recommend a website designer?

Great websites are so easy to make these days that you really don't need a designer anymore and as such, there isn't much money in it for designers.

Try www.wix.com

By far the best and easiest.

Great websites are so easy to make these days that you really don't need a designer anymore and as such, there isn't much money in it for designers.

Umm... no. Good websites are easy to make these days. Great websites still require a professional. If you don't know the difference, have any designer do a makeover on your out-of-the-box "custom" self-designed website, and you'll learn a lot.

Also, if you want anything more than very basic features, you'll want a pro involved so you don't wake up one morning to find your site hacked, or wonder why something is suddenly not working right anymore (and spend hours figuring out how to fix it). There's no substitute for good design and properly written code.

Sorry, I have an issue with people saying "It's not hard to do yourself" for any professional service. It's not hard to build a masonry wall, either -- you can find everything you need at Home Depot and watch a tutorial online about how to lay block. Anybody can probably build a wall that will last about 5 years before crumbling. Somebody with some experience can probably build a wall that will last 30. But a professional mason can build one that ain't goin' anywhere, ever. If you value what you're building, invest with someone who knows what they're doing, whether it's websites or walls.

Unfortunately, I don't know who on STX does this work. Let us know who you find!

My wife does basic web site work pretty in-expensive & also is a marketing major.

who ever you get make sure you get a couple of example sites for reference so you can see what kind of work will be done.

one of my wife's sites is northlandboerboels.com

For small businesses cost is a factor as well as being able to control and change content without web designer controling and charging for evrey single thing. Just know what you are getting into and ease of use vs long term costs.

Web design is tedious and time intensive - no offense but mostly because of the customer. Things that are percieved to the untrained look "easy" and "simple" to do but in reality are very complicated. I am a graphic designer and have a very expensive degree. I can say without a DOUBT that hiring a professional to do your design is WELL worth the money!!! People seem to forget these days that it is your BRAND that entices people to you business. If you dont market, how will anyone know you exist?? If you skimp you can look really unprofessional and who wants to spend money on a service/good that looks like crap? Sure you can do it on word of mouth but expect that to take much, much longer. A professional logo and website will go a loooong way in bringing in new customers. There are a million shortcuts you can take in owning a business, good designs and marketing are not one of them.

I always tell people, theres two places not to skimp. Your Business cards and your Website. Believe that.

I am an artist.
I have been a graphic designer and professional photographer in the past.
That does not make me a "web designer"

Hire a professional!

Sloop

Take into consideration what you want your website to do before you start interviewing potential designers. You may want to start with a blog since the support for newbies is pretty good. Find sites you like and see who created them, and also Google words pertaining to those sites to see how they rank.

Writing code for websites? Maybe back in the 90's. Today plug and play modules for every concievable web site feature are just a click or two away. Most are free. Most people needing a web site fear the ongoing cost of maintenance and updates but with sites like www.wix.com, you don't need to worry about that anymore. Go ahead...build it yourself...you can do it!

"you knew all the notes, you sung all the words but you never quite learned the tune"

a good web designer make a site sing.

Wow...lots of great advice from people who are not web designers. 🙂

Building a website is not scary and doesn't require a rocket scientist. It does require an understanding of the current trends within the cyber marketplace and how your business will best be represented electronically. A great website is often quite simple and straight forward with the focus on clearly and conveniently transmitting information from you to your audience in a tasteful fashion.

If you would like to consult with an experienced web designer/ marketing professional with enough business savvy and artistic ability to design a site to fit your needs and budget, feel free to contact me.

http://www.mediamate.net/

Beeski--I don't think media mate is building web sites anymore.

I'm old and certainly know nothing about web design, but I bet this old saying still holds true -- you get what you pay for.

Wow...lots of great advice from people who are not web designers. 🙂

Building a website is not scary and doesn't require a rocket scientist. It does require an understanding of the current trends within the cyber marketplace and how your business will best be represented electronically. A great website is often quite simple and straight forward with the focus on clearly and conveniently transmitting information from you to your audience in a tasteful fashion.

If you would like to consult with an experienced web designer/ marketing professional with enough business savvy and artistic ability to design a site to fit your needs and budget, feel free to contact me.

Samples of your work please?

I'm old and certainly know nothing about web design, but I bet this old saying still holds true -- you get what you pay for.

Not really.
Businesses overpay for websites all the time.

Advice: Have someone build you a business class site using WordPress. With WP, you can then EASILY go in and make updates and post new photos yourself, without having to know html, and without having to pay for simple changes in the future that you can do yourself.

Neil the "not 4 hire webguy"

anyone who wants a web site has to ask themselves if they want a car. of course. who doesn't?

but are you willing to put in the time to learn how to manage your own updates, back up your database(s), and apply patches to the platform software as well as any plug-ins you may be using such as slide shows?

social media integration is very important nowadays. will you be willing to put in the time necessary to keep a variety of conversations going, respond to customer queries and complaints, and provide support to those who have questions about your site?

most small businesses are just that, and they don't have anyone dedicated to tech matters. just because someone can set up a printer does not make them capable of maintaining a web site.

am i trying to discourage putting up a web site with no coding or design experience? yes. but only until you THINK about the commitment you are about to make and make a reasoned decision as to whether you are willing to put some time into training yourself properly.

visit your favorite book store and get a basic web design book and read it. take the time to learn what you are doing and find out how to get it before just jumping in. if you are not willing to do even that, please hire a pro and save yourself some angst later on. i recommend trevor clendinen http://trevorclendenin.com/

Hummm... It looks like he does great sites but all you can preview is a jpeg under the hire me page? Usually designers link to the sites they've created.

STXNewb still waiting to see any sites you've done. I do freelance design and always have people ask for web designers so need an island contact.

Hummm... It looks like he does great sites but all you can preview is a jpeg under the hire me page? Usually designers link to the sites they've created.

i don't have to defend trevor, but for those who are new to this sort of discussion, this is her opinion and should not be construed as a reason to doubt trevor's abilities.

Whoa whoa whoa. Chill. I was more so asking a question. I will rephrase... are there links to the sites so we can look at them? It's not my "opinion" that designers link to working sites, it's fact. His work looks really nice but I wanted to see the actual working site. I can make jpegs of websites but I can't make working sites. Sheese!

A Davis--I believe Trevor studying is Spain for the next several months so not sure if he is actively seeking new clients at the moment

At the very bottom of the HIRE ME page there are active links

A Davis--I believe Trevor studying is Spain for the next several months so not sure if he is actively seeking new clients at the moment

i knew he was going when he left; i actually worked with him on one of the last projects he did here.

one can do web site design from any place in the world... and he has the following statement on his blog:

Currently considering opportunities for full time work in New Media after completion of my Master’s in July. Anywhere in the world will do.

Also presently available to assist with your social media or web development needs.

Whoa whoa whoa. Chill. I was more so asking a question. I will rephrase... are there links to the sites so we can look at them? It's not my "opinion" that designers link to working sites, it's fact. His work looks really nice but I wanted to see the actual working site. I can make jpegs of websites but I can't make working sites. Sheese!

glad you rephrased. i obviously misunderstood you.