How do you Choose a Webmaster? Is Building a Website Difficult or Expensive?
By clownfish
@clownfish (3269)
United States
January 30, 2007 8:26pm CST
Hi! I've been researching starting my own company for a while now. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to pass on information about building a business website. Is it hard? I have a host figured out, but I don't know if I could build the website myself or if I should hire someone. In that case, has anyone hired an affordable webmaster? How did it work out? Thanks for any help! You guys are the best! :-)
1 person likes this
3 responses
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
16 Feb 07
I used to do web building for a business, years ago. While it's not necessarily "hard", it can be very time consuming and depending upon your needs the level of difficulty can go up.
If you're looking for a webmaster, here are some suggestions I have for you.
1. Look locally. There is nothing worse then having to try to get something across to someone that is far away and having to do it via emails, phone calls and such. Someone local will be accessible to you, not to mention it's much harder for them to "screw" you out of money.
2. Get it in writing. Have a listing of approximately how many pages you are getting with your "package", if there is going to be web hosting included (otherwise you have to pay another company to hold your information - generally your server) and any secure website info if needed.
3. Make sure you also have full access to the website once it is finished. This will make it so if that person goes out of business, disappears, whatever, you can access and make changes or update yourself or via another programmer.
4. Make sure that it is stated that YOU are the owner of the website. While that sounds logical, many times a web designer will copyright the contents and/or register a web domain (www.whateveryouwant.com) address under their name. Make sure YOU are listed as he site OWNER.
5. ALWAYS get at least 5 sites that this person has done themselves AND references to call. Ask how quickly the person got the site done, how accurate they were at giving deadline dates, etc.
It is a time consuming adventure and that's why web designers are pretty expensive. What sounds like it's easy might be easy in concept but take many man hours to program or write up.
Good luck!
@clownfish (3269)
• United States
16 Feb 07
Hi! Wow! This is awesome information! I thought about doing it myself, but I think it's more involved than what I can do and I don't want to spend potentially years learning what I need to do before I can start my business. I sent an email inquiry to a local designer today. Her website states that she can train people to maintain their sites themselves or she can continue to do it. It sounds like she's a work at home mom - her business is named after her daughter! I'm all for supporting work at home moms. I hope she's not too expensive! :-)
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
31 Jan 07
I would suggest you take a look at Site Build It. You can use their tools to build a great site as well as promote it. The cost is very reasonable. Take a look of some of the example sites and they are fantastic. You get everything you need in one package. Site creation, promotion, support, everything. Compared to hiring your own webmaster, you can save big $$$. You don't have to know any special language or have special skills to build a great site. You could spend thousands getting your site up and running and promoted. This is a simple, cost effective alternative.
@clownfish (3269)
• United States
31 Jan 07
Hi! Thanks! I'll definitely check that out! I think once I get the business going, I can do most of the work myself. It's the start up costs, like getting a website up and running, that scare me! :-)
