Once you decide that it is time to create a web site for your business there are many questions you must answer. One of the most important questions is, "Who should create my web site?

We like to use the analogy of playing music; in as little as a few hours, some people can strum a few chords on the guitar and play a song. But to really play the instrument and make it sing requires experience and understanding. Likewise, although there are tools which are readily available to assist in the process, effective web site design requires experience and understanding of many diverse areas including: marketing, Search Engine Registration and optimisation, Pay-per-click campaigns, Internet graphics options and limitations, the differences and limitations of different browsers and computer platforms as well as knowledge of the software and coding required to move beyond simple static html pages.

Understand Your Needs
What do you want in a web site? What are your needs and intentions for having a web site? Have you checked other similar businesses to see what they are doing on the Internet? The more clarity you have about your intended results for having a web site, the more accurately you can communicate your needs to me and the more likely it is that you will achieve these results.

Experience
Is the designer experienced in web site design? How long has the designer been creating web sites? What is their background? How long have they been using the Internet? Three years is a long time in Internet terms. More than four or five years is a seasoned veteran. Ideally, your site designer has a variety of experience. We have been using the internet for over 15 years, and creating web sites for almost that long!

Strengths
What are the designers strengths and weaknesses? The range of skills required for creating any type of web site is more diverse than you can imagine. If a designer tells you they have done or can do any project, I'd suggest you take that statement with a grain of salt. I strive for stylish pages that aren't gaudy. We pride ourselves in quick loading web sites that capture attention immediately. If you need a web site that interacts with databases, via cold fusion programming, we do that, along with shopping carts, Search Engine Optimization, and Pay-per-click campaigns.

Communication
Is the designer easy to work with and talk to? Is she/he able to communicate technical information so that you can understand it? The process of creating a web site can often be an overwhelming process for some people. We have experience providing technical support to homes and businesses, and this experience helps us to better explain the processes and what is involved.

Previous Clients
Look at some of their previous clients sites. Do they all look the same? Do they load quickly? Are they easy to navigate through? Do you like their previous work? Do they accurately reflect their clients' business? Does the designer custom create each site or would they have you select from a list of prepackaged sites? How about the graphics? Were the graphics created to go along with the theme or were the downloaded from somewhere else on the internet and placed on the page? We pride ourselves in creating graphic interface elements that are custom designed.

Budget
What is your budget and what is the typical cost for the designer's projects? As a generalization, the larger the company, the more they charge for their services. Site designers who are getting started will often create your site for a lower fee, essentially using your project to develop their skills. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Some designers charge a fee based on the entire project, or a fee per page. We choose to charge by the hour. Some pages are relatively simple, and some are complicated. Charging the same rate for each page doesn't make sense to you as a customer or to us as developers. Charging one fee for the entire site means that if the designer rushes through it, effectively they increases their profit. It also means they may be reluctant to add information or make changes, as that will extend the amount of time involved, effectively lowering their profit.