If you lack design skills, but want a professionally designed website at a reasonable price,
I highly recommend using a pre-built template. These website templates come complete
with home page designs, sub-page designs, stock photography, and fonts. All you have to
do is edit the copy!
If you are going to use a website template, I highly recommend using an HTML editor
like Dreamweaver or Frontpage. It's much easier to work with a template using an editor
than it is trying to understand the underlying HTML source code.
When you buy a web template, you're allowed to modify it or customize it in any way. If
you want to change the layout, colors, fonts or images, just use your favorite editor to
make changes.
My favorite destination for website templates is Template Monster
(www.templatemonster.com).
Template Monster charges between $19-$89 (USD) for professionally designed web
templates. When you're previewing the templates you can see how many times a
particular template has been downloaded. You also have the option to buy the exclusive
rights to a specific template, which guarantees that you will be the last person to buy that
template.
Template Monster currently has over 10,000 web templates available, and is adding
between 150-200 new designs monthly. Template Monster has teamed up with a
company called Template Tuning (www.templatetuning.com), which converts predesigned
web templates into unique web sites. Their rates vary by project and can range
from as little as $40 to as much as $1,000, depending on the customizations that you
make. A complete price sheet is available at http://www.templatetuning.com/prices.php
I've used Template Monster's web templates on several occasions. I'm not a graphic artist
and often struggle to build good looking websites. I use pre-built templates to save both
time and money.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Outsource Your Website or Project
Graphic design, copyrighting, web programming, and database work can all be easily
outsourced. There are hundreds of thousands of affordable and knowledgeable
consultants available online through trusted websites like eLance and Get a FreeLancer –
www.getafreelancer.com
Whether you're outsourcing a small portion of your website, or the entire project, you can
save a lot of time and money by hiring an expert. If you lack the skills or experience to
develop a professional website, or just need help with a particular task, it makes more
sense to use a qualified professional than to try and figure it out on your own.
No matter how big or small your project is you can find somebody anxious to do the
work. To quote eLance's website: "If you can describe it, you can get it done." Prices
range by project and provider. Most of the affiliate websites and projects I have had
developed range from a few hundred dollars for a basic website, up to a thousand dollars
for more complicated projects. eLance also posts average pricing for projects on their
website (updated in 2005).
If you are going to outsource any of your web-related projects, I suggest following these
outsourcing tips below:
• Take advantage of eLance's free project consultation. If you're new to
outsourcing web projects recruit the help of an expert to help you get started.
• Start with a small project or task. This will allow you to minimize your risks
and costs if the consultant doesn't work out. If they do a great job, you can feel
more comfortable giving them bigger projects.
• Don't post detailed information about your project in public view. Be
somewhat vague in your title and description. You can always provide more
details to consultants when they contact you through a private message board.
This will help prevent competitors from scanning the listings and taking your
ideas.
• Read the eLance tips on posting projects before you get started.
• Don't necessarily select the consultant with the cheapest bid. Sometimes you
get what you pay for. It's more important for you to focus on their quality
(portfolio) and feedback.
• Give exact details to your consultant about what you want done. The more
details you provide the consultant, the less likely they will make mistakes or
misinterpret what you want.
• Use the free standard forms offered on eLance's website. These include a nondisclosure
agreement (NDA) and a service provider agreement. Keep in mind that
these agreements may be hard to enforce if you're working with somebody in a
foreign country, due to the complexity of international law. However, it's better to
have some type of agreement in place than nothing at all.
• Avoid paying for work in advance. Consider breaking your project up into
smaller pieces and paying as each milestone as achieved. This is a good way to
keep you and the consultant happy.
• If you find somebody that you like, keep them happy. It's much easier to
continue working with somebody that has a proven track record with you than to
take a risk on a new consultant.
outsourced. There are hundreds of thousands of affordable and knowledgeable
consultants available online through trusted websites like eLance and Get a FreeLancer –
www.getafreelancer.com
Whether you're outsourcing a small portion of your website, or the entire project, you can
save a lot of time and money by hiring an expert. If you lack the skills or experience to
develop a professional website, or just need help with a particular task, it makes more
sense to use a qualified professional than to try and figure it out on your own.
No matter how big or small your project is you can find somebody anxious to do the
work. To quote eLance's website: "If you can describe it, you can get it done." Prices
range by project and provider. Most of the affiliate websites and projects I have had
developed range from a few hundred dollars for a basic website, up to a thousand dollars
for more complicated projects. eLance also posts average pricing for projects on their
website (updated in 2005).
If you are going to outsource any of your web-related projects, I suggest following these
outsourcing tips below:
• Take advantage of eLance's free project consultation. If you're new to
outsourcing web projects recruit the help of an expert to help you get started.
• Start with a small project or task. This will allow you to minimize your risks
and costs if the consultant doesn't work out. If they do a great job, you can feel
more comfortable giving them bigger projects.
• Don't post detailed information about your project in public view. Be
somewhat vague in your title and description. You can always provide more
details to consultants when they contact you through a private message board.
This will help prevent competitors from scanning the listings and taking your
ideas.
• Read the eLance tips on posting projects before you get started.
• Don't necessarily select the consultant with the cheapest bid. Sometimes you
get what you pay for. It's more important for you to focus on their quality
(portfolio) and feedback.
• Give exact details to your consultant about what you want done. The more
details you provide the consultant, the less likely they will make mistakes or
misinterpret what you want.
• Use the free standard forms offered on eLance's website. These include a nondisclosure
agreement (NDA) and a service provider agreement. Keep in mind that
these agreements may be hard to enforce if you're working with somebody in a
foreign country, due to the complexity of international law. However, it's better to
have some type of agreement in place than nothing at all.
• Avoid paying for work in advance. Consider breaking your project up into
smaller pieces and paying as each milestone as achieved. This is a good way to
keep you and the consultant happy.
• If you find somebody that you like, keep them happy. It's much easier to
continue working with somebody that has a proven track record with you than to
take a risk on a new consultant.
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