Entrepreneurs Playground

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Jeff Underwood
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New Website
I want to give one of my businesses a new facelift in the shape of a new website design. There are about 10 pages involved and I have a good idea of how I want 1Scan Mark 2 to look.

I appreciate this might be a "how long is a piece of string" question but .....

I want these pages produced in html so I can add / modify myself, and I'd like a new logo. Looking at UK web design companies prices seem to have dropped through the floor over here - what would be a reasonable budget to set for an outsourced development project?

Would it be sensible to bundle in writing the copy for the new site or is that better done as a distinct task?

Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk
- 30 Nov 2008, 12:52 pm
Jeff Underwood wrote: > I want to give one of my businesses a new facelift in the shape of a > new website design. There are about 10 pages involved and I have a > good idea of how I want 1Scan Mark 2 to look. > > I appreciate this might be a "how long is a piece of string" question > but ..... > > I want these pages produced in html so I can add / modify myself, and > I'd like a new logo. Looking at UK web design companies prices seem > to have dropped through the floor over here - what would be a > reasonable budget to set for an outsourced development project? > > Would it be sensible to bundle in writing the copy for the new site > or is that better done as a distinct task? > > Jeff Underwood > 1Scan.co.uk
Ken Mulcahy
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Re: New Website
Hi Jeff,

Seems to me that you really need to get two different people involved for the project.

I would probably look for a graphic designed type person for the look & feel for the site, plus the logo. These people are generally very experienced in building websites, particularly simple ones like you describe.

The copy portion can be a science by itself. Depends on what the copy goals are.... for example you may be interested in SEO [Search Engine Optimization] or maybe the concern is messaging and readability [more marketing]. You could be looking at using a copywriter, marketing person, or Web analytic type person.

In both cases, there is a lot more to it than meets the eye. I would recommend that you really put together a well thought out document of what your specific goals are for the site and go from there.

Hope this helps,

Ken Mulcahy
ETP
http://www.emergingtechnologypartners.com
- 02 Dec 2008, 11:37 am
Ken Mulcahy wrote: > Hi Jeff, > > Seems to me that you really need to get two different people involved > for the project. > > I would probably look for a graphic designed type person for the look > & feel for the site, plus the logo. These people are generally very > experienced in building websites, particularly simple ones like you > describe. > > The copy portion can be a science by itself. Depends on what the copy > goals are.... for example you may be interested in SEO [Search Engine > Optimization] or maybe the concern is messaging and readability [more > marketing]. You could be looking at using a copywriter, marketing > person, or Web analytic type person. > > In both cases, there is a lot more to it than meets the eye. I would > recommend that you really put together a well thought out document of > what your specific goals are for the site and go from there. > > Hope this helps, > > Ken Mulcahy > ETP > www.emergingtechnologypartners.com
ABDUL S. QURESHI
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Re^2: New Website
Hi Jeff!!

We can definitely assist you!!

Please do send across more details on the project at the following email id:

info@promediaadvt.ae

I could definitely have one my my business associates get back to you with a proper quote for the logo designing and website design & development.

Is there a budget you have in mind??

Thanks!!
- 07 Dec 2008, 10:41 pm
ABDUL S. QURESHI wrote: > Hi Jeff!! > > We can definitely assist you!! > > Please do send across more details on the project at the following > email id: > > info@promediaadvt.ae > > I could definitely have one my my business associates get back to you > with a proper quote for the logo designing and website design & > development. > > Is there a budget you have in mind?? > > Thanks!!
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Rodolphe Mortreuil
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Re^4: New Website
Hi Jeff,

When I last did my site re-design, I talked to a web-design firm who convinced me to use their own copy-writer. It was a bad idea.

The copy-writing is at least as important to the site as the actual design and is the one component you can add most value yourself as you are the one who knows what points, ideas and concepts are most important to put forward effectively.

You NEED to have a very good relationship with the copy-writer and not take first-pick. You need to find someone you can almost bond with, who will understand you as a person, your wishes, and to some degree your business (although, since it will be a collaborative work, you will be able to correct and direct as needed).

If you are looking for a site in English, I will be happy to give you the name of the person I worked with if you want. You might even want to work with you web-design company's preferred supplier, but my point is that you should interview that person separately and make sure they understand the message you want to put across.

Regards,
Rodolphe.
- 08 Dec 2008, 10:59 am
Rodolphe Mortreuil wrote: > Hi Jeff, > > When I last did my site re-design, I talked to a web-design firm who > convinced me to use their own copy-writer. It was a bad idea. > > The copy-writing is at least as important to the site as the actual > design and is the one component you can add most value yourself as > you are the one who knows what points, ideas and concepts are most > important to put forward effectively. > > You NEED to have a very good relationship with the copy-writer and > not take first-pick. You need to find someone you can almost bond > with, who will understand you as a person, your wishes, and to some > degree your business (although, since it will be a collaborative > work, you will be able to correct and direct as needed). > > If you are looking for a site in English, I will be happy to give you > the name of the person I worked with if you want. You might even want > to work with you web-design company's preferred supplier, but my > point is that you should interview that person separately and make > sure they understand the message you want to put across. > > Regards, > Rodolphe.
Jeff Underwood
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Re^5: New Website
Thanks Rodolphe, great advice.

I have spoken to one copy writer and decided not to go with him, I'm sure he does great work but had no sympathy with technology.

Jeff Underwood

1Scan - photo scanning service
http://www.1scan.co.uk
- 12 Dec 2008, 2:15 pm
Jeff Underwood wrote: > Thanks Rodolphe, great advice. > > I have spoken to one copy writer and decided not to go with him, I'm > sure he does great work but had no sympathy with technology. > > Jeff Underwood > > 1Scan - photo scanning service > www.1scan.co.uk
H. Dean Hua Group moderator
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Re^6: New Website
but my point is that you should interview that person separately and make sure they understand the message you want to put across.
Or more importantly, the copywriter should know when to let the client know that the client's message could be the wrong one. Good writers and designers should be consultants and not just order-takers. They tell the client what they *should* hear and not always what they *want* to hear.
- 16 Dec 2008, 06:42 am
H. Dean Hua wrote: > > but my point is that you should interview that person separately and > > make sure they understand the message you want to put across. > > Or more importantly, the copywriter should know when to let the > client know that the client's message could be the wrong one. Good > writers and designers should be consultants and not just > order-takers. They tell the client what they *should* hear and not > always what they *want* to hear.
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Rajesh Satyarthi
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Suggestions
Based on your current site a couple of things:

1. as already suggested set your goals for copy.
2. simultaneously consult with a designer the "structure of website" e.g. sitemap, homepage content, things to highlight etc.
3. once you have content and structure ready hire a designer who you think can a) listen to you b) suggest creative ideas c) and most importantly - capable of visualizing the message you want to give to your targeted audience.

these are the basic qualities you should look on one, although your current site could also have a better user-interface easier and faster because its a single specialized service.

one more thing.

4. go very careful with logo because this is what you don't want to change for years to come. its very important that your logo/brand should communicate the right message while have possibility of expansion (who knows you might want to offer more related services later).

Good Luck.
Rajesh Satyarthi

PS: Contact me i think i can help, as i have business site experience. I might give you what you are looking for.
- 04 Jan 2009, 06:50 am
Rajesh Satyarthi wrote: > Based on your current site a couple of things: > > 1. as already suggested set your goals for copy. > 2. simultaneously consult with a designer the "structure of website" > e.g. sitemap, homepage content, things to highlight etc. > 3. once you have content and structure ready hire a designer who you > think can a) listen to you b) suggest creative ideas c) and most > importantly - capable of visualizing the message you want to give to > your targeted audience. > > these are the basic qualities you should look on one, although your > current site could also have a better user-interface easier and > faster because its a single specialized service. > > > one more thing. > > 4. go very careful with logo because this is what you don't want to > change for years to come. its very important that your logo/brand > should communicate the right message while have possibility of > expansion (who knows you might want to offer more related services > later). > > > Good Luck. > Rajesh Satyarthi > > PS: Contact me i think i can help, as i have business site > experience. I might give you what you are looking for.
Richard Morton
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Re: Suggestions
Jeff,

Much depends on the purpose(s) of the site but having a good copywriter and a web designer who codes to web standards can really help with search engine optimisation. If it is important to be found on the search engines then a few basics make all the difference:

1) Do keyword research - and if you are attracting local business then include location as well.
2) Code the website to current web standards (e.g. don't use table markup for layout, use CSS instead). As well as being search engine friendly this helps greatly with accessibility by anyone using screenreader software (blind/visually impaired users), or naivigating without the use of a mouse.
3) Make sure that paragraphs and headings are marked up in HTML as such, again this helps with accessibility as well.
4) Use accepted conventions in web design (not necessarily strictly but anything that makes your users feel at home and find your site easy to use is a plus), e.g. logo generally in the top left and linking to the home page for easy navigation back, search box (you probably won't need one if your site is only ten pages), top right.

Even with only a ten page site I would recommend a content management system, so that you can change all aspects of the content in future.

You don't need to spend a fortune to optimise your site for the search engines. As well as the above tips, the following help:
1) age of the domain - if it's more than a year old you have a distinct advantage
2) title tag for each page - probably the single most important factor, ensure it contains relevant information, and is different for each of your pages, and don't include waffle (e.g. "welcome to our home page" is just wasted".
3) Get relevant backlinks to your site, don't buy them and only link from sites with content that is relevant to your website. One relatively easy way to do this is to read other's blogs and comment on them (but only do so if you are adding to the blog).
4) Keep content updated, news, events, blogs all help the search engine love.

Richard Morton
Accessible Web Design
http://www.accessibleweb.eu/
- 19 Jan 2009, 10:04 am
Richard Morton wrote: > Jeff, > > Much depends on the purpose(s) of the site but having a good > copywriter and a web designer who codes to web standards can really > help with search engine optimisation. If it is important to be found > on the search engines then a few basics make all the difference: > > 1) Do keyword research - and if you are attracting local business > then include location as well. > 2) Code the website to current web standards (e.g. don't use table > markup for layout, use CSS instead). As well as being search engine > friendly this helps greatly with accessibility by anyone using > screenreader software (blind/visually impaired users), or naivigating > without the use of a mouse. > 3) Make sure that paragraphs and headings are marked up in HTML as > such, again this helps with accessibility as well. > 4) Use accepted conventions in web design (not necessarily strictly > but anything that makes your users feel at home and find your site > easy to use is a plus), e.g. logo generally in the top left and > linking to the home page for easy navigation back, search box (you > probably won't need one if your site is only ten pages), top right. > > Even with only a ten page site I would recommend a content management > system, so that you can change all aspects of the content in future. > > You don't need to spend a fortune to optimise your site for the > search engines. As well as the above tips, the following help: > 1) age of the domain - if it's more than a year old you have a > distinct advantage > 2) title tag for each page - probably the single most important > factor, ensure it contains relevant information, and is different for > each of your pages, and don't include waffle (e.g. "welcome to our > home page" is just wasted". > 3) Get relevant backlinks to your site, don't buy them and only link > from sites with content that is relevant to your website. One > relatively easy way to do this is to read other's blogs and comment > on them (but only do so if you are adding to the blog). > 4) Keep content updated, news, events, blogs all help the search > engine love. > > Richard Morton > Accessible Web Design > http://www.accessibleweb.eu/