Hi all would like to know what the average expenditure is regarding designing a website i have been scouring through many companies and graphic designers getting quotes and am amazed at the inconsistencies regarding price ...?
There doesnt seem to be an industry standard as far as hourly rates etc...I am fully aware of the importance of a strong web presence and dont want to cut corners however what would you guys consider a fair and reasonable outlay...
Standard flash site with eg 5-6 links/pages...?
As above + integrated shopping cart or online ordering facility...?
Or better still would be great to share how much some of you guys spent in designing your own.
Many Thx in advance...
Neridah
LAPhotoPro.com wrote:
sounds like you need a bludomain.com site.
Thx just checked out their site there are some nice sites at a very reasonable price...?
Do you build the site and upload the images yourself once purchased or do they help you with it.?
I designed my own site and wrote it in Notepad, but it's nothing like a BluDomain site.
I opted against the Flash design after reading about search engines and finding sites, blah blah blah. Being a Lightsphere user, I started reading Gary Fong's Xanga blog (yeah, it's often full of random and nonsensical/useless information), and he had a post from a bride that was talking about what websites appealed to her.
Someone mentioned in another thread how photographers seem to design their sites to wow other photographers rather than to present information to potential clients, often resulting in barely navigable pages or having music just start blaring from the user's speakers. Sure, it can be aesthetic to listen to soothing music while watching pictures fade in and out in Flash, but a lot of user control is lost by doing that. First, I have to manually mute the music, especially if I'm already listening to something else -- as photographer website music and rock music don't mix -- and then in a lot of cases, I watch the photo slideshow and am unable to go back to a picture until it cycles around again (this isn't always the case, since so many have Portfolio links).
My advice would be to not take the easy way out by having someone like BluDomain make your site. Granted, I would probably get blasted by several that think BluDomain hung the moon. Don't get me wrong -- they have great looking sites. By creating it yourself, you can think about what brides are looking for and implement it in to your design rather than getting a cookie-cutter website that looks identical to so many other photographers that all went with the same host. Think about the layout and what a bride wants to see rather than what you or a web designer think the bride should see. Remember, it's two totally different audiences. In many situations, the crappy-looking sites get more bookings simply because of how much easier it is to find information on the site. Give her the option to navigate freely, and especially let her be able to get to samples of your work quickly. That's the main reason they're at your site -- to see your pictures, and, if they like you, how much you cost. Don't make them sit through a slideshow over which they have no control. As an added bonus, it doesn't cost you anything more than time spent writing the code for the site.
Corey, under $100 including the software (using swift maybe?), did you already have Adobe Flash and know how to use it, or is it a simpleviewer type program using flash?
Linda Browne wrote:
Corey, under $100 including the software (using swift maybe?), did you already have Adobe Flash and know how to use it, or is it a simpleviewer type program using flash?
Very nice site.
that was for a template, I had them add in the background color, change the size of the home page images and a few other things. All I had to do was add the pictures and text, no use of flash or any other program needed.
Its not my favorite, but it works for now. I plan to learn flash this year and build one the way I want.
After all, its for your clients, not other photographers.
jermscentral wrote:
I designed my own site and wrote it in Notepad, but it's nothing like a BluDomain site.
I opted against the Flash design after reading about search engines and finding sites, blah blah blah. Being a Lightsphere user, I started reading Gary Fong's Xanga blog (yeah, it's often full of random and nonsensical/useless information), and he had a post from a bride that was talking about what websites appealed to her.
Someone mentioned in another thread how photographers seem to design their sites to wow other photographers rather than to present information to potential clients, often resulting in barely navigable pages or having music just start blaring from the user's speakers. Sure, it can be aesthetic to listen to soothing music while watching pictures fade in and out in Flash, but a lot of user control is lost by doing that. First, I have to manually mute the music, especially if I'm already listening to something else -- as photographer website music and rock music don't mix -- and then in a lot of cases, I watch the photo slideshow and am unable to go back to a picture until it cycles around again (this isn't always the case, since so many have Portfolio links).
My advice would be to not take the easy way out by having someone like BluDomain make your site. Granted, I would probably get blasted by several that think BluDomain hung the moon. Don't get me wrong -- they have great looking sites. By creating it yourself, you can think about what brides are looking for and implement it in to your design rather than getting a cookie-cutter website that looks identical to so many other photographers that all went with the same host. Think about the layout and what a bride wants to see rather than what you or a web designer think the bride should see. Remember, it's two totally different audiences. In many situations, the crappy-looking sites get more bookings simply because of how much easier it is to find information on the site. Give her the option to navigate freely, and especially let her be able to get to samples of your work quickly. That's the main reason they're at your site -- to see your pictures, and, if they like you, how much you cost. Don't make them sit through a slideshow over which they have no control. As an added bonus, it doesn't cost you anything more than time spent writing the code for the site....Show more →
Thx for the detailed response excellent advice...Although i was very impressed with the Bludomain site examples im a little concerned on the level of their customer service which apparently is quite lacking due to the volume of their work.
Will check out those others you mentioned.
Thx again
Bludomain does have lovely sites, but I'll go with Big Folio sometime in the spring. Blu reportedly has some customer service issues that they need to address.
liza wrote:
Bludomain does have lovely sites, but I'll go with Big Folio sometime in the spring. Blu reportedly has some customer service issues that they need to address.
This is true. Especially if you cancel your order like I did. Now they don't return my emails and I have to go through my cc to get money back. I never received my website from them.
I have a BD site (not live yet) very easy to work on, I did have to go through the waiting thing with them. You might also look at winklett, they have very reasonable prices and will do some customizing (for a price) if you need it, good luck.
Fstr. wrote:
I have a BD site (not live yet) very easy to work on, I did have to go through the waiting thing with them. You might also look at winklett, they have very reasonable prices and will do some customizing (for a price) if you need it, good luck.
I was initially impressed with the "Look" of the BD Templates however after reading many opinions namely on other professional forums regarding lack of customer service i will take my business elsewhere.
I read all the bad press on Bludomain. I went with them anyways. I'm on my second template (I changed my mind on the first). When I send in a support ticket, it usually takes about a day or two to get it addressed then maybe another day to get it resolved. Like I said, I knew the level of service I was going to get so with that said, my customer service experience w/ Bludomain has been tolerable. I've gotten all my support issues answered/resolved.
