Almost everyone would say that education is expensive, especially with the introduction of top up fees in universities and the ever increasing tuition fees international students have to pay. In my opinion, ignorance is more expensive. We actually pay a lot to the doctors, lawyers, accountants etc for their expect advice just because we want information. Web design and the internet is no exception at all.
A lot of companies and individuals pay large amounts of money to establish their presence on the internet. Though this may not be a worry for the big shots since they would eventually pass the bill to the consumers, but for individuals and small companies, this could be a ‘pound a flesh’ investment. Armed with a bit of information and some basic knowledge in web design could save you a lot of money.Being able to set clear goals and objectives on the onset of negotiating a webdesign project would help a long way so you are paying only for what you need.
A lot of people decide to have a website just because everyone seems to have one without have a clue of its benefits to them or their business. I had clients come up to me to design websites for them; at the beginning they wanted just a simple website. After the consultation, it turned out to be an E-commerce website. While some web designers would exploit a client’s ignorance by charging exorbitant rates, a good web designer would be able to discern you needs and offer the best possible option available without you having to break the bank. I’ll briefly talk about terms used in describing websites. It’s not all encompassing but at least something to give you a head start in your quest for information.
- Brochure Websites
As the name suggests, it is a website designed mainly to provide information to visitors and to serve as an extension to a business giving the business a round-the-clock customer service. Visitors to the website can obtain information about the company rather than paying them a visit of making a phone call. These websites may have contact or feedback forms to deal with customer queries, questions or concerns.
- E-Commerce
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Blogs
- Personal Webpages
E-commerce website on the other hand involves some form of buying and selling. These websites often have a catalogue of products which visitors can view, add to shopping cart and make payments online. E-commerce websites requires more time and effort to build as it requires programming and rigorous testing to make sure everything comes together well. To be able to take card payments directly on your website, you website need to be secured by purchasing a SSL certificate. You can get around this by using a third party like PayPal, which is free. They deal with all aspects of payments and collections; all you need is an account with them.
Websites in both categories mention above can have Content Management Systems (CMS) integrated depending on the dynamics and amount of information displayed. If you have a lot of information that would regular updating, you may consider having a CMS. This is obviously the wise thing to do otherwise you would be frustrated keeping up with the updating process. These systems are designed in such a way that the user is not required to know anything about web design or programming. All that is needed is basic computer literacy. Most websites nowadays have some sort of CMS incorporated in their design. It may cost a little more to have it implemented but the benefits far out weigh the cost.
The terminologies and jargons prevalent on the web, introduces some form of mystics. A blog is simply a web log, just as this website is. I write an article to post on the internet and visitors read the article and make comments. That’s it! Blogs are based on CMS which is obviously the best and wise way to go about it. It is a great community and network building tool with a commercial undertone with the use of Google ad sense and adverts. Having a blog can also serve as a training ground for authors, journalist etc. It definitely improves one’s writing and thinking ability leading up to authoring a book.
An individual can decide to have a personal website or blog. You don’t have to be a celebrity to have you own domain name or website. In fact it is a very good way of building a fan base especially if you want to build a career in music. A lot of people have websites in myspace.com and the likes. You can take it a step further by having your personal website. It gives you more credibility and distinguishes you from the packs. You can share your views, research, photos, ideas etc the list is endless.
If in the future you decide to have a website either as an individual or a business, I’ll suggest that you take some time to think about what you want, surf the net and have a look at other websites to get some ideas. It can be more expensive and time consuming to re-design a website in comparison to designing one from scratch. Get it right the first time round and pay for only what you need by knowing exactly what that is.
Recommended Books
 |
Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, Graphics, and BeyondIn Learning Web Design, author Jennifer Niederst shares the knowledge she’s gained from years of web design experience, both as a designer and a teacher. This book starts from the beginning– defining the Internet, the Web, browsers, and URLs — so you don’t need to have any previous knowledge about how the Web works. After reading this book, you’ll have a solid foundation in HTML, graphics, and design principles that you can immediately put to use in creating effective web pages. |
 |
Web Design for DUMMIESHow many times have you visited a Web site and thought that you could do a better job if only you had the knowledge and skills? Or perhaps you have a great idea for a Web site but don’t know how to get started? What was once exclusively a task for professionals, Web designing, has become more accessible to amateurs, thanks to loads of handy software. With Web Design For Dummies, you will be able to design your own Web site like a pro. |
