Hey everyone! Kinda new here, I just recently purchased a domain (im not going to say it here because its tech related) and I'm looking for a website creation company thats reputable. It will sort-of be like this website (only probably half as cool). Anyone know of some cheap/reputable companies that could create something like this?
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Reputable Website Creation
- Thread starter Megatron
- Start date
Just use PHP Nuke, that's all Kyle did to make HardOCP.
I kid!
Try here:
http://haiku.shacknews.com/
I kid!
Try here:
http://haiku.shacknews.com/
I have PHPnuke as part of a fantastico setup I can install with like 2 clicks of a button. I've never understood it and I'm REALLY bad with image editing software (plus I dont really have the time) I would just rather have a fully functional website from someone who does have the time.
What are you trying to do with the site/domain? Is it for a business? Personal? Do you want to blog? Start a community?
I have been using Joomla for a long time, but I recently switched to Wordpress. Both systems are Content Management Systems and are pretty easy to install. Both have a vast amount of templates/themes that make design simple.
I used PHPNuke several years ago, but I stopped because it was buggy and bloated. It could have changed as I haven't looked at it a long time.
I have been using Joomla for a long time, but I recently switched to Wordpress. Both systems are Content Management Systems and are pretty easy to install. Both have a vast amount of templates/themes that make design simple.
I used PHPNuke several years ago, but I stopped because it was buggy and bloated. It could have changed as I haven't looked at it a long time.
CMS systems are functional out-of-the-box. Is there a specific feature that you are looking for, or are you instead lumping the CMS template design customizations in with the word "functional"?
What's your budget? Pulling professionals in is not cheap.
'Reputable' professionals are also going to charge you for silly things like "project management", "testing", "deployment", etc.
If, OTOH, you just want some college kid to put some stuff up for you, put an ad on craigslist.
Either way, you're a -lot- better off getting somebody local that you can actually meet with face-to-face. I hear horror stories from customers all the time about how they went with some cut-rate outsourced development firm for a "4wk, $5000" project and still don't have the project live a year later and $30k into things.
'Reputable' professionals are also going to charge you for silly things like "project management", "testing", "deployment", etc.
If, OTOH, you just want some college kid to put some stuff up for you, put an ad on craigslist.
Either way, you're a -lot- better off getting somebody local that you can actually meet with face-to-face. I hear horror stories from customers all the time about how they went with some cut-rate outsourced development firm for a "4wk, $5000" project and still don't have the project live a year later and $30k into things.
I completely agree with this.
It sounds like your needs are in the "look and feel" and not so much "functional". Maybe purchasing an already-made template for cheap would get you started; then you could simply tweak some minor color aspects and drop in your logo. It's an option that keeps you from spending a ton of money to reinvent the wheel. If you have already decided on a CMS platform, then you can search for companies that do templates for that CMS package.
From my experience, things usually blow up from not properly executing silly things like "project management", "change request logging", "deployment environment expectations", etc. But I agree that any project can benefit from the face-to-face interaction, especially for cutting through communication layers.
Yeah this is good for sure but if both parties have a computer (which they probably do), programs like Mikogo (free) and google chat (free) can easily allow you to watch each other's desktop and have hands free voice chat.
Setting up something like that is as easy as signing up for an e-mail account and allows you to have a pretty close to live experience without having to be live.
You're not asking your developer out on a date so body language isn't that important.
To get everything working properly, it's going to take time. Time costs money. I did a site pro-bono for a local non-profit that included forums, etc. I spent over 40 hours total on it. I would say you are probably going to start around $1000 for quality work using a pre-made theme/template, and that's probably a low number. It all depends on what you want or need.
I'd recommend that you install a CMS and purchase a pre-made template if you are looking to get a pretty and functional site for a budget. A custom, unique, non-templated design is going to easily put you over $1000 from a professional web designer. Anything with a customized back end will probably put you over $2500.
If you don't want to go the template route, I'd recommend taking a good look at your potential designer's portfolio. A lot of the stuff I've seen advertised on my local (New Hampshire) craigslists is horrible. They offer you low prices but poorly designed, non-cross browser compatible and non-accessible sites. You really do get what you pay for, and web design is truly a time-consuming art.
If you don't want to go the template route, I'd recommend taking a good look at your potential designer's portfolio. A lot of the stuff I've seen advertised on my local (New Hampshire) craigslists is horrible. They offer you low prices but poorly designed, non-cross browser compatible and non-accessible sites. You really do get what you pay for, and web design is truly a time-consuming art.
WipeoutFTW
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2006
- Messages
- 357
Megatron,
This is what I would do, Since your on a budget pick the CMS you want to use, buy a standard template for it. Give it to a designer (such as myself) and throw him a bone. And tell him, I want this that and this changed on it.
End Result = Custom Template that looks good, functional, and cheaper than paying $5000 to some guy who would spend 50+ hours to produce more or less the same result.
Which CMS did you want to use? Why type of functionality does this website need to have? Just reviews?
(PM me if your interested)
This is what I would do, Since your on a budget pick the CMS you want to use, buy a standard template for it. Give it to a designer (such as myself) and throw him a bone. And tell him, I want this that and this changed on it.
End Result = Custom Template that looks good, functional, and cheaper than paying $5000 to some guy who would spend 50+ hours to produce more or less the same result.
Which CMS did you want to use? Why type of functionality does this website need to have? Just reviews?
(PM me if your interested)