What does it mean to you? Unfortunately, it doesn't bring the swirls of entrepreneurship flowing from a young IT expert as much as it should. Or for that matter, a college student deciding where to go next. Why?
Well, when you say 'website design ireland', it conjures up the mess of cowboy developers who have scathed the country, demanding extortionate amounts of money from unsuspecting businesses in the past few years. A lot of people paid a lot of money, and now have nothing to show for it.
Now, I don't mean all web developers - hey I'm one! But the ones who are trustworthy know who I mean. I should say 'meant', as most of these guys have slipped back into the run-of-the-mill rip-offs they came from, leaving the newer, more cynical clients for us. Thanks.
Most of these business have a mess of a site, if they have one left and do not want to part with any more money until they get some ROI. Based on what they've experienced, I feel for them. But they should step into the frey once more - and make sure they get what they're paying for. Hey, get some quotes. You do for your insurance, right? No, it's not your fault someone took advantage, but don't let them stop you enjoying the efficiency and profits that a good, dynamic web development can give you.
There's a new dilemma, in order to stay 'safe', companies are doing one of three things. Let's have a look at the situation:
1. They're most likely approaching a student. Now, students are great, but they're busy trying to learn what us web developers do. If they were open for business, they'd have an RBN, right? They cannot provide the support, will devote as little time as possible to your development and try to get it 'done' as soon as possible. Unfortunately, a webmaster's work is never 'done' and, although you're saving some cash (which is always good), you're getting the same quality as the shysters that ripped you off last time. Thus, promoting the idea that 'the web is useless'.
2. They might go for an 'in-house' development. I've seen many realtors do this. Oh-oh. Unless you can afford to have a full-time web developer (which SME"s can?), it's not a good plan. Secretary's, like students have a role. And their role is not to develop and maintain your website (unless the sites been set up by a professional in order to facilitate this). They will not have the time to devote and it will actually cost you as much in their time as it would to hire a pro. And someone who is a professional secretary doesn't have time to study the details of HTML, XHTML, PHP, ASP, Javascript, Flash etc.. Ask them, I'm right. And however hard they try, you won't get the quality you need. It's not their fault if they're not web developers.
3. An SME gets fed up of amateurs and goes for the national advertising agencies to provide their design. Ok, this will solve the situation. You'll get a quality development, but it'll cost. And don't expect the personal service or 24hr technical support that a Self-Employed web developer will provide. You don't like the monopolies that are crushing your business with a supermarket around the corner? Well, you're help to do the same thing you fear to the little web developer around the other corner. The honest on, the one that does it because they love it. That's who you need.
So, all-in-all, you need to find a local, friendly developer. Ring around, get quotes (even if it's for next year). Again, with the car insurance parody - you don't take the first quote, right? If you don't understand the quote - make an appointment to ask him or her about the details.
Most importantly, ask EVERYONE. In the pub, the hairdresser's (avoiding the hairdresser's teenage Computer Science Student who only took it because Sociology was full). Ask in the local Chamber of Commerce. Find a local site you like the look of. Look at the bottom of the page - click the link next to 'Designed by' and get a quote. Look, you could be spending anything between €250 to €10,000, so get some pricing. Expect an average price of around €2000 for an 'avaerage' sized / funcional website. This is not a definite figure, the very nature of 'customisation' is just like the auto market. I't's like saying 'How much is a car'? Erm, €100 to €100,000. You see?
We'll stick with it, like we have for years (oh yeah - get someone who's been in the business for a few years). Make sure that in the future 'website design ireland' means quality, choice, affordability and most importantly ROI.
dr34m3r
Article #002
21/04/2004