to develop custom applications for your business is like ordering dinner in a foreign country--but with more risk. It's one thing to waste money on a meal you didn't realize you asked for; it's another thing altogether when your company makes the mistake of pouring thousands of dollars into a project that doesn't pan out. No matter what software development project you want, you can make it succeed even if a technical person isn't on staff. Here are some tips for working with outside developers:1. Know what you want. You should have a clear idea of what you expect in the application you're looking for. Drafting a document that details its purpose and desired functionality will convey those expectations to any development firm. If you're converting from a manual process, it's useful to have samples of forms and reports you use and a detailed description of the work flow. Sketching out the way the material could translate onscreen will help the developer understand what you want to get out of your software and could even inspire suggestions to improve efficiency. You might be surprised to see how many manual steps can be eliminated and done automatically via software. In your first consultation with any developer, include people familiar with your current applications and those who will be using the customized software. Current users can offer additional insight into your software needs, while new users may be better able to explain the specifics of the desired functionality. This should not be the only meeting you have. Just handing over a list of needs and expecting the developer to determine what comes next could be disastrous. To get the best results, you and others on your staff should constantly play an integral part in the development process.2. Start your search. Who to hire? You need to determine whether you need a firm or a freelancer. For a project that requires a variety of skill sets, consult firms that can provide a team of people. If your work is not as time-sensitive or as broad in scope, a freelancer should be more than able to address your needs. Rates range from $60 to $175 per hour, or you may want to negotiate to have fees tied to performance or the meeting of deadlines. 3. Seek multiple options. In most cases, you'll have several choices for carrying out your project. Different software, programming languages and even varying sets of skills can be used to accomplish the same result. As you interview potential firms to handle your project, ask why certain approaches are recommended, why they're better than others and what the drawbacks of their recommendations are.4. Focus on the build vs. buy recommendation. While some developers will recommend that they build your desired application from scratch, others will work with an existing application and build on top of it. By building an application from scratch, you have the ability to specify exactly what you want, but it might take more time to create. Taking advantage of an existing application can result in quicker turnaround with less expense, but it could also mean limitations in either functionality or interface. Regardless of the method you choose, be sure to ask potential developers what they think will be the trickiest issues to resolve. Even if you don't understand everything they talk about, you can definitely get a sense of how well-thought-out the recommendations are by the developer's ability to explain his or her position. Also, find out how the software will grow with you. In this ever-changing age of technology, you don't need software that can't change with the times.5. Find great developers. Look for developers who are well-versed in the programming languages you'll need. Ideally, they'll have built similar applications previously; it's recommended that each person working on the project has at least two years of hands-on experience with the required language. While this should not be a determining factor by any means, it doesn't hurt to find out whether they've provided similar services for other companies with needs like yours. Always ask for--and check--references. Compare the services offered by different developers and try to get the most for your money. But look beyond their skills; expand your focus and consider the overall software development package. You might not realize where the saving graces will actually lie. For example, one developer might offer to provide several prototypes for you along the way and then use your feedback to make necessary changes before the code is locked down. In the unfortunate event that you need a major redesign on the software, such a provision can save you from potentially draining costs.Still, a successful project requires more than just great programming. Whether you work with a freelancer or a team of people, you should seek out developers who can create a formal specification--that's a document that details the functionality from a functional and technical perspective. Also look around for developers who "comment code" well--that's tech talk for adding notes that describe what the code does. It's money well spent to ensure that others can extend your application in the future. 6. Test the software thoroughly before bidding your developer farewell. Even though the software developer should have taken care of this task before delivering the product to you, it's ultimately your responsibility to make sure your new software works correctly. Have qualified staff test the software, have the developer test it in front of you at your company, or hire an independent testing lab to go through and make sure everything works properly.Despite the many hours spent poring over your needs and the desired results, it's almost a given that changes or minor adjustments will have to be made to the application after installation. Will the developer be able to handle those adjustments after he or she gets your initial feedback? And how will that factor into the price? Don't be caught by surprise at the tail end of this arduous process by a series of "extras"--get answers about costs in the beginning. The other side of testing is fixing mistakes, or debugging. Will your developer be able to assist with this after the software is installed? Some firms bundle implementation and training into the software development package, so this might just be part of the deal. If it's not, make sure you have a trouble-shooting plan in place before your developer heads for the door. Going one step further, ask your designer what skills are needed to tackle these issues in case you end up scrambling to hire someone specifically to fix the bugs.7. Get it in writing. Avoid the blame game by covering details about such niceties as project due dates, payment milestones, code ownership and quality guarantees. If you'll be sharing sensitive information, having potential partners sign a nondisclosure agreement is wise. It's particularly critical to establish ownership of the software when discussing a software development agreement. You might be surprised to know that ownership of the intellectual property is not an automatic inclusion in the transfer of the software from the developer to the client. Depending on your needs and wants, you could negotiate to be the sole owner, to merely have a license to use the software or any number of options in between.Sources: "At Your Service!", "Call to Arms" and "Help! You Need Somebody!" Need help implementing a new sales or marketing program? We've got two suggestions:
a)
Check out our free marketing templates and tools on this site. There's
ton's of them. You might want to bookmark the site now, you could be
here awhile.
Just become a registered member (it's free) of the myMarketingGuide.com website and you can download hundreds of other articles, templates and more. Don't worry, we respect your privacy. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
