[caryjames]

I just got off of the phone with my graphic designer, we were discussing how to proceed with the design of my website. I was surprised to hear the $$ figures for even a bare bones website.

Most of this was for a license fee ($2000) for the updating program and the programming costs ($1500-2500) -they outsource the programming to another company. On top of this would be the design cost for the 5-7 pages with subcategories.

Have any of you designed and programmed your own website? If so do you have any tips- I figure if I can learn Maxwell I can learn how to do anything !!

Thanks in advance for your replies.
Cary

[yolk]

you can pick up dreamwaever or flash very quickly. also you could buy good webtaemplates for 100$ and change them to your needs.

i can understand both of you guys..you don't want to pay too much but your webdesigner also wants to make a living.

[Maximus3D]

Ouch that sounds awfully expensive for a simple website if you want the really cheap solution, it's free i'm putting together my website on Google Sites. It's restricted in many ways but if you can live with that it's not too bad. But if you wanna be more serious which i assume you are then plz just ignore my post.

http://www.google.com/sites/help/intl/en/overview.html

/ Max

[caryjames]

Thanks Yolk- I totally understand that my web designer needs to make a living. At the moment I am starting up my company and I just don't have the cash to outlay $4000- 6000 for the site. I will still get my graphic designer to design the pages and I will then try to program the site myself- I do not want any flash so hopefully it will be easier .
Cary

[JDHill]

If you're up for it, you can download Microsoft's Visual Web Developer application; it's free: http://www.microsoft.com/express/vwd/ . If you aren't looking for deep user/database types of functionality, it's not too hard to pick up what you need to build a website. Hosting, domain management, and email setup can get a bit more technical, but it's nothing you can't handle if you decide to take an active interest in it.

[yolk]

actually i always found flash easier for websites than dreamweaver. over 95 percent of the browsers worldwide have the flash plug-in...even acrobat reader does not have that penetration. just don't overdo it with cheesy animations

[caryjames]

Thanks JD- Initially I just wanted to hand it off to someone to develop based on my input and images but the cash outlay at this stage is just too much based on everything else that I need .... showcases, retail rent etc. At least for now I just need something that is user friendly and simple to manage... and of course looks good

[caryjames]

no flash or animations

[Maximus3D]

Too bad, then you probably can't have a website as good looking as Homer Simpsons site.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMyEGgbrJBw

/ Max

[yolk]

i don't know where you're from but if there's an art school nearby you might wanna post this job offer. then a young and talented graphic- or multimedia designer will do it for less money. she'll get the credit of doing a real project and you'll get a top notch website. maybe you'll fall in love with that blond graphic designer..you'll marry her and you'll have have 13 beautiful children..all girls..and one of them will win the nobel price one day

[-Adrian]

I'd recommend a CMS like Wordpress, Drupal, Joomla etc.

If you just want a site done, the amount of effort you have to put into learning proper HTML isn't worth it imo.

over 95 percent of the browsers worldwide have the flash plug-in

Not true, even if Macromedia... ehmm Adobe has been propagating this for years. You can surely expect that percentage in the CGI community though.

[rusteberg]

carryjames, if your hosting plan supports php, then it's likely they have php sources you can easily upload to one of your directories and assign a MSQL database to........ such as Wordpress, Xoops, Drupal, etc.... all of which allow you to manage and upload content yourself and can choose from thousands of templates to use. Hope this helps.

woops, just saw -adrian's post

[caryjames]

Thanks everyone, I will spend a bit of time checking out Xoops, etc and see where to go from here.

Thanks yolk.... my partner might not like the blond graphic designer but she might prefer that I have kids with someone else Good idea about the graphic design school though!

[LiW]

uuuh. sound nice
our webmaster is currently working on fullflash editable website for about 700$ we did the design, he's making things move

check the www.hypertemplates.com and its photography tab

[Hervé]

Dreamweaver and Flash... com'on.. so easy.. I mean even I could make it work..

... and on a note, it is always better to do it yourself.. because if you want to change things like images... whatever.. you'll do it yourself.. faster... cheaper in the long run...