Thread: High Price of Cheap Web Design

The higest rated (by google) site for Durango Real Estate is "Butt Ugly". However, this guy gets his name in front of more people than I do. What it comes down to is how many telephone calls do you get and how many sales are made.

I like the ideas in the HIgh price Article. They justify some of my expenditures, but what I would like to see is a list of his client sites and the testimonials of his users talking about how much money the sites have made for them.

Breaking down clients objections and moving them towards your site goals (such as a phone contact) is the only thing you should spend money for on the web.

Originally Posted by Traume

I design websites and it's amazing what potential clients tell me they've paid in the past for website design.

1. If you're still using static HTML, good luck!
2. Unless you're website is over 10000 pages in size, you're not seen as a "big player" by Google.

3. Dynamic sites are cheap, and webhosting even cheaper.

Email me if you want more details.

Thanks,
Traume

if you know what you are doing in HTML, you can update it yourself after its done by the webmaster. once he/she finishes they should tell them how to update the site the easiest way which shouldnt be hard at all. (If they are not going to work on it anymore and keep updating it themselves which is not usually the case).

Ok, being an expert in this field I will offer my opinion.

1. How much you pay for a website means nothing as far as quality is concerned.

I have seen companies charge a fortune for flash websites that simply take you nowhere. That said, there are times when flash is to be used, and certain businesses can get away with websites done entirely in flash i.e. Cartier.

I have also seen companies pay a fortune to design sites from scratch thinking they know what they are doing and fail miserably.

Bottom line, how much you pay doesn't mean anything on the net.

2. Don't reinvent the wheel.

There are pleanty of Real Estate software packages available that will include all the things your business needs. If you shop around you can find one that will usually be web-friendly so your office database can automatically generate property ads on the site. The best of these packages even offer a CMS website as part of the package, all you need to do then is get a website layout that works and looks great.

Buying an already existing package means that you save money because you don't have to invest in design (except the layout) and the company that provides you with it should keep it up to date with the latest technologies and SEO friendly techniques.

3. Research before you spend.

Before you look at a website look around, search for your competition and see what you like and what works. Design is important. Make notes of what you see that works and figure out a better way to do it (than your competition).

Some advice to the initial Jlryan @ the-marketing-shop: Your website is good but you're missing 1 important thing IMHO.

Client testimonials - Have your clients say how much they like your sites (they are nice I've had a look at a few). Offer them something in return if they give you a testimonial.

Good job @ the-marketing-shop

Regards from Spain!

Plots Sotogrande

I think you get what you pay for in most cases but marcosll is right, "don't reinvent the wheel", there is no reason to spend a fortune on custom stuff when most of it has already been built and can be adapted.

It's not that hard to get a really nice design for cheap, my company does it all the time! Plus we have a content management system that allows people to edit their information in about 5 minutes. The only issue is getting the design right or using the right web template. I'd say anyone can get an awesome site for about 600 dollars.

I will be the first to tell you that I use all 100% open source stuff and/or stuff I've custom made - and - I make sure that I give my clients 30 days of free coaching on how to use their web sites and more importantly how to get their website on to page one of Google... no matter how much you pay for a website it is worthless if it doesn't rank on page one of Google.

BTW...for the post about alamode ....show me a website that they have ranking #1 for ("city name" Real Estate) and then I might be impressed. I build sites and compete against REW sites all the time and where we compete they rank below mine for SEO services.

In my opinion cheap webdesign in the most cases will provide you a poor site. Even if for you it looks nice, it is possible to see more sites on internet looking like yours ( templates )

I've done websites for 10 years, many for real estate agents- my beef has always been a tendency for agents to 'pass off' on keeping a site updated - I can write good copy, but I'm a developer, not a realtor!

My advice to real estate agents now boils down to this:
1. get a good domain name - yourtownhomes.com - this is very important.
2. Get a decent $120/year web host
3. Install a wordpress blog
4. Write a post 4 times a week
5. Use an autoresponder to collect leads.
6. Configure your autoresponder to notify users each time you post.

Leave the mls search and maps to your franchise web site- they'll always be able to do it better than you can.