Website Design

[i1301243]

Hi all, long time lurker and decided I'd actually sign up.

I've got a flutter of a business idea. I don't really know if it'll work or not. To try and promote this idea a bit, I'd like a website. I don't have the first idea of websites therefore it seems sensible to ask someone else to design it.

Googling shows prices of between £2p/m and £2k one off fee. I feel like I'm the proverbial 17 year old looking a Chinese superplastic and comparing prices and thinking "it's a bike, it'll do, right?"

Can anyone recommend a company for website design?

Given that I'm not sure if this idea will even work, I don't want to sink £100s of pounds into a website no one is interested in.

[Jayy]

My advice, get yourself on a cheap build it yourself (drag and drop) platform.

https://www.squarespace.com

https://www.wix.com

I'm a web designer myself but I mostly only work with corporate companies.

[G]

You could start by describing what you want the website to do - just a basic 'business card', or will it launch a drone to bring you a cup of tea controlled from the browser via a first person view?

[i1301243]

I do just want an online business card.

Thanks!

[FlightRisk]

[i1301243]

[G]

- well, actually... I was envisioning them dispatching one from a depot, but if it was a tea-making machine in another room, actually my plan isn't THAT far fetched, especially if we went with a LTA based UAV!


Anyway, err, not that complex...
I would get some cheap hosting to ensure you're not stuck with whoever does the design.
Then have a look around and see if you can find someone who's designs you like the look of.
There are many easy to install template options too.

Ideally a website should be part of an overall marketing and customer interaction strategy, so consider how it fits in to that.

[Jayy]

Just glossing over my suggestions? That's how you get a website for next to nothing, Wix is free and squarespace costs a few quid a month, no need for web hosting.

[G]

[winz]

If you get hosting and a domain I will create a basic holding page for free. Should take 1 hour max.
____________________
Current Bikes: BMW K1200S
Previous: Honda CBR929RR, Honda CBR1100XX, Honda CB600F

[Jayy]

You obviously need to buy a domain name regardless. You link that to your account on the above sites, which takes care of the website building and hosting or some of the plans include a free domain.

Key here is simplicity of building a site with a drag and drop page builder. It's all well and good proclaiming how great the likes of Wordpress are but it's not the fastest nor the simplest route if you want something cheap and fast but also not shit.

Make it look good the first time, rather than putting something that looks shite up for the sake of it.

The only reason I suggested them is because of their simplicity in getting a professional page / site online, very easily and cheaply.

[Ste]

Isn't wix.com geocities reincarnated?

[winz]

All of those free drag and drop sites are shite. You want your website to be an extension of your brand; coherent, slick and informative.

You can go down the route of buying pre-made WordPress themes, but they look, well, like a theme.

If it's worth doing, it's worth doing it properly.
____________________
Current Bikes: BMW K1200S
Previous: Honda CBR929RR, Honda CBR1100XX, Honda CB600F

[i1301243]

Jayy, I did listen and it was very helpful. I have a website *live*. It's just relatively expensive when you start to look at removing adverts and linking your own domain. I've tried to keep it basic.

paddywinz, it's a very kind offer. I'm PM you but currently recovering from surgery so not in the right state of mind.

[Jayy]