How to save money designing a web site

Taking the leap onto the world wide web is a necessary step for many small businesses. Maybe they need a simple web presence were visitors can find out more information about a company and what it offers. Maybe they need a more sophisticated presence that requires an online store to sell their products.

Most small businesses operate on a shoe string budget so saving money when designing a website is vital. The first question to be asked is who should design the site? Should the job be done in-house by your own team? Should you outsource the job to a third party? Or should you bring in someone from a job agency on a temporary contract to do the job for you.

Which decision you make will depend on the time scale you have, the budget you have set aside for the project and whether you have the skills involved in-house. Bringing in a temporary employee from a job agency is the most expensive option because you have to pay agency fees on top of the employee's salary. So that option can be ruled out for most small businesses on a tight budget.

If you do have the skills in-house then obviously that is to choice to make. In this case, you can save time and money buy buying a website template from one of the numerous online template stores. The majority of these templates are professionally designed and all you have to do is add in your own content. Website templates can be bought cheaply and are a great way of creating a professional website in a short timeframe. It is a great shortcut because you do not have to start the project from scratch.

If, like the majority of small businesses, you do not have the skills in-house and your budget is limited then you may want to outsource the project. This can best be done via one of the many online freelance job websites like Elance. All you do is list your project, your budget, time scale and what kind of a site you are looking for. It is free to list a job.

Freelance website designers bid for the project and you can select which bidder to appoint for the job. It can often be a cut throat business from the bidder's point of view and this tends to lead to very low bids. You can often agree to have a freelancer carry out your project for very little indeed. If you are not happy with the bids that have been placed on your project you don't have to accept any of them. You just relist until you are happy.

The benefits of outsourcing to a freelancer are plentiful. The freelancer is only paid for the actual job. They use their own equipment so there is no wear and tear on your office equipment or a need for special equipment. You will never need to pay employment insurance, vacation pay, sick pay, or contribute to retirement plans and worker’s compensation.

There is no need for extra office space because freelancers do everything from their home office. Freelancers value each and every client. They rely on each client to ensure the success of their own business.

Once you have accepted the winning freelancer, make sure that you are precise about your design needs. Tell them the look and feel you are looking for. Tell them the color you have in mind and the navigation you need. Get them to draw up a rough draft for you. Any freelance designer worth his salt will listen to your demands and implement them.

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