It’s amazing to me that companies that will spend $5,000 on a brochure will freak out at the same price for a website that will be seen by 1000x more people.
All of your sales effort, all of your marketing, all of your credibility is wasted when the ready-to-buy prospect sees a cheap site. It makes you look untrustworthy.
Here’s a great example: This company has one of the worst websites in history (please do click, and turn your sound on). But they provide great service and have amazing reviews and happy customers. How many prospects never saw the reviews because they took one look at the site and ran away?
Great advice from Shannon Noack: “It’s a little disconcerting to hear someone say a website should be worth so little money. Your website defines your company and is often the only face people will see. It should certainly put your best foot forward, telling customers what you do in a professional manner, and communicating to them effectively why you deserve their business.” (Read her full post from Six Revisions: Common Misconceptions about Web Designers.)
I wonder how many hits it will take before they realize that people aren’t visiting because of their awesome shutters and blinds. haha
SO TRUE! I am amazed at how many businesses still think of their website as the red headed step-child of their marketing efforts. And I am so NOT glad I clicked on that link. What a pile of crap that site is!
It makes me think about this comic:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_hell
Sometime, the problem is not the money put on the website, but the founder who think they are designers!
Looks like they got the message. I just accessed the site and received a message that they are “upgrading.” Not sure if their jammin’ interstitial will be included in the redesign, as it still exists, I would assume, as it has all along.
Thanks for the mention! It’s true, many companies complain about the high price of website design, but then will spend money elsewhere on things that don’t bring in customers or revenue for their business. Maybe one day the world will be more educated on the actual cost of a custom site
Great post.
oh dear! what a site!
I love it when a website plays music as soon as it loads up…I just want to dance right away!…or maybe not…
I’ve come across many clients who either want to try web design themselves (haven’t they got a business to run?!) or have a son/daughter/niece who can do it for £100. However, the self same business oweners would not entrust the design of the company brochure, or the graphic panels for the company vehicles to such unqualified people. It’s a strange world…
@Joel_Hughes