Need input in choosing a website designer (fees, small business, poor)

[tonyandclaire89]

Hi All,

I'm thinking of changing my current website designer and need help deciding on a new website developer...

The following two website developers were referred, and I would like get some opinions out there on who would be the better choice....or should I stay with my current website developer(www.getalan.com) Any info would be appreciated...

http://www.highersite.com/

Custom Website Design : Web Design for Small Business : MSW Interactive Designs LLC

[bostdorff]

There are a few factors you should consider when choosing a website. What features are offered? Do you have administrative access, if not, how much are the fees for uploading or changing content and pictures on your site?
More then a professional look you need to be able to utilize the web and your website to it's fullest benefits.

Catherine Pitts
Vice President
SiteSiires.com

[MegaWebsiteBuilders]

Originally Posted by tonyandclaire89

Hi All,

I'm thinking of changing my current website designer and need help deciding on a new website developer...

The following two website developers were referred, and I would like get some opinions out there on who would be the better choice....or should I stay with my current website developer Any info would be appreciated..

Well tonyandclaire89,
While I do agree with bostdorff on some things that she stated, I do have allot more to add. I have been building websites for over ten years and started out hand coding good old HTML. There are allot of things you need to consider when choosing a a "website designer".
But the first thing that you and everyone else must know is that there is allot more to being successful than just a website.

Here is a list of things that I tell my customers. I hope they help you too.

1) STAY NO TO FLASH BASED WEBSITES AND INTROS !!!! This is a death nail in any website. Website designers who use flash as a primary platform should be shot. Why? One of the things you will find out when you start your site going is that you will want to get traffic to your website and customers and consumers of your website content. One of the ways to do this is to be listed high in the search engines. namely Google. Flash based websites and site intros are videos and moves basically. its like watching a DVD Extras on your favorite Flick. You select an Image to get to where your going.
While this is good if your a person, Search Engines Hate em. This is because search engines work off of text information. So If your site is Flash based say good by to natural FREE advertising that come from search engines.

2) If your website designer is selling you a website where they have to upload all of the content and pictures and your being charged by the page then your (for lack of a better words) getting screwed. My company personal uses programs that allow the user to add and update their website directly and all with out having any extra software floating around your computer. All of my customers know that website are only as good as the new stuff you add. If your never going to change your website then save the money and go and get a free site. Google has some here

The fact is that websites are made for people just like you and me. Website designers who don't allow the their customers to customize the content with out having to go to them for the changes are unknowledgeable, and still working out of the moms basements. Real Professionals like myself own other online businesses other than just a website design business. At last count I think I had over 540.


The point is that people stay for pages. New pages not just the here is contact ans some filler crap because thats what you think they should hear. Many marketing suddies have show that site like those get seen on advantage for less than ten seconds. Now have the ability to really give your visitors what they cam for and your looking at times from 20 minutes for a small site and over 3 hrs and more for a larger site and those are unique visitors turn in to live long residents. And the more pages you write the more the search engines have to pull from to give your audience and visitors to know more about you and your company.

Remember anyone can a Pretty Website. Its Easy. So easy in fact that they give them away.
Most “Professional Designers” are nothing more than Free Template Manipulators. Once they give your new pretty site their laughing out the door.
Then you have the ones their are waving a flag of SEO services they may know some code and try to impress you with a technical lingo so that your lulled in a sense of comfort.
It all starts from dealing with a Seasoned professional. Not just a degree. I can't tell you how many times I interviewed prosective employees that just spent 4 to 6 yrs of collage and did not have a single skill that would do a single thing to help a customer grow their business.


For most, buying a pretty website is like choosing a car solely on the color, Whats more important is whats under the hood and having someone their to help you drive learn how to drive it and keep it properly maintained.
I hoped I answered your question more fully and gave you some more tools to think about.

[user_id]

All of those companies have horrible websites...

[tonyandclaire89]

All of those companies have horrible websites...

what companies would you recommend

[user_id]

Originally Posted by tonyandclaire89

what companies would you recommend

Sorry, I don't have a recommendation for you. Just saying those companies have rather poor websites so using them does not make too much sense.

[Traderx]

A lot depends on the type of business you have. The fact that megawebsitebuilder failed to address this simple yet crucial factor tells me he's a blowhard as well.

Here's my advice. Know what you want and hire someone to build it knowing full well you'll most likely be dealing with an idiot who will over promise and under deliver. Just make certain to micro-manage the crap out of them as IT types are the laziest people as a group I've ever met. They also tend to think they're smart so be prepared to smack them in line. When they tell you something can't be done know that means they just don't have the skill to do it. Harsh I know but truthful nontheless.

I've had several websites built, some getting 100K hits a day and spent ungodly amounts of money on developers so I wish you good luck. If you find a person who is good at site design who also has a bit of business sense do whatever it takes to keep them.

[DonaldCollis]

Originally Posted by Traderx

A lot depends on the type of business you have. The fact that megawebsitebuilder failed to address this simple yet crucial factor tells me he's a blowhard as well.

Here's my advice. Know what you want and hire someone to build it knowing full well you'll most likely be dealing with an idiot who will over promise and under deliver. Just make certain to micro-manage the crap out of them as IT types are the laziest people as a group I've ever met. They also tend to think they're smart so be prepared to smack them in line. When they tell you something can't be done know that means they just don't have the skill to do it. Harsh I know but truthful nontheless.

I've had several websites built, some getting 100K hits a day and spent ungodly amounts of money on developers so I wish you good luck. If you find a person who is good at site design who also has a bit of business sense do whatever it takes to keep them.

To this I would have to say that I did offer to answer the question directly but, This sites admins blocked me from making a reply.
The fact is that there are many variables. And i should know. I own and manage over 540 websites.
Website are just a place to hold information. you hae to know how all of the systems interrelate and work to be suseefull. Anyone trying to sell you somthing differnet is lying to ya. Show a man how to fish or give him a fish. I say you have to do both.

And for the name calling? Whats your problem Traderx. I gave this gent what he asked for information. No hard feelings. But, Don't shoot the messenger.

And if you don't want me on your site just let me know. But I am the owner of the content above and I would request that you delete it and Remove me Immediately. Thanks

"Cast not your pearls in front of the swine for they may get trampled "

[scottdavis]

Hey Do ityourself and save a bundle!
Homestead.com

If you can read this you can do it.

Let me know what you think and good luck!

[Traderx]

Originally Posted by DonaldCollis

To this I would have to say that I did offer to answer the question directly but, This sites admins blocked me from making a reply.
The fact is that there are many variables. And i should know. I own and manage over 540 websites.
Website are just a place to hold information. you hae to know how all of the systems interrelate and work to be suseefull. Anyone trying to sell you somthing differnet is lying to ya. Show a man how to fish or give him a fish. I say you have to do both.

And for the name calling? Whats your problem Traderx. I gave this gent what he asked for information. No hard feelings. But, Don't shoot the messenger.

And if you don't want me on your site just let me know. But I am the owner of the content above and I would request that you delete it and Remove me Immediately. Thanks

"Cast not your pearls in front of the swine for they may get trampled "

What are you talking about exactly? Unless you're posting under different names I never replied to anything you've said.