It is a well-known fact that a successful business depends greatly on how it is marketed. With an ever increasing dependence on the web, the use of a professional website is not only a necessity, but a priority. Although it is a common thought that only large businesses can have top-notch websites, with the tools available today what seemed impractical can now be a reality. Best of all, designing an extraordinary website can be done without hiring expensive web developers to create your site from scratch. Usually the first comment I get from my customers is, "I have the idea, but not the tools." In this article, I will recommend which tools are the most helpful and where to find these tools so that you too can have an amazing website.
So you say, "I have the idea, but not the tools. What are these tools and where do I get them?" Let me answer that question with a question. Have you ever heard of web site templates? If not, they're your answer to a professional website at a very reasonable price, usually around $60 to $70. A website template is a ready-made website design created for you to use as the foundation for quick and high-quality web development. There are thousands of templates available online so you are virtually guaranteed to find something that suits your design and format needs. It can be as easy as simply adding your text to the template or rearranging photos along with your text to produce the outcome you have been searching for.
Finding web site templates is easy, but be aware of the differences in template providers you will come across. Performing a Google or Yahoo search with the phrase "web site templates" will yield several vendor choices and not all of them offer the quality you demand. They all promise the best templates around, but that is obviously not the case. So, how do you find the right template vendor? First, visit some of the sites you come across and examine their templates. You will know you are on the right track if you answer "Yes" to the question, "Am I impressed with these templates?" Always trust your taste.
Next, explore how many templates the vendor offers and how often their database is updated. As a rule of thumb, the more they have the better they are. This helps assure you that your choice will be more unique than otherwise. If you choose a template from a vendor who only offers a few select quality templates then the chances are that a great deal of other customers have chosen that same template. You certainly don't want a website that is practically identical to dozens of others online. You will also want a vendor who updates their site on a regular basis. Weekly updates are good, but daily updates are even better. This guarantees that they will have fresh templates on a regular basis for you to choose from.
Finally, you want to make sure that your template is editable. This means that your template will come with the appropriate files (PSD, HTML, SWF, and FLA) that will allow you to make the necessary changes to your template. Ask you vendor before making your selection. Most templates come with these files, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You should be able to download your selection immediately or your vendor will provide a link to do so.
Great! Now you have a really impressive template and can't wait to make the changes that will get you a completed website that blows away your competition. Well, you're halfway there. You have one more important choice to make. Who will do the editing? You will either have someone internally run with the project or you can hire someone and outsource the job. If you decide to handle things internally make sure you have the necessary software to edit your files and someone who is somewhat familiar with how to do the editing. This is what your template vendor probably didn't tell you. Certainly it isn't as easy as purchasing a template and plugging in text. If it were then there wouldn't be a market for web design and development companies. If you're confident about handling it yourself then great, but be careful. You might find yourself investing a lot of time and money trying to get your desired results.
Your alternate choice, hiring a development firm, will almost certainly get your site looking and functioning the way you want it, but for a fee, of course. It is easy to find a development firm to handle your needs and you can find several online. Simply search with the keyphrase "web site design". Call or email a few of them explaining your situation and needs and ask for a quote to perform the editing for you. Depending on the amount of editing you will require you should receive price quotes in the $500 -$1500 range. This is a very reasonable price to pay for a professional website. Most likely, you will be glad you did.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I have a background in business and technology with a Masters in Business Administration and am an owner of a website design firm located in Houston, Texas. The mission of my company, WebChrysalis, is to help individuals and businesses look like a million dollars online through the use of web templates and expert design.
affordable house cleaning Park Ridge ..Not too long ago while looking for businesses that do... Read More
"Oh, my eyes, my eyes! What an eye sore. Quick,... Read More
Many websites make the mistake of being all flash and... Read More
Designing your website can be a difficult task especially if... Read More
Reading on the web is different than reading in all... Read More
Imagine you're going on a blind date. You've heard wonderful... Read More
Before doing anything on the technical side, you need some... Read More
If you were like me and you have just started... Read More
As a webmaster, you want to keep your visitors content... Read More
Effective navigation stands out. It's clear, obvious, and highly visible.You'll... Read More
I taught myself HTML back in the mid-nineties and was... Read More
A picture is worth a thousand words.And it still is... Read More
Tips to brand your websiteInclude your logo in all pages.... Read More
There are often many mistakes encountered when creating a webpage... Read More
Q: Should I build and maintain my business Web site... Read More
My site is working fine. The links work. Content is... Read More
There are several graphic software packages available to help you... Read More
First impressions are extremely important if you hope to do... Read More
What do the key words represent?Key words - these are... Read More
STEP 1:Do your homeworkPlan and think about your content. Think... Read More
Your web site should be-visitor friendly to navigatesearch engine friendly... Read More
When designing elements for your webpage, you will often be... Read More
Color is everywhere and conveys a message even if we... Read More
If your website is falling through the cracks, the chances... Read More
So you've decided to take the plunge. You know that... Read More
affordable house cleaning Mundelein ..If your website is falling through the cracks, the chances... Read More
To create professional websites is not an easy task by... Read More
Any kid, and their grandmother too, can make a webpage.... Read More
Does your website need a re-design? Here are some questions... Read More
As my occupation is that of a proofreader, one of... Read More
With an increasing number of employment portals emerging, it is... Read More
You have probably viewed many Flash-based components while surfing the... Read More
This article gives free tips on how to find a... Read More
Home-based businesses need a strong web presence to combat the... Read More
Do you have a website? If so, you need an... Read More
Flash is a powerful technology that can help you create... Read More
What the heck is going on lately? Most internet websites... Read More
I am constantly bombarded with all sorts of advertisements, single-page... Read More
Website design is a very competitive area and there is... Read More
Daily article:One of the most debated subject among webmasters is... Read More
Unarguably, the most important part of your website is content.... Read More
Want to know what the worst thing to say on... Read More
Web site design has certainly, in the past decade, evolved... Read More
If you need a web designer, but have no clue... Read More
Internet Explorer, created by microsoft has been the most popular... Read More
I hate to imagine that in your web development project... Read More
Designing your website means you have to be creative, plan... Read More
If you are going to have a web presence for... Read More
The question that I most frequently hear from people is... Read More
Here's the single most important part of your website: YOUR... Read More
Web Design |