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There are three basic methods of building a web site. Which one you choose is dependent upon your
budget, your level of technical expertise, and how you want to portray your business.
In my seven years of working with web sites, I have seen too many cases where someone
refused professional design, taking the cheap route instead.
Their site was so bad it actually HURT their business more than it helped.
Sadly, they couldn't understand why. This is
a critical choice, so pay attention. I will cover the choices in the order of quality, worst to best.
Pre-Designed Templates
A template is a site that has been designed by a professional designer. It has a professional feel to
it, and it looks fantastic. Templates are very cheap. In fact, eVerity includes a good selection of
templates with most hosting plans for free. Templates can be customized by changing their
text, colors, layouts, and uploading new images.
There is just one problem with templates: They were not designed with your business in mind. Every
business is unique, and the odds of finding a pre-designed template that accurately portrays your
business are pretty slim.
Regardless, a template is a great starting point if you have no web site. With our software, you can
pick a template, customize it, and publish it in one or two hours. Then, budget-permitting, you should
proceed with one of the more professional solutions outlined below.
Web Design Software & HTML Editors
You install these on your computer and
they can yield a somewhat professional web site, provided you follow three simple rules:
- Realize that you get what you pay for
- Read the manual (this could take a long time!)
- Be creative, but follow tried-and-true design guidelines
Exception to #1: Don't waste your money on Microsoft Frontpage. Microsoft makes some great products,
but FrontPage is not one of them. I have seen hundreds of frontpage sites, but never one that looks professional.
If you use FrontPage, please don't take my scathing criticism of it personally. You could be the world's
most talented designer, but no one will know it if you use FrontPage.
My highest recommendation would be Macromedia Dreamweaver. You'll spend a little more time learning how
to use it, but the end result will be well worth it. (Just because you have the tools doesn't mean your
site will be a winner. You still need to adhere to design guidelines and be creative.) There are many
such softwares out there, but remember rule number 1.
Note: eVerity does not provide support for using 3rd party software.
However, we do provide support to help you upload your site from your computer to
our server.
Professional Web Design
A truly professional site is hand-coded, without the use of software to generate the HTML code for you.
It involves tasteful graphics, a carefully chosen color scheme, and a designer who can put it all
together and make it not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also useful. There is no limit to what you
can do with a professional site. If you want to show that you have a serious business then this is really
the only option. (Note, this is purely my own opinion, and not fact, but I truly believe it based on
everything I have seen in my work with hundreds of clients over the last 6 years.)
The first step should be to learn HTML, which is the technology used to format web pages.
At first glance, HTML is intimidating, but after you learn
what all those funny words mean, its easy as cake. You can learn the basics in 4 hours. I always recommend Joe
Burns' HTML primers available at
www.htmlgoodies.com. He has 7 HTML primers, which take about 30 minutes each to complete.
This a totally free site, and you'll be amazed at how Joe can make everything seem so simple.
If you do
one primer each day for 7 days, then in a week you'll know more than most people do about HTML, and web
designers won't be able to get away with overcharging you, because you will have a much better idea of
what is involved with web design. (Of course, after finishing the HTML primers,
you might just decide to make the site yourself.)
If and when you decide to hire a professional, make sure you get a web designer, and not a graphic designer
claiming to be a web designer. Graphic designers can make stunningly beautiful sites, and they can
wow you with really cool graphics. Unfortunately, design is so much more than that.
You need a site that is truly useful.
When you go shopping for a designer, listen to the sales pitch.
If the focus is on graphics and "look and feel," politely decline and find someone else.
The best designers will take an intense interest in your business
before even making a sales pitch. The better your designer understands your business, your
customers, and your goals, the better he/she will be equipped to do the job. If your chosen designer
takes a few days to get back to you with a proposal, that is probably a good thing. It means he/she is
really putting some thought into it, doing some research, and taking the success of your site very seriously.
The Most Important Aspect of Hiring a Designer
In closing, you should know that hiring a great designer isn't enough. The most important thing you can
do after this, is nothing. Thats right, I said nothing! Let your designer do his/her job. Trust their
judgment. Yes, of course you know more about your business, but they know more about your
web site, and how to use it to boost your business. They know what works and what doesn't. The whole
reason you hired them is because they are a professional designer, and you are not. Its ok to express
the occasional concern, but if an argument comes up, let the designer win. Its for your own good!
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