| Web Site Management for Photographers: Inexpensive Designs by Crimson Star |
All of these articles will show you ways to control costs on your web site. Let's examine three ways you can design your website without breaking the piggy bank. If your design is not an original, then it must be "used." Copycats 'R Us Web developers use templates to create new websites based upon existing designs. These web site templates are no more complicated that your word-processing templates. You simply look at the sample web site designs and pick the one you like best. The web developer pushes a few buttons, and in less then a minute you have your own web site design! It is not unique, but it is cheap. You enter your own text and photos into the spaces provided. Remember to add your contact information, including your e-mail address. That's it. You're done. Do you want more? Web developers are always happy to customize template-built sites. Be careful. Some developers charge by the item. For example, each hyperlink you add to your links page might cost you an extra $15. Don't go for a cheap template, only to let them "nickel-and-dime" you to death. After all, how hard can this be? Is Web Design Child's Play? Maybe students aren't learning the "three Rs" in schools today, but they certainly are learning about the Internet. Any bright student might be able to create your web site if he/she has the appropriate software. As a responsible adult, you must ask: Does the student own this software, or is it a pirated copy? Does he/she own the rights to this template, or has it been stolen from a copyrighted site? Will this student be able to deliver a professional product, on time? Sometimes, the answer will be yes. Most times, the answer will be no. Let's Get Technical Students that attend an Institute of Technology, Junior College or University are the best source of almost-free labor. They often have a required "Projects" course, where they work in small teams. Each team is assigned to a local business, to solve some problem. The work is either free, or for a very small fee. Sometimes the students have the required software, from their school. Other times, you will be required to purchase the software and let them use it. These free projects are very popular. You must call all the technical schools in your area and find out how to register with them. Don't be surprised if you have to sign up in April in order to be on their list for September! Often, there are not enough students to meet the demand. Your project might not be selected. These students are usually quite serious and professional. They will try to do a good job for you. It is up to you to provide the supervision they need. Make sure that you will retain the rights to use the web site design after the project terminates. Let's Make A Deal There are a lot of start-up web developers out there. These people might need a source of photos for their client's web sites. You might be able to trade your photos for their work on your web site. They already have access to lots of free stock images, so you might offer your services instead. If one of their clients needs a portrait of the CEO for their web site, you could do the shoot as a sub-contractor for a specified value against your own site costs. Time Is Money You should certainly explore these potential sources of cheap design. Your main task will be to control the time factor. A web site that isn't ready won't attract any photobuyers. When your web site is ready, you need to "host" it on a computer that is permanently connected to the Internet. A company that provides this service is called an Internet Presence Provider (IPP). Business is competitive, and each IPP offers slightly different services for a given fee. If the features that your web site design requires do not exactly match the services that your IPP provide in their basic package, then you will be hit with extra charges that quickly add up. Next month, I will explain the most important features to look for, and suggest some that you should avoid using at this time.
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