SimplyRed
Well-Known Member
Im wanting to set up a website but dont want to get ripped off. Can any one give me ideas? Ive heard Vistaprint is good but im afraid my computer skills are very minimal. Thanks in advance
website
- Thread starter SimplyRed
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SusanEvian
Well-Known Member
Try in the business section, as that is the right place to post this.
Su x
Su x
Ruth Mills
Well-Known Member
Vistaprint are OK if you are happy to go with one of their pre-defined templates; the down side is that you may well end up with a website that looks very similar to lots of other people's (that use the same template) - they also charge a monthly fee. There are other template-based options that are free, or work out cheaper than Vistaprint.
If going with a web design company, you're best looking at a portfolio of their existing work - as this should give you an idea of the calibre of site that you can expect from them. Also, you need to take into account hosting costs as well as set-up costs. Some web companies may seem ostensibly cheap but you'll then find that they charge you a large annual fee for hosting, which can sometimes be as much as what they charged you in the first place for setting up your site. And some companies have been know to charge an extortionate fee (around the £100 mark) if you subsequently want to cancel your site with them and move your domain name (web address) to another company.
It's also worth asking if a web design company provides you with the ability to make changes to your website yourself (e.g. via a content management system), or if you have to ask them every time you want to change the wording on a page or add new images to a gallery. It's also definitely worth asking how much they charge for changes if they don't provide you with a content management system, and what the turn-around time for changes is.
It's also worth asking how long you're likely to wait before your website is up and running, as some companies can take several months.
Also, please beware of being "cold called" by companies, particularly those making rash claims about search engine optimisation, and asking you for "keywords" - there's a strong chance you may end up severely ripped off if going with one of those companies.
Often, word of mouth recommendation is a good marker of the overall quality of service and value for money of a given web design company too; the best companies will want to protect their hard earned reputation, and will bend over backwards to please their clients.
If going with a web design company, you're best looking at a portfolio of their existing work - as this should give you an idea of the calibre of site that you can expect from them. Also, you need to take into account hosting costs as well as set-up costs. Some web companies may seem ostensibly cheap but you'll then find that they charge you a large annual fee for hosting, which can sometimes be as much as what they charged you in the first place for setting up your site. And some companies have been know to charge an extortionate fee (around the £100 mark) if you subsequently want to cancel your site with them and move your domain name (web address) to another company.
It's also worth asking if a web design company provides you with the ability to make changes to your website yourself (e.g. via a content management system), or if you have to ask them every time you want to change the wording on a page or add new images to a gallery. It's also definitely worth asking how much they charge for changes if they don't provide you with a content management system, and what the turn-around time for changes is.
It's also worth asking how long you're likely to wait before your website is up and running, as some companies can take several months.
Also, please beware of being "cold called" by companies, particularly those making rash claims about search engine optimisation, and asking you for "keywords" - there's a strong chance you may end up severely ripped off if going with one of those companies.
Often, word of mouth recommendation is a good marker of the overall quality of service and value for money of a given web design company too; the best companies will want to protect their hard earned reputation, and will bend over backwards to please their clients.
try Create - The website you want that are very cheap and easy to use, I have used them for a few years now and made a fabby looking site for myself, there is a free demo to, so try it out
Foxykim
Active Member
Get Ruth( Mills) to do it for you!!!! She designed my website and is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to web design, plus she is really reasonably priced......
Have a look at my website which was done a few months ago. Has bought me in soooo much business-def worth investing in one. Good luck:hug:
Kim xx
Have a look at my website which was done a few months ago. Has bought me in soooo much business-def worth investing in one. Good luck:hug:
Kim xx
xxhaylzxx
Well-Known Member
Another reccomendation for Ruth i have just had my website done by her and its fab. Absolutely love it!
xx
xx
Ruth Mills
Well-Known Member
Honestly I can't take all the credit - it's a team effort with the wonderful Extensionize (Carl) on graphics...
EMMA AT ELITE
Well-Known Member
You want a website but not to get ripped off - its a no brainer - Ruth Mills & Carl Verve!
Ruth & Carl work alongside each other, Carl designers you a logo, then does all the graphics on the site, then ruth does all the rest!
They are both VERY affordable, & along with the website you get a weblizer system thing so you can see all the statistics, how many visits, hits, from where, etc & Salon Alchemy site which you can update information, "ok" testimonails, add spaecial offers, change prices, store clients details & many many more things.
Check my site out to see how great their work is!
Ruth & Carl work alongside each other, Carl designers you a logo, then does all the graphics on the site, then ruth does all the rest!
They are both VERY affordable, & along with the website you get a weblizer system thing so you can see all the statistics, how many visits, hits, from where, etc & Salon Alchemy site which you can update information, "ok" testimonails, add spaecial offers, change prices, store clients details & many many more things.
Check my site out to see how great their work is!
The Beauty Shed
Well-Known Member
What's your website...can we have a look? I LOVE the idea of this!
The Beauty Shed
Well-Known Member
I have also contacted you Ruth through your website.
mine is FizzyMelon NailSpa and if you go to Create - The website you want there is some sample sites there too.
wah-nails
Active Member
You can easily build a website yourself using many of the free blog templates on offer. For example Tumblr or wordpress.com
Have a look at our temporary blog while we are doing our nail site. WAH NAILS
All the staff take pictures of the nails with their phone (admittedly the iphone is crap for phone pictures, but the blackberry ones are good) and they email them DIRECT to the website. This saves so much time in uploading pics and I can edit every element of the site myself without having to contact (and be charged) by a webmaster every time i do so. The site also links to our twitter account so that our twitter fans are updated every time there is a new nail design...
Please DM me if you need any help. It can seem complicated at first but once its set up its a breeze!
Have a look at our temporary blog while we are doing our nail site. WAH NAILS
All the staff take pictures of the nails with their phone (admittedly the iphone is crap for phone pictures, but the blackberry ones are good) and they email them DIRECT to the website. This saves so much time in uploading pics and I can edit every element of the site myself without having to contact (and be charged) by a webmaster every time i do so. The site also links to our twitter account so that our twitter fans are updated every time there is a new nail design...
Please DM me if you need any help. It can seem complicated at first but once its set up its a breeze!
tanninglass
Member
As i think i've mentioned before - the guy we work with Andy is pretty good and pretty damn cheap.
He mentioned something about grants he can get & financial strategies so that new starts pay very little upfront - making it much less of a risk for them (though i think more scary for him, but the guy thinks it will work so just ask him about it )
Email him [email protected]
or visit his sites andykinsey.co.uk and seoandy.com
He mentioned something about grants he can get & financial strategies so that new starts pay very little upfront - making it much less of a risk for them (though i think more scary for him, but the guy thinks it will work so just ask him about it
)Email him [email protected]
or visit his sites andykinsey.co.uk and seoandy.com
Ruth Mills
Well-Known Member
As i think i've mentioned before - the guy we work with Andy is pretty good and pretty damn cheap.
He mentioned something about grants he can get & financial strategies so that new starts pay very little upfront - making it much less of a risk for them (though i think more scary for him, but the guy thinks it will work so just ask him about it
Email him [email protected]
or visit his sites andykinsey.co.uk and seoandy.com
How does he get his hands on grants etc like that? I thought they were normally snaffled up by really big companies like BT... would be great if there was something like that available for small businesses too...
The Beauty Shed
Well-Known Member
Would definately be good if it was available for small businesses too. I originally set up in 2004 and used a template for my website as I couldn't afford to get one designed for me. I never liked it that much and at last I am able to get one done, I have decided to go with Ruth (salon alchemy). Even in the first 24 hours I know I have made the right decision.
