Can someone please give me some advice?

Horace

Hi all

I am hoping that one of you lovely technical computer whizzes can give me some advice? I am in the process of setting up my own business on zero funds (I hope to be able to get some funding from the jobcentre or a charitable trust) and I am in need of a web presence. Now I have looked on 123 and I can buy my domain name from them but their site goes on about hosting and the like and I have absolutely no idea what to do.

I need a professionally designed website as that will project a good image for my business and once again I am having difficulty because I don't really know what is involved and what would be a reasonable cost?

Any help and advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in anticpation

Horace

Marty_J

Hosting is very cheap nowadays and often comes with a free domain name, so I wouldn't worry yourself too much about that.

Unless you're into website design, getting a professional looking website with zero funds is the tricky bit. Do you have a college locally? If so, they often have evening classes in such things, or you might be able to talk one of the students into designing you a website.

skint999

All depends on what your'e having on the website. Do you need any functions adding? i.e. If your'e an online retailer then you will probably need to add shopping basket or secure payment facility, or maybe a discussion forum, these can be quite tricky to add and wouldn't advise on doing this yourself if you have little knowledge on webdesign.

What does your website need to include??

Horace

Hi - dont worry about me having zero funds right now, I am addressing that problem.

My website needs to have details of me, details about what my business does, the packages that I offer and my charges. A contact sheet for people to email me would also be good. Also some royalty free wedding pics would be handy too.

I don't need an online shop or discussion board.

I just need an idea of what I would be prepared to pay and what the going rate for a professional job would be.

Marty_J

That sounds like a pretty basic website. You might be able to knock something up yourself using Google Sites:

http://sites.google.com/

Keep it nice and simple would be my advice.

skint999

Wouldn't cost that much, if its just an information website then your looking at £140 for the 1st page then £30-£40 for each consectuive page therafter. If you look on a webdesign resourse site then you can post your requirements and webdesigners will quote for your work. Only pay for webhost and domain upfront, then the rest when the job's done ;-)

Horace

Marty_J wrote: »

That sounds like a pretty basic website. You might be able to knock something up yourself using Google Sites:

http://sites.google.com/

Keep it nice and simple would be my advice.

Thanks Marty, although I have the technology to do it, I don't have the capability (I know because I had a site once that I designed myself - it worked but it looked amateurish). I don't want an amateur job because I want to give my business the right image as I offer a bespoke wedding and event planning service.

skint999

Try contacting your local college and see if there is a student in an advanced class that will take this job on as a course project, this would be dirt cheap, and good quality too as plenty of time would be spent on it.

20000RPM

If you want it to look professional, then be prepared to pay for it. I think Skint999's prices are way too low. You can find some ready-made sites here: http://www.oswd.org/

skint999

20000RPM wrote: »

If you want it to look professional, then be prepared to pay for it. I think Skint999's prices are way too low. You can find some ready-made sites here: http://www.oswd.org/

I wouldnt pay much more for a basic site, web designers have their own portfolio of templates (or ready made sites as you call them lol). If your able to choose something that has already been designed then it will be quite cheap. If your looking for a site to be designed from scratch incl. artwork and layout then it will be at a higher cost, it's just something else to weigh up i suppose

madbazoo

Have a look at Microsoft Office Live for small businesses at http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/
I set up a simple website with a dedicated web address for about £12. I thought it was pretty easy to do using the online software. It also included email addresses to match the website which could be redirected to your existing email accounts.