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Dan Robinson · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:08 pm Post subject: Web designers?

I need a web site creating.

Nothing special; just a smart, clean couple of pages with a photo gallery that I can easily maintain.

Any ideas for companies that do this would be appreciated.

NickAskew · Moderator Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 112 Location: Thirsk

Before I list some options I need to know whether you already own a domain name?
If so, who did you buy it from? If so, how much would it cost you to transfer the domain to another domain registrar?
If not, do you have a web site address in mind? if for business, will you want it professionally marketed via search engines? (Google AdWords etc.) or will it just be a trophy to point clients at?

Are you any good at graphic design and would you want to provide the art work yourself? have you seen any images/videos you would like to use on your website that are not copyright? Have you got a style in mind, how would the photo gallery look? a single gallery on one subject i.e. will they be photos of your business handywork? or is it a personal web site that will hold groups of pictures on different subjects? (Majorca 1999, Bobs Weddings 1991 to 1997 to 2001, etc.)

Have you seen what you want already online that you could see your work fitting into?

Web sites provided by small firms for small businesses are usually maintained by the small firm used to create it - they typically design the site in such a way that maintaining it yourself would be very hard work.
You can purchase software applications that make creating and maintaining your own web site(s) fairly easy, allowing you to upload your changes on demand when you see fit to.

I have used a domain registrar and web space provider called 1and1 for a few years now and have never had any quibbles with unavailable sites, unavailable email or any other bad things that you often find with low cost providers. OneAndOne have a web based tool (for a small fee) that allows you to design and update a single or multi page web site based upon a selection of templates that you can choose from and also add 'extras' on to it using a few mouse clicks such as a guestbook, information request form (which emails you the contents of a form your web site visitors can fill in ), photo galleries, and a whole lot more.

http://order.1and1.co.uk/, click on the link in the top right called 'faq', and then click on the WebSite Builder link to see some screen shots of the tool.

Have a browse of the site, it will at least give you an idea of the kinds of functionality you will be looking to have when you are deciding upon a provider to host your website.

Dan Robinson · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:31 am Post subject:

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the reply. I have a domain name regsitered with Freeola. I could in all honesty make my own EXTREMELY basic few pages; but my design ability does not transfer well from pipes and cables to pictures and pages.

I could probably find a couple of web sites that look similar to my vision quite easily as it only needs to be clean and elegant.

My main requirement other than a company introduction would be a download section and the Gallery/Portfolio done in such a way that it would be easy to update.

Thanks again....

NickAskew · Moderator Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 112 Location: Thirsk

Something like this will give you half of what you want, although the designs will be canned so your site won't be unique but it offers an editable result which is what you are looking for - many small web designers do not design sites with a view to their clients updating themselves (they want the repeat business!).
However do bare in mind that you will need to provide your own artwork (I doubt they'd design you a logo or create one from your company name, but they may scan and use one from your companies headed paper.)
http://www.discountwebdesign.co.uk/webdesignportfolio/package.php?category_id=3

They undoubtably use template driven web page design software, in fact have a look at a few of the web sites they advertise as having created and view the source (right click a page and choose view source) - you will see all of the different web sites were created using the same template driven web creation software - software which costs no more than £100 - so you do have to ask yourself if you wouldn't be better buying a template driven web site creation tool and doing it all yourself for the following benefits:
It would be quicker, cheaper, no one to argue with, completely configurable and maintainable, you won't be tied into a specific domain space provider, you won't lose control of your own domain name, and if you experience loss of access to it, you can talk directly to the domain space provider without having a middle man to confuse things. I'm sure I can think of a host of other reasons why you should consider spending a couple of weekends getting your head around doing it yourself rather than shelling out £800 for someone else to use the software for you!

If you want it managing completely for you as your original post said, then be prepared to spend several thousand pounds - you would be looking for a web designer to visit you (if local) to talk through your options, to get ideas from you on what kind of site you are expecting to be created, the designer should then prepare a couple of mock ups of what he feels it is you need, and then he should give you the opportunity to agree or disagree and this will be the basis of the design of your end product. You need to ensure they have a graphic artist employed so they can either extract your current logo and create a good quality web logo, or they should be prepared to design you one from scratch. Before taking anyone on make sure you have multiple references of their existing customer base and phone them to make absolutely sure they were happy at all stages of the project.

Here is a list of 'user voted' top ten web design tools:
http://website-creation-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

I can put you in touch with a web designer/graphic designer/flash creator here in Sheffield that I have had fantastic first hand experience of a couple of years ago if you'd like me to, I won't post his email here in the interest of spam prevention.

Cheers

Nick

Dan Robinson · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:49 pm Post subject:

Great advice, and I see what you mean about management and repeat business. My idea was somewhere in the middle as there is no plans for activeX or anything it owuld be image management rather than major regualr maintenance.

I do have a recent version of Dreamweaver MX (ahem!) but it is the design bit I do not have patience for.

Next time I get an office day I shall have a good look through the links you suggest.

Thanks again for the adivce!.