February 1st, 2010
I don’t think a week goes by that I don’t get an enquiry where the client admits that they’ll go with the cheapest quote. A few days ago I had one such lead where I gave a ballpark price and the response was, ‘Oh, but apparently some people can do that job for £200.’ The fact of the matter is anyone claiming to be cheap isn’t going to be any good—and the staggering amount of people out their brazenly offering ‘cheap websites’ only compound the problem, making people think if you’re paying the kind of rates a true professional would charge, you’re being ripped off.
In this post I intend to explain why cheap websites are actually more expensive. So, why is that?
‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’
We’ve all heard the phrase before; something that seems like a bargain often comes with a catch. Websites are no different and if you’re paying someone peanuts what will the monkey behind the computer be doing for you? Design–wise you’ll probably get someone lacking in creativity or someone who will rehash a template they’ve used for a thousand other clients. The site will be hosted on a budget server that is sluggish and falls over every five minutes. And if you get a cheap quote from an agency be sure to check the small print in the contract to make sure they’re not going to sting you with inflated monthly retainers. And as I’ve discussed before, beware of getting your website built overseas.
Credibility damage
A cheap website could cost your company its credibility. If people complain that a quote is too expensive I always recommend no website over a cheap one. It now goes without saying that whenever you have a meeting, call a potential lead, conduct a seminar or hand out a business card the first thing your potential new customer or client will do it look at your website and the quality of the site will shape their perception of your company. As much as a good website can bag you that new client, a poor one can make them go elsewhere.
It’s done on price, not value
A cheap website will make little or no consideration of marketing or return on investment (ROI). When everything is geared towards doing things as quickly and cheaply as possible they really don’t have the time or the inclination to think about how this site is going to make your business money.
Potential loss of sales/enquiries
A poorly built website will ultimately lose you sales and enquiries and therefore money. Your website visitors are a highly impatient bunch. If they can’t find what they’re looking for in seconds (literally) or get the wrong vibe from your website, they’ll leave. It’s as simple as that.
The longer road to getting it done properly
I’ve ‘fixed’ so many websites over the years. Most people who get a cheap website done soon realise that you get what you pay for and for a combination of the reasons above will end up getting it rebuilt. Simple mathematics tells you that ‘cheap website’ + ‘proper website’ costs more than ‘proper website’ on its own.
To get a website that’s right the first time call me on 07843 483 078 or get a free quote online.
Posted in Business and Money, Web Design | No Comments »
January 1st, 2010
Well, it’s now 2010 and what a year 2009 has been!
The economic downturn has been quite kind to the web design industry; I guess lots of people have been smart and seen the importance of a website in a recession.
Version three of my website was launched in January 2009 and one of the new features was this blog. A year on, I’ve had some excellent feedback and it’s helped me present information that has been useful as a reference point to me and my clients. It has helped me explain the things you need consider before getting a website commissioned and also that oft–asked question: Why do web design quotes differ so much?
You can get lots more free advice from the blog too such as answers to the questions: Should you get your website built overseas?, What is the difference between web design and print design? and Should you use an open source CMS to build your website?
If there’s a specific web design question or issue you’d like addressing on the blog then I’d love to hear from you.
I was lucky enough to be involved in some varied and interesting projects in 2009. I built a CMS–driven website—including an agents’ portal—for a property company in the Cayman Islands, I created a bespoke eCommerce solution for a seller of rare and antique books and developed a new corporate site for a local infection control company. There are lots more; you can take a look in the portfolio.
2009 saw a big rise in the work I do for agencies (about a third of my workload). Although agencies are very different to freelancers, a lot of them use freelancers like me as it’s not viable for them to employ web people full–time. Are you an agency that is in need of a reliable web designer/developer? If so, call me on 07843 483 078 or get a free quote online.
What’s going to be new for me in 2010? More of the same, I guess. Building more great looking websites, growing my client list and generally spending my time finding more interesting things to do with websites.
So that is what’s new for me in 2010. How about you? Are you going to use your online presence to catapult you out of the global recession?
Make sure your website is a part of a prosperous 2010 for you. Call me on 07843 483 078 or get a free quote online.
Posted in News / Announcements | 1 Comment »
December 1st, 2009
Until I went to great lengths to protect my email address against spam, I received lots of messages from foreign companies offering ‘cheap’ website services, primarily from India but also from China and Eastern Europe. I ignored them or put them in my junk folder but the idea of a low–cost website must be attractive to some, particularly in a recession.
Is it a good idea to get your website built by an overseas company? The UK has one of the highest costs of living in the world so going over seas and getting it done at a fraction of the cost on face value seems like a very good idea. The cost advantage is great but there are several barriers that get in the way of you and a good website when you use an overseas company.
Time barrier
The development company won’t be working in the same time zone as yourself. This is not so bad when working with European companies but when you go further afield your working hours seldom cross. This may not be a problem most of the time but what happens when you need an urgent, critical bug fixing and all the developers are out of the office?
Language barrier
There’s arguably nothing that can damage your online credibility more than a website full of typos and grammatical errors. The company may appoint an English–speaking account manager but that doesn’t mean all the developers can read and write English too.
Legal barrier
Some countries have less stringent laws on copyright than we do. They may use an image, video or piece of software that they don’t have the rights to. If they use it on your site and a court case arises, you may be responsible, not them, especially if the site is hosted in the UK.
Distance barrier
What if you want to meet face–to–face? Some meetings require that personal touch. A local company is usually never more than an our or so away. If they’re the other side of the world it can cause problems.
Cultural barrier
A good website is always about thinking what life is like in your (potential) customers’ shoes. This is a difficult job at the best of times; it’s infinitely more so when you’re from a completely different culture.
If you do use an overseas company…
These barriers can be overcome to a limited degree. If you do use an overseas company:
- Get them to work to your time zone
- Use a proof reader who speaks English fluently and ensure all source code is annotated in English
- Consult your solicitor to make sure you’re not liable for them breaking the law (via a written agreement)
- Keep in touch via Skype or phone and don’t be afraid to visit them personally
- Use a local designer that is culturally on the same wavelength as yourself
I was lucky enough to be involved in a large project recently; I was the lead designer but all the development work was outsourced to China. We learnt that the above five points are critical if you do decide to use an overseas company.
You clearly need to exercise caution when using a development team from another country. Getting your website built at a fraction of the cost it would to get it built in the UK is an attractive prospect but be careful—it’s easy to waste your money. For more advice call me on 07843 483 078 or get a free quote online.
Posted in Business and Money, Web Design, Web Development | No Comments »
