What will it cost??

Let me start off by saying that I have added a bunch of stuff to my deviantART that I mentioned last post!! Shocking I know, it surprised me that’s for sure. So if you haven’t already looked at my deviantART check it out at momentsstolen.deviantart.com

I have also been working on an identity for my work to go under. Over a year ago I came up with the name “Open Box Creations”. A couple weekends ago I worked on making up a logo that goes with that name!! I have put it up as my avatar on deviantART and will be putting it in my Identity gallery on deviantART.

I just ran across an article talking about what it would cost to develop a website. I thought this would be a good post for the blog. Hopefully it will also help explain a little more about where the name “Open Box Creations” came from.

Each project has a different set of requirements, requires different resources and varying levels of expertise, and takes a different amount of time to plan, execute, and deliver.

If you can appreciate the value of a custom built website, then I should be able to work with you to create something we both like. That is what “Open Box Creations” is all about. Nothing is pre-packaged, it is custom built to what you need. No two projects are exactly the same and are created with you and your visitors in mind.

What makes each project different? Number of pages, complexity of custom programming, and advanced features are all factors that can increase the price.

These days, having a content management system (CMS) integrated into your website is becoming more common because it allows you to update the content of your website without having to contact your web developer or have any web experience or programs. I would say that if you are going to want to make changes to your site monthly or more frequently then this is something you may need.

This is going to also add more complexity to the development of the website which in turn does cost more. It also depend on how much of the site is going to need to be maintained by you. If you simply want a what’s new area on your home page that isn’t going to cost as much if you want the whole website maintained by you.

Are you interested in selling a product or service on your website? I don’t create “shopping carts” but I have built forms that can help you sell your product or service online. Sometimes this will have to work hand in hand with such companies like paypal so  you can collect money via credit card from your customers. Once again this is increasing the work load on developing the website.

Those are some of the basics things to keep in mind. The more you want the more it will cost. Why is that? Because the more complex things get the more time it will take for me to build it. You are pretty much paying for my time and my headaches .

Think of your website as a car. The more you want in your car like automatic transmission, cruise control, anti-theft system that is going to cost more. Once you have your car you are going to have to maintain it. Some people are going to be able to change their own oil and some people will pay a professional to do it.

Don’t expect to get everything for nothing!! Don’t expect to get a Corvette for the price of a Jetta!