How Much Should A Web Site Cost?
If you don't know the answer to that question then
you might as well just wear a blindfold and hold
out your wallet because, in my experience, a web
site is worth exactly what a client is willing to
pay. As silly as it may sound, I've known companies
that have paid $3500 for a 5-page web site that was
constructed by some punk kid using an off-the-shelf
template package (and it looked it) but the client
didn't care because they were unsophisticated about
design and had money to burn.
Who Can You Trust?
Think of web design like the game of chess. It's
pretty easy for anyone to pick up the basics but it
takes years of practice to learn the intricacies
and stay one step ahead of the competition. So look
at the web sites a company purports to have built.
Do they look good, load quick, run effortlessly? If
so, and they're within your budget, pull the
trigger and stay active in the design
process.
What Makes Me Special?
I'm primarily a Graphic Artist but I've been
designing web sites for over five years. Initially
it was to promote my artwork but I slowly began
accepting new commissions until web design became a
permanent part of my portfolio. After all, it's an
art, too. Right?
Using the chess analogy again, I'm not exactly a Grand Master that can play 20 games at once, blindfolded, but I can think about 5-6 moves ahead so it puts me in the advanced class of web designers.
What helps is that I have 10-plus years of Graphic Design tallent behind me and over 10 years of experience using all the latest digital tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, GoLive, and a plethora of other tools. I understand design and the requirements of a good, usable graphic interface.
Using the chess analogy again, I'm not exactly a Grand Master that can play 20 games at once, blindfolded, but I can think about 5-6 moves ahead so it puts me in the advanced class of web designers.
What helps is that I have 10-plus years of Graphic Design tallent behind me and over 10 years of experience using all the latest digital tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, GoLive, and a plethora of other tools. I understand design and the requirements of a good, usable graphic interface.
That's All Very Nice But What Do You Charge?
My rate for web design is $40 an hour. This
typically translates to about $100-$125 a page for
an average web site although more complicated sites
cost a bit more. Your mileage will vary because no
two sites are identical. My average bill for a
6-page web site is about $750, which includes
custom graphics, so your site won't look like
anyone else's, plus a few secret tricks of my own
invention to get Google's undivided attention.
Oddly, $40-an-hour sounds like a lot to some people but it's less than half what you pay the plumber or your auto mechanic. But unlike having the toilet unclogged a web site is primarily designed to make you money so everything I do is a business expense and, tantalizingly enough, a tax write-off. So go ahead ...splurge! I'm worth it. And so are you.
If this isn't enough information just drop me an email and I'll try to answer all your questions.
Oddly, $40-an-hour sounds like a lot to some people but it's less than half what you pay the plumber or your auto mechanic. But unlike having the toilet unclogged a web site is primarily designed to make you money so everything I do is a business expense and, tantalizingly enough, a tax write-off. So go ahead ...splurge! I'm worth it. And so are you.
If this isn't enough information just drop me an email and I'll try to answer all your questions.
