If You Build It ---

    No one but YOU really knows how you want your website to look or what “feel” you want it to have.  However, you think you don’t have the time to put together a great site yourself?  You may even wonder if you are able to conceive how you want the site to look or have the ability to relate this mental vision to someone else.

     You also realize that if you want to have professional designers custom build your site, you must be prepared to dish out at least a few hundred dollars or maybe even a few thousand!  All this can change if you know where to find the best deals, the best designs for the lowest price. Here's a brief guide for you to consider:

     First, you must understand that in many cases it is a rip off to get companies to design a website for you. Have you ever seen those advertisements in newspaper classified ad sections that offer a 5-page website at $500? These companies are established companies with physical locations, therefore they have to increase the amount they charge to pay off some overheads: office rent, designer's wages, advertising costs and so on. It may also be that you are paying for some “basic” features and then when you explain what you want your site to do --- the cost starts going up --- and up --- and UP!

     Therefore, it would be wise to find a freelance designer who works from home. These people are often working from home so they do not have a high operation cost like that of the larger company. On the other hand, they will be able to design images with quality similar to those of designers from big companies, so it's a "no-brainer" choice.

     However, choose freelancers with care. The best way to do this would be to go to elance.com. There, you can post the abstract of your project and get thousands of freelancers to bid on your project, so you will surely get the best deal. On top of that, you will be able to choose the designers based on their experience, past transactions and ratings, so your value for the money you will spend is secured.

     Another route you can take is to design your website yourself. Think about it, if you only need 5 simple pages to present some simple information, why waste hundreds of dollars for it? Just spend a little time to sit down and do it yourself. You'll be able to design your own sites even if you do not know a single line of HTML code with the help of WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) programs.  There are also many on-line programs that help you in your designs.  Some, like www.jamarbizbuilder.com will allow you to build your own site FREE!  You only have to pay the hosting fees (which run about $18 per month).  Don’t be too hasty to write yourself off as being unable to design your own site.  Like I said at the beginning:  NOONE knows how your site should be better than YOU!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"When you can't be in the place you enjoy ---

enjoy the place you're in!"