It is important to have a strong web presence to keep ahead of the competition. However, some of the costs associated with website design are prohibitive. Here are five ways to help lower costs and keep them down:
1. Use freelancers: Freelancers will often produce quality work for less money than a design firm will charge. Why? Because they need to undercut the competition to compete. Whether you need a writer, a graphic artist, back-end programmer or concept artist, a good web design freelancer can do better work for half the cost. Elance.com has some great freelancers that you can work with, and also offers an escrow system so that your funds are safe.
2. Use a CMS: A CMS, or "Content Management System," is often easy to install, use and customize. For instance, WordPress or Joomla, even though they started as "blogging platforms," can give you a way to better connect with customers without having to hire a team of programmers. Post updates via the blog platform and use one of the free, fully functional shopping carts for sales. Custom themes for most popular CMS suites are often more reasonably priced than designs for non-standard sites.
3. Use a Graphic Editor: Even if you aren't artistically inclined, many graphics editors are useful in making simple, yet attractive, images for your site. Photoshop might be too much for your budget but Gimp is free and just as functional for simple images. Open a photograph, re-size it, add some text and then add a drop shadow to the text. It's that easy. This will bring down the cost when it's time to have a graphic artist create the more complicated aspects of the design.
4. Use Linux: This doesn't mean to switch your personal computers around to a Linux-based operating system. However, website hosting done via a Linux-based system is often less expensive than a Windows-based system. Many similar management tools are available for both types of systems, as well, and the Linux-based versions often cost less than their Windows-based counterparts.
5. Accept your limits: Human beings like to do as much as possible on their own. This is not always a realistic goal and when it comes to website design, trying to get there on your own can make a big, expensive mess. Recognize when the free options are too time-consuming, above your level of understanding or are not the most effective and then find someone who can pick up the slack.
Following these 5 steps will help you reduce your costs when creating your website, thus minimizing your investment and maximizing profits.
Marcela De Vivo
http://www.blogisblogging.com/
1. Use freelancers: Freelancers will often produce quality work for less money than a design firm will charge. Why? Because they need to undercut the competition to compete. Whether you need a writer, a graphic artist, back-end programmer or concept artist, a good web design freelancer can do better work for half the cost. Elance.com has some great freelancers that you can work with, and also offers an escrow system so that your funds are safe.
2. Use a CMS: A CMS, or "Content Management System," is often easy to install, use and customize. For instance, WordPress or Joomla, even though they started as "blogging platforms," can give you a way to better connect with customers without having to hire a team of programmers. Post updates via the blog platform and use one of the free, fully functional shopping carts for sales. Custom themes for most popular CMS suites are often more reasonably priced than designs for non-standard sites.
3. Use a Graphic Editor: Even if you aren't artistically inclined, many graphics editors are useful in making simple, yet attractive, images for your site. Photoshop might be too much for your budget but Gimp is free and just as functional for simple images. Open a photograph, re-size it, add some text and then add a drop shadow to the text. It's that easy. This will bring down the cost when it's time to have a graphic artist create the more complicated aspects of the design.
4. Use Linux: This doesn't mean to switch your personal computers around to a Linux-based operating system. However, website hosting done via a Linux-based system is often less expensive than a Windows-based system. Many similar management tools are available for both types of systems, as well, and the Linux-based versions often cost less than their Windows-based counterparts.
5. Accept your limits: Human beings like to do as much as possible on their own. This is not always a realistic goal and when it comes to website design, trying to get there on your own can make a big, expensive mess. Recognize when the free options are too time-consuming, above your level of understanding or are not the most effective and then find someone who can pick up the slack.
Following these 5 steps will help you reduce your costs when creating your website, thus minimizing your investment and maximizing profits.
Marcela De Vivo
http://www.blogisblogging.com/
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