There are a lot of questions that need to be asked in order to give you a firm quote over the phone. The number of pages you want to build, in most cases, doesn't play too much into the cost because of today's web design tools. What you put into your site has more of an impact on the costs than the number of pages. Please check out the following tips for getting a firm quote when you call.

For detailed information, regardless of who you choose for your web design needs, check out our 7 part series on quote tips by visiting our Blog

Template Design Tips:
  • Look & Feel - Do you have a look and feel in mind, or would you like us come up with a design?

  • Logo - Do you have a logo already designed, or will one be created? Do you have a specified font for your logo? If so, please include the font name with your request.

  • Text Based or Graphical Based - Will you need a site designed that is more of a text based, graphical based, or a good mix between the two?

  • Site Navigation - When deciding on where to place your navigation, keep a few things in mind.

    If you go with a horizonal layout, you will need to take into consideration on how long the names of your naviagtion links are. If you have too many links, it would make sense in going with a vertical layout.

    Will you need dynamic drop-down menus (mouse over links on site).

  • Email Accounts - Do you need to have email accounts set up? If so, please include the amount of email boxes you would like created, and if you decide to go with us, supply the names of the individual boxes.

  • Search Engine Optimization - Are you already established? Would you like to improve your current search engine ranking?

  • Will you be requiring a copywriter, or do you have your text ready to go?

  • Do you already have a domain name secured or will you need to have one reserved?

  • Do you already have a web hosting company in place? If not, there are two types of web hosting customer service. One where you call and talk to a human, and one where you log a ticket online. Email is then used until the problem is solved.


If you prepare yourself for a quote, you will find that putting together a website is like putting together a puzzle. Lots of odd pieces that when fitted together correctly, gives you a final outcome that you will want to show off to your friends, current or new customers, the world wide web.

Special Programming Tips:
  • Flash - To help make your site look dynamic, flash elements could be added into your front page. From simple picture transistions to the complex, with todays tools you pay a fraction of the cost for a professional -artistic - informational dynamic look.

    Database Development - Will your site require a database? If so please try to write down your needs beforehand. This will make it easier to come up with a quote. Please Note: Some database projects can not be quoted over the phone due to their size and complexities of your project. A face to face meeting to hammer out the details will be required.

    Online Store - shopping cart - If you need an online store presense, please keep the following in mind.

    PayPal - PayPal offers an online merchant account to process your orders, to build out the products in your store. This option would be good for those who want to save on costs such as having a site security certificate (it activates the lock on your browser), or having a site database driven store.

    Database Driven Store - The best option for being able to have full control of your store, a database driven store would be implimented. You will be able to control shipping costs, have your own bank as the merchant account, price controls, same look and feel as your website, and have the entire store contained on your web hosting server, to name a few.

    Flash Galleries/Movies - Flash galleries and movies, just 5 years ago could have broken the bank for them to be added. With today's tools, these are put together at a fraction of the cost. Do you require an online commercial, movie, or flash gallery? If so:

    Know your audience - If you're audience is likely to be professionals, they are more inclined to connect from work, with faster speeds. If your audience are gamers, they too would have the faster internet connections. With everyone else, geographical location comes into play. Boston, New York, the state of California have more people connecting at faster speeds. But for everyone else, the standard you should rate your needs on would be DSL. (which is still growing with dial-up users switching away)

    Wish List - Many of the things above could be just part of a wish list. Put one together and ask us about it. You will find the costs are not near the levels of 5 years ago due to the tools web designers have access to. Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Dynamic Menus, Flash and Moyea are some of the programs used that cut down the time it used to take to build out these objects. Less time = less cost.






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