WS - Are Website Designers Really Worth the Expense?

You have a bricks and mortar business that relies on customers. You recognize the power of the internet and the need to get your business online and fast! So, what do you do?

Following the herd would dictate that you approach a website developer/designer and discuss what you want. More often than not, you will be the one that has to create the content, provide the pictures and decide on the layout and functionality. In effect, you are the designer, with the massively overpaid developer simply putting it altogether and making it available on line.

In most cases, the designer/developer simply uses lots of overly complicated jargon to justify their position.

There is another way!

Building your own website can be a daunting thought and that is why most shy away from it. However, as well as saving your business money, learning to build your own website can be an incredibly enjoyable experience.

For those of you that have ever used a Word Processor, there is a Website Design Software Package that allows you to create websites using the same principles. You do not need any knowledge of HTML or web language, you do not need experience of designing the websites as there are hundreds of templates available within the software and online. All you need is the desire to create your own website.

There are several things to consider when creating a website:

1 - The name of the website - or domain
2 - Hosting the website - where the site will sit online
3 - The content and layout of the website
4 - Designing the actual website
5 - Getting your design onto the web

You need to decide on the name of your website and see if that name is available - most people would use their business name or products that they offer. Hosting the site is very easy and can be very cheap. Designing the content and layout is the most challenging and rewarding aspect of website design. Getting the website online is also very simple.

Firstly, visit a web hosting company online and buy your domain name and hosting package. Secondly, decide what you want to put on your website and how you want to lay it out. Thirdly, enter all the information into your website design software and then publish it to the internet using FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

This may seem a bit too simple, but that is all that is required. Regardless of your experience, it really is possible to create a professional, cost effective website that you can be proud of.