web site design

I am often asked - how much does it cost to build a web site?

There's no easy answer - it depends on:
- the number of pages
- the amount of information on each page
- will it include a database?
- will it include a shopping cart?
- would you like it professionally designed?

Options:

If your web site is not too complex and doesn't involve any databases, you can build it yourself!

... if it is more complex, you should definitely consider using a web design company.

Organic Baby just had a major rebuild and we enlisted Spiral Web Design to create our US Directory and online sign up process. See the results for yourself!

DIY:

There are tools out there that make it as easy to build your web site as using Microsoft Word.

Even if you're a novice it's easy to build using templates - like Freeparking's SiteBuilder for NZ$199.90 + gst per annum.

This is a very economical way to go because it also includes web hosting.

Freeparking's SiteBuilder Plus (NZ$249.90 + gst) allows you to add an easy to configure shopping cart system. Includes one free domain name.

We just built www.dancewardrobe.co.nz using Sitebuilder Plus.

Also, check out:

Biz Links for an affordable design and build package (up to 8 pages).

Web Widgets for a reasonably priced online wizard and standard template solution.

(these are not sponsored links!)

Free Shopping Carts:

Cube Cart is a free downloadable shopping cart.

For those more confident web site builders, Zen Cart or OsCommerce are free open source software.

Free Form Builders:

You'll want at least one form - a contact form and JotForm makes this easy (and it's free!)

Images:

All images are copyright, so you can't just help yourself by running a Google search. For free images, I recommend Morgue file. If you can't find anything suitable on Morgue file, you can't go past istock for affordable web images from US$1 each.

Other costs:

However you decide to build your site, you'll also need to budget for:
- Your domain name (annual fee)
- Internet Dial-up connnection (or preferably Broadband)
- Web site Hosting (The site has to live somewhere)
- Credit card Merchant fees (if you have a shopping cart).

PayPal or Paymate (NZ) are credit card merchant systems with no set-up fees.

Lianne