WHAT TO EXPECT (AND NOT TO EXPECT) FROM A POTENTIAL WEBSITE DESIGNER OR DEVELOPER
Most people, understandably, expect a website designer or website developer (WD) to tell them how much a website will cost and how soon the site will be finished. This article will briefly touch on some pointers on what to expect and not to expect from a potential WD. Also, I will explain the basic difference between a designer and a developer.
First, the designer is usually the person who makes your website pretty. The developer is usually the person who does all the behind the scene work to make your website function properly and assist you with other features you might require (e.g., provide site search for your visitors, build or integrate a shopping cart, add your site to a server, etc.) - at least this is the way it is supposed to work, but usually the designer and developer is the same person. This is especially true for people who have an at-home website business.
Now for an analogy of why you should NOT ask a WD to give you a quote “before” they have had the opportunity to assess your business needs. Scenario: you have an illness and you call the doctor and say, “I feel ill doc, how much will I have to pay for you to make me better?” Do you think you will hear the answer before he/she has examined you? Well, the reason the doctor can not give you a quote is because he/she has to exam you first, just like a WD has to assess your business needs before they can give you a quote. Websites and requirements are so different, it is impossible to just stick a price on them like retail stores stick tags on their products. You may want to run away when a developer hesitates to give you a fee because you think the fee will be too much for your budget. It would advantageous to take the time to chat with the WD so that he/she will know exactly what your project requires - the fee may not be as bad as you think.
I do want you to be aware of something though: Don’t expect a good website design with 10 or more pages for less than $500 (more if it has a database connected to it). There is much more to designing and developing a website than you might realize until you get involved in having one built, even then you won’t realize what is going on behind the scenes unless you are very familiar with programming, html, scripting, database design and development, etc.
Some WDs will give you something like a timeline so that the project can move along a little smoother, but sometimes this timeline has to be revised for many reasons. The timeline is always a good general way to gauge how long it may take to finish your website, but never expect your deadline to be written in stone.
You should expect to sign a contract too. This contract should include all bells, whistles, fees, and a mention of who owns what until when so that there won’t be any surprises while building, testing, and implementing your website. A contract is always the safest way to enter into a business venture, especially with the purchase and development of a website.
I am hoping that once you have finished reading this article you will be a bit more aware of what you are asking a WD when you ask for fees and timeframes before an assessment has been made of your business requirements. It is always advantageous to you to communicate with your potential WD before you enter into a business venture with them.
Remember to sign a contract so that you will know what to expect from your WD. Take care and don’t hesitate to contact me by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kisw/
About the Author
Regina Stevens is CEO of Keep It Simple Websites, an Internet Consulting, Website Design and Development Service http://keepitsimplewebsites.com). Questions regarding website design and development can be asked by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kisw/ -
Copyright 2006 Mark Nenadic
Ecommerce website design embraces the idea of the Internet storefront. When it comes to operating a store on the Internet, taking money from customers should be as easy as it is when dealing out of a street front shop. Cash, checks, credit cards, and debit cards are all viable means to handle paying for services, goods or other. When it comes to ecommerce website design, this is an issue that acquires paramount importance.
The importance is highlighted when you acknowledge there are no cash registers or night deposit-drops on an ecommerce website design. Instead, these features must be incorporated into the design’s capability. Whether the site is selling artwork, books, music or services rendered, there must be a functionality that allows users to not only add the items to a virtual shopping cart, but also total up the final price including shipping. At that point, payment should be rendered or the ability to render payment should be available.
Many ecommerce website designs do not limit their payment acceptance to just credit or debit cards, but also feature a way that customers can pay by check or money order. The power of plastic aside, the ability to accept a check over the phone or an address to send a check to is still the preferred choice for many Internet shoppers. Discounting these options discounts an entire class of Internet shopper.
So what goes into the ecommerce website design to increase the functionality of accepting payments over the Internet? A merchant account can be a tough call because unless a company possesses a proven financial track record along with a solid financial backing, chances are the merchant account could be expensive. However, a good relationship with a bank may compensate for that.
Barring the banking relationship, another alternative is to sign up directly with the credit card companies. Visa and MasterCard both have direct access, as does American Express. The official websites are packed with information for developers setting up their ecommerce website design. There are also other independent acquirers that can be used including Pay Pal. The drawbacks to independent acquirers are the fees and exclusions that the seller will have to cover. Pay pal is likely among the most simple of formats because the fee is based on a percentage of money received.
The age of the plastic web means that setting up an ecommerce website design has never been simpler. In the same breath, it also requires some intensive setup before the design goes live for customers. In order to make the best decisions during this phase of the ecommerce website design, check the fees associated with the merchant account or acquirer. For example, make a chart that compares the fees for application, setup, statement, discount rate, transaction and monthly minimums.
By breaking down these fees, the selection of merchant account will become easier. The determination of fees will also impact the way business is billed, including raising certain prices to absorb the cost of how payment is received. Imagine, for example, the service industry where the client is billed by the hour. If there is a 5% fee for covering their method of payment, that 5% must be included in the initial quote.
For standard ecommerce website design where the site boasts its own shopping cart and shipping calculator, the fee breakdowns would be rolled into the posted prices. That may mean a 5-cent increase across the board or it may have less impact than imagined. The research will prepare the developer of the ecommerce website design model that incorporates a pricing model.
If this all sounds confusing, it shouldn’t. The process to go through in setting up an ecommerce website design should include the following steps:
* Identify Products/Services * Set Prices * Determine Shipping Vendor * Establish Shipping Prices * Research Merchant Accounts * Obtain Merchant Accounts * Give All Data to the Designer
About the Author
Mark Nenadic Mark is the director and face behind FifteenDegrees-North http://www.15dn.com , where you will find articles and resources to help with SEO, marketing and Web design.
