How to Find an Excellent Website Designer for a Home Based / Small Business

If you are thinking about having your own website designed for your home-based, or any small business, there are many considerations going through your mind. If your business is relatively young, you probably want to portray a professional and basic image in your website.

When I decided I wanted a website for my small business, I placed an ad on a few sites. I had no idea I would receive so many replies to my request. Even though I received around a hundred replies, it was easy to narrow the ones I wanted down to just a couple to consider.  Most of the gurus would tell me they were proficient in all these platforms and different program language and all their high-powered qualifications that would appeal to large corporations.  I was thinking at the time, I just want a basic website designed!

 As I have worked through this experienced, I thought many “common people” like myself that are not savvy in technical and computer programming could benefit from what I have learned from the experience.

 I was lucky enough to find a great programmer to set up my website and I wanted to address points to consider, as a small business, when you search for a website designer.

1)  Simplistic but thorough approach.

 My positive experience began when I received this simple, to-the-point email:

 “Samples at HippoDaddy.com/Gallery2010

Average cost $280.00 but final price depends on actual work and is decided in advance of work.

No hidden fees as we include hosting.

If you supply us with enough information, we will build you a sample page on spec for no charge at all.

HD since 1994

Dan James

877 638 5529 office

816 588 6304 cell/text”

2)  Experience.  I was looking for someone who would not dictate what I should do, but would “guide” me when I had misconceptions about programming- related issues.  Abstract reasoning is not one of my strengths, so some of the issues, I couldn’t envision what it would take to make certain things happen and their implications. He had been building websites since 1994, so I thought I was in good hands.

3)  Technical Jargon.  As you can see above, when he answered my ad, he was not talking with impressive, but unimpressive jargon, to a non-technical person. He was “down-to-earth” and considerate. He soon found out what level he was dealing with and made a concerted effort to communicate with me in an appropriate manner. He was very patient with my lack of knowledge about computer programming.

4) Price. His price was very forthright and reasonable. He worked by the project and not by the hour, so I knew what my total financial commitment was before he started. He outlined what he would do for the price and he INCLUDED one year free hosting and basic Search Engine Optimization. Not knowing the outcome of the success of my website, price was very important to me.

5) Quality Work.  I checked out all the build-your-own sites and I felt they didn’t have enough flexibility for what I wanted.  I think time is money, so I didn’t want to waste time trying to make a pre-built site work for me. I believe my website speaks for itself.  I think it portrays my goals and is professionally done.

6) Control. I submitted to him the skeleton of what I had in mind and he went from there.  Through the days as ideas came to my mind, I would email them to him and he would incorporate them into the website. He would comment if he thought a certain idea wouldn’t work and why he thought it wouldn’t work.

7) Prompt Response. When I gave Dan the go ahead for my website, he started immediately and all of my emails were answered promptly. He would follow up detail by detail and commented on my requests and desires for my website.

8) Prompt Completion. He has stayed on my project until it was completed in the way that I thought it should be.

Dan James and his company, HippoDaddy.com, provided all the expertise and creativity I needed to make a vision a reality.  If you want to expedite a decision about creating your own home - based and/or small business website, this is the company to deal with.  You won’t have to spend a lot of wasted time figuring out who to work with and how it will end.  Remember, the only thing you can regret is NOT making your dreams a reality!