Webpage Design

ccmrehab

I need some help. I have been in business for quite some time and I have never had a webpage. I have been reading post after post and it seems as though I am still in the ice ages when it comes to business. Like I said I have been in business for a minute or two (15 years) and to be honest I am still just pluggin away. I have good years and I have bad years, I have good months and I have some really horrible months. I joined this forum and in just a few short days I have realized that I am ancient in my thinking.

This is where I need help. Do I pay for a webpage designer, do I look for a free template online, do I try to buy a program that helps design one, do I use Frontpage. I would like to have a very professional looking page much like the one's I see from others on this forum. I was always under the impression that webpages for our industry was only for the real big contractors. Please help with any advice. I don't even mind if you poke fun at me in addition to your help.

I like the idea of free, so if anyone has a site I can go to or better yet an experience with a service that they have used.
Thanks

ProWallGuy

I assume if a web designer asked you if it would be a good idea for them to GC the building of their own house, you would tell them no, have a pro GC do it, right?

So I'd suggest having a pro web designer build your website.

Do what you do best, and let them do what they do best.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

ccmrehab

I hear ya. So what is a good starting point. How much should or could this cost. I am a virgin now. Maybe you could give me a ballpark or anybody else for that matter as well.

ProWallGuy

Look for an ad on this site for Footbridge Media. Call them, and I'm sure they can answer most your questions.

__________________
Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

Jason Whipple

Definitely don't do the free thing OR the cheap thing. Your site will be cluttered with ads and pop ups.

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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hiteams

I'll add my 2 cents,

A webpage won't do you any good, without people visiting it. You can create a expensive website, but if no one comes ... it is money down the drain.

You should create a website, with the understanding that you will have to promote it.

hvacman

A website is your best marketing asset...it is there working for you 24/7, portraying your brand to all who visit. Don't cheap out on it. Find a good designer who can make a professional looking site. A basic 4 page site (Home, About, Contact, Services) should run you about $800-1000 and be well worth it. Make sure the designer understands how to design for the search engines as well. If you don't show up in search engine results, you won't get any visitors.

ccmrehab

hvacman thanks for the input, and thanks to everyone the replied. I suppose $800 -$1,000 isn't too bad. I suppose I need to start somewhere!

Susan Betz

It's possible to do your own page and do it well. With that said, if you haven't dabbled in code before, and you work full time, don't attempt it unless you really enjoy a hobby.

For a grand, you can get a fully functional, professional page. Compared to a yellow pages ad, a web page is a bargain.

The point that hiteams makes about website promotion is important. You'll be doing your own website promotion, after the site is created. Read some of the Adwords threads here to get an idea of what's involved.

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Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com

ccmrehab

Thanks Susan. I looked at your site, very nice!!! Did you do this or have someone do it for you. If you did it, do mine for charity(lol)

Susan Betz

Thanks, I did it myself. I'm the code jockey in the house.

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Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com

sonny

Best advice - you need to have a website yesterday! If you are not savvy in the way of design - hosting etc, much time will be wasted learning how to all the things necessary to get a website up & running.

Do your self a favor, before you choose a design company check out

WebFirstCreations Design after you get on their site click on the Blonde operator in the right upper corner & ask her if Mike Hall is around.

Someone gave me the same information that I am giving you now & I have been most thankful. They are straight shooters & will work with your budget - really no one else was willing to do that back when I was checking all the various alternatives.

Nothing is cooler than clicking on your website & finding estimate requests - like finding money really.

Get Going - Time is Wasting

Sonny

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mseneker

I use IX Web Hosting. If you are a little computer literate it can work for a start up site. Cost $96 for two years and they register you IP for free.

They have a design program for free. It's called Site Studio. You should be able to get a basic web site up and running on your own in a few hours.

I am considering designing my site outside of IX Web Hosting, maybe in MicroSoft Frontpage and then uploading it.

I like the idea of designing your own site so you can edit it at will. However, I admit the pros already know what sells and you would have to learn that on your own.

In terms of promoting your web site. IX Web Hosting does that for you also as part of the deal. I also found that if you start including your web site IP in advertising the search bots will eventually start publishing it all over the web. So spend a great deal of time deciding on your site name. Mine is alliancedrywallservices.com. I have a long way to go with my site. I have FTP space for example and email services I've yet to tap.

Some people also use Go-Daddy for web hosting.

Does anyone have any good web site design software to recommend other than Front Page? I am also interested in an intra-net (or Web-Office) where my employees and customers can log in.

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http://www.alliancedrywallservices.com
email: Alliancedrywall@hotmail.com

SelfContract

Try zoompa.com. Many web sites nowadays can guide or walk you through step-by-step without reading a book or own a piece of SW too. Free SW on the web too. Web page is now over-rated, all over the world... so many it must need Google to search, rank, & index pages good.

Without ranking and promoting/advertising properly, your site is just as dead as to nothing too.

FCPWLLC

Ditto..... Also, this guy can design the site and then let webfirstcreations make it a marketing machine. http://www.kbkgraphics.com

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First Choice Power Washing LLC
Lexington, KY 859-983-5955, Member of Better Business Bureau, Greater Lexington Apartment Association ,Insured and Licensed
Pressure Washing Cleaning Service Lexington KY

adriand

Hi ccmrehab;

There is no better advertising than "word-of-mouth" so carefully check out the reccomendations of contractors here. You need a developer who is truthful and will genuinely try to help you get a website that will keep the money coming in.

My own preference is for sitesell.com and the great help provided by their user forums. Sitesell is also offering training to people who want to build their own websites through many universities and colleges in the USA.

But whatever you choose try to verify the results, there are so many charlatans with sales pitches out there its so confusing to weed out the decent folks.

Trust the reccomendations of the contractors in this forum and you cant go too far wrong.

Heres hoping you have a prosperous 2008!

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Adrian Dunevein
Screen Door Website
AAA Drafting Services

Danno6102

have a pro do it. Did my own on Godaddy, but I think it's not nice enough. I've had hundreds of clicks through my adwords, but only 1 or 2 people contact me. Will be getting a professional one hopefully this year sometime.

a1propertyclean

I'm the DIY type so I used Bravenet.com to build mine but my graphics designer, Ginger, does everything from A to Z and does a great job at a very affordable price.

Whether you need a full-on web designer or just someone to create your graphics, such as banners, logos, and rotating ad buttons, talk to Ginger. You can find her at http://documeant.net.

She's awesome, she's quick and, as far as I'm concerned, underpriced for what she does. She also does press releases and write articles for e-Zine. She wouldn't have any problems finding ways for you to promote your website once it's up.

Linda

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Linda @ All REO Preservation
http://allreopreservation.com
allreo.vendor.review@gmail.com [experienced vendors only - please list state and counties if you're looking for work]

Slyfox

I did my own and glad i did.
I can change add content Anytime "daily even hourly" and do it myself.
Plus the program i chose has several upgrades for future use should i need it.
Theres no down payment/setup fee just a monthly payment from 7 dollars a month and up depending on which package you chose and before chosing a package just use the FREE trial the can be used permantly itself if you decide to not upgrade "no limit".
Go to www.foxroofing.com and click on the Free Website Trial tab.

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a1propertyclean

Being able to add, delete, and change your website at a moment's notice is one of the benefits of doing it yourself.

I forgot to mention, too, that my websites cost me $8.95 each for the entire year. My total investment in 2 websites = $17.90 for the year. When I renew, I'll go for 3 years and it will be even less than that.

The main reason I did mine is because I love to learn and experience new things. Doing my own was fun and now that they're up, they're easy to modify.

The real learning curve was in designing and building my small business forum. It was a little tougher to learn but it's all been worth the effort. My friend, Ginger, did the banner and I did the rest. Here's the link if anyone wants to take a look at it.

http://crosscountry329.*********78.com/index.cgi

The links to both of my websites are below. There's advertising at the site but it's so minimal I don't even notice. I have my pop-up blocker on all the time so I have no clue if there are any pop-ups.

Linda

__________________
Linda @ All REO Preservation
http://allreopreservation.com
allreo.vendor.review@gmail.com [experienced vendors only - please list state and counties if you're looking for work]