| If you're trying to find a Website Designer in Tampa, | | | | Tampa Website Design Company? |
| Florida --get ready to be overwhelmed. Not so much | | | | Vision. First be aware of your vision for your |
| by the sheer number of website designers that can be | | | | company's website. Write down what you would like |
| found on the web, but by the fact that there's an | | | | your site to look like, collect a few web addresses of |
| obvious lack of service with many. | | | | other sites that you like. Think about color choices, |
| I just have to say it "Did the Realtors who left their | | | | graphics, copy (include your keywords) and then |
| sales positions in search of a new career go into | | | | roughly figure out how many pages you'll need. This |
| freelance website design?" Having said that against | | | | can be determined by looking at other sites as well |
| some better judgment yet...having worked with many in | | | | then adding "links" or new pages as desired. |
| the Real Estate Industry who I considered to be true | | | | Budget. You probably already know what you can |
| professionals, I've learned much about what it takes to | | | | spend or are willing to spend on your company |
| be an exceptional realtor. In the not so distant past | | | | website. Start by calculating the number of pages by |
| however, everyone seemed to hold a license to sell | | | | at least $80 per page for a simple identity site. Add an |
| real estate and "exceptional realtor" wasn't often easily | | | | extra $10-$20 (per page) additionally for file downloads, |
| found ---even though the choices were numerous. You | | | | uploads, blogs, feeds, etc. Now, those of you who are |
| could FIND a realtor...No problem. Every other neighbor, | | | | panicking right now...STOP THAT! This is just a very |
| business owner--EVERYONE had a license to sell my | | | | basic way to come to a rough estimate. It's just a |
| house! Why? Well, because it sounded like a good | | | | guideline. The cost can and will fluctuate higher or |
| idea for many to have a license---and quite frankly it | | | | lower by as much as 20-80% depending on who you |
| was easy to obtain. At the time few could foretell the | | | | hire. And, yes, I find that amazing as well. Add to the |
| effect it would have on that industry. Well---now we | | | | above any extra graphic design or logo work, photo |
| know. | | | | optimization services, scans, text (copy) special |
| I'm beginning to wonder if the same type of scenario | | | | programming or scripting to that amount. Rates for |
| isn't occurring in the website and graphic design | | | | these separate services vary but start at around $15 |
| industry. I had to laugh when the thought entered my | | | | per hour roughly. That's what most kids out of school |
| mind, yet if you've looked for a website designer in the | | | | charge at a minimum. Be fair, they aren't working at |
| Tampa area, you'll quickly see what I mean. The | | | | McDonalds. They have a skill and should be paid for it. |
| choices are many-- which can be a good thing, or like | | | | (That's another article and no I'm not a recent |
| the real estate industry---it can end up being a really | | | | graduate!) |
| bad thing as well. I suppose time will tell. | | | | Additional Services. How do you know if you need |
| Much like the person who knows nothing about real | | | | special programming or scripting? ASK. If you need a |
| estate, and who must hire someone to sell their home, | | | | database or some special language or scripting, your |
| choosing a website designer when you aren't | | | | designer should know this as soon as you present |
| knowledgeable of the process can be risky. With so | | | | your "vision" along with your examples of other |
| many web designers to choose from how do you | | | | websites to them. You have to simply ask the |
| know where to begin or what to be aware of? If you | | | | question, even if you don't quite understand the |
| know nothing about how a website is built, how then | | | | answer. It generally comes down to cost. If you don't |
| will you recognize the difference between a good | | | | ask then it would be very easy for your designer to |
| Tampa website designer and a bad one? Aren't they | | | | charge you an additional amount later having known |
| all the same? Again, let's compare this to hiring a | | | | you required the service at the start. Be aware. |
| realtor. Not all realtors offer the same level of service | | | | Talent. Wow! There is so much talent out there that it's |
| (even though they should) to reach the same end | | | | scary. There are the creative designers and smart |
| result. House sold, website built. In both industries some | | | | programmers. There are even some who have no |
| people have more or less experience, some charge | | | | real talent in either design or programming, yet they |
| more or less, some will do more for you and some | | | | can take a template and change it to be used for your |
| may do just enough to get them by. Some have a big | | | | company website. (Not recommended) There are |
| name and are high profile... some of the best in the | | | | those who are expert "Search Engine Otimizationizers" |
| industry who aren't highly exposed--- will work harder | | | | (I know it's not a word) and those who can write copy |
| for you. Depending on who you hire you may pay for | | | | that can make a viewer laugh or cry---or buy---on |
| actual services rendered or you may pay for their | | | | demand. There is more than enough talent so how |
| fancy cars or offices while they render you a okay | | | | should you choose? Look for a company who can |
| service. Some have too much business to manage | | | | multitask. The success of your company website will |
| and cannot give you the desired attention; some have | | | | depend on it. In short, attempt to find a Tampa website |
| no business and are going under. Trust me; it's the | | | | design firm who employs creative designers, writers, |
| same game, just a different industry. | | | | programmers, and who has a background in marketing. |
| Most consumers are looking for the most affordable | | | | I know, the cash register in your brain is "ching-chinging" |
| service ---yet others elect the company that has the | | | | away, but you'll be surprised how affordable hiring |
| largest corporate office building accessorized with all | | | | someone with all of these skills can be if you take the |
| of the glamour of an NYC advertising giant. Those | | | | time to look. |
| folks don't mind absorbing the costs of their website | | | | Customer Service. I can't stress enough how important |
| designer's luxurious habits. And that's not a bad thing. | | | | customer service will be while your website is being |
| Someone has to use them. What if you're the | | | | designed. You will want to communicate often with |
| average small business owner or entrepreneur who is | | | | your designer. As with any type of service, you know |
| just starting a new venture or jump starting an existing | | | | how frustrating it can be to be either put on perpetual |
| business? I can only comment on website designers in | | | | hold or to sit for days or weeks awaiting a call back. |
| the Tampa area. I'm sure though that the problem | | | | We take pride in setting high standards when it comes |
| exists in every metropolis. Too many website | | | | to providing you with excellent customer service. From |
| designers, not enough service. | | | | 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. six days a week we'll be available to |
| But is service that important? Small business owners | | | | you and we don't think that's going too far. You won't |
| looking for a website design company want and need | | | | be connected with a "representative" either. You'll |
| the following qualities that comprise the perfect | | | | speak directly to the person who is building your site... |
| website designer or website company. | | | | every time. Ask for references and read the |
| Talented, Knowledgeable, Affordable, Reputable, | | | | testimonials of all prospective designers. Don't rely |
| Reliable, Available, Flexible and Generally Local. | | | | solely on testimonials. Call or email your potential |
| With all of the choices available to the small business | | | | designer's previous customers and ask about their |
| owner choosing usually boils down to making one or | | | | experience with them. It's not just the end result of the |
| two phone calls---then, it's generally hit or miss. Why? | | | | design that matters. It's the overall experience you'll |
| Most small business owners know nothing about the | | | | have with your website designer. |
| website design process. They don't know what | | | | This should help you to narrow your choice down and |
| questions to ask or how to ask them. Many (most) | | | | if you take time to look you'll find that obtaining not one |
| end up hiring "on the fly" and then must look forward | | | | but ALL of the services mentioned above and |
| to initiating some level of damage control six months | | | | wrapped up into one website design company can be |
| later. Once they get over the shame of it, they come | | | | affordable. |
| to me. I tell them it's nothing to be ashamed of. I admit | | | | *Just a note on searching for a local website design |
| to them that I know nothing about many things so | | | | firm. Try doing an advanced search or searching in |
| when it comes time for me to "consume" I attempt to | | | | Yahoo! or Google's "local" directory and don't always |
| educate myself on the subject yet at times and | | | | go for the designers who are ranking highest in position |
| against all better judgment I'll jump right in with "blind | | | | on Google or Yahoo. This is not an endorsement of |
| trust." I don't recommend the second choice and have | | | | any kind and often, all this means that you may in |
| also been disappointed after making such reckless | | | | some way absorb the cost of another's advertising |
| decisions. Hey...It happens. | | | | campaign. |
| What Should You Consider Prior to Choosing a | | | | |