Dana's Poll for the week

I've seen some hosting site's that are designed very well ...I've seen some that arent. What in your opinion goes into a well designed hosting site.?

If you designed your own hosting site what program's if any did you use?

Did you hire a designer, and if so what is a fair prices for a 2 page template with graphics?


Any other info that would be helpful.


Thanks All :)

Dana

IMO, a well-designed hosting site should follow the same concepts as any well-designed site: it should be easy on the eyes, well-organized, quick loading, and (most importantly) the content should be simple to find. If people can't find the information they need, and quickly, they will certainly leave. People who design sites all flash and no substance and hope to attract visitors and/or customers will find themselves designing their own pet project, as no one will stay around long enough to dig through a site when they can find information elsewhere more quickly and more easily. It's different if the site is intended as a portfolio of sorts, but for a business site - content is king (or queen).

I would also add a couple of other things: proofreading (spelling/grammar), friendly tone (not condescending, or sounding as if you will offer no help once the account is set up), etc.

------------------
Annette
Hosting Matters, Inc.
http://www.hostmatters.com

When i look for a host i hope they have a nice simple yet professional site. Sites like burlee.com etc etc i like those style's. when i did freehosting i tryed to make most of my many designs on that kind of idea.

I used paintshop pro 5 and paintshop pro 6.2.

Alsways hand wrote the html i feel more pleased with the outcome then :).

I personally use design with an almost text editor, thus can't recommend any program.

Having seen the result code created by those program, it is no wonder why so many web pages are slow to load and always bugged... there is nothing like home & hand made code.

I use Photoshop 5.5 for my graphics, as well as Flash 4 to generate any vectorial simple graphics.

We definately designed our web page ourselves, since my primary skills are all design-related, then programmation related.

I definately recommend people to do some programming in their web page, to be able to automatically insert new registrations in a database, administrate them easily, etc.

:)


------------------
Félix C.Courtemanche . Head Designer
Co-Administrator . Can-Host Networks
http://www.can-host.com
webmaster@can-host.com

We hired a designer.. http://jaunarajs.com and I would have to say that I am very happy with the results. Janis and Arta are good at what they do and the price was very reasonable. From initial conception to the final touches the whole experience was very personable. If you’re interested ask them for a quote.

------------------
John E. Ode, MCSE
Optimum Digital Enterprises
"Web Hosting"
http://odenet.net

Originally posted by Annette:
IMO, proofreading (spelling/grammar),


ok so what I need is a proof reader LOL I am dyslexic (I read fine , spelling is another matter but, I can code weird huh?) I use the spell checker (thats why I like using an editor) Sooo time to enlist proof readers :P

Thanks for taking my poll *G*

berlee.com is a beautiful site ... when its actually up.

Lots of things go into designing a good web hosting site. I designed ours because I also operate a web design company :) http://www.intersurge.com is the URL.

To make this I used photoshop 5 as well as dreamweaver 3 (text editors are fine, but I really love the templates that dreamweaver uses.. Makes updating links within the site much easier.

I do know HTML and am able to create that type of document from scratch, or edit the code that dreamweaver produces (though usually it is pretty clean)... However I find that Dreamweaver saves me a lot of time.

As was mentioned in an earlier thread here or in another forum, it doesn't really matter how you achieve the end result- text based or WYSIWYG editor- so long as the page looks attractive and loads fast.

The going rates for a 2 page template design? You'd really have to visit design companies and ask them for quotes, as it would depend on a number of factors. I'd say it might cost you a couple hundred dollars... On first glance I'm thinking that I would charge somewhere between $200-300, but again that would depend on a number of factors.

------------------
Web Hosting: http://www.intersurge.com
Web Design: http://www.infostardesign.com

Dana,

Photoshop 5.5 is one of the best programs out there to do most of your raster based graphics.

But graphic design isn't all that easy. There are a lot of issues to keep in mind, especially when designing graphics for the web.

Regarding layout of a site... I would prefer that a layout has a fresh and sophisticated look... but this "look" has to be relevant. For example, most sites use FLASH irrelevantly today... just because it is a new multimedia technology. That is not a good reason to use FLASH... ie. just to make your site appear flashy !!!

Another good example is the use of CSS or Cascading Style Sheets. A survey showed that almost a quarter of internet browers currently in use in the world today do not support CSS extensively. So that means that every fourth visitor will be seeing an incomplete website if it does not use CSS wisely.

In fact, very often I have discovered that simple HTML, though limited it its means, can generate almost the same effects as CSS does. Though CSS technology is fantastic and makes it easy for web designers, in my opinion it will be a year or two before the world gets really ready to accept it.

There are a lot of HTML editors out there... but then again, if you are coding scripts into your pages, you will have to do so manually to see the results. It will be some more time before good WYSIWYG scripting editors are available.

I would advise one to start designing his or her pages in a good HTML editor and then proceed to CLEAN UP the automatically generated HTML code in an ASCII editor like NotePad later.

Also, scripts should be applied judiciously because complex scripts are a burden on the surfer's CPU. Remember, not all surfers may be surfing on Pentium IIs or IIIs. There are hundreds of thousands of Pentium I machines out there with a meagre 16 MB of RAM and a 2.1 GB HDD which may be brimming to capacity, effectively slowing down such hardware considerably.

Having said this, I would also like to tell you that I am basically an advertising and marketing professional who also happens to be additionally trained in professional graphics design (for all media, including the web). In addition, I have studied law, consumer and applied psychology.

If anyone in this forum would wish me to have a look at their site and review it, I would be happy to do so for FREE !!! :)

My review will be based on several criterion:

1. First, I shall have my team surf through your website in several browsers on different machines. We have all three Pentiums at work for us.

2. Next, I shall view the content in your pages myself and either praise or criticize them in my personal comments I will email back to you.

3. I shall judge your design from the creative and aesthetic viewpoint of a graphics designer, and last, but not the least...

4. ...I shall judge your content keeping the psychology of your potential customers in mind. This judgement will be from the viewpoint of a marketing professional.

So feel free to email me at azhar.doctor@pmail.net with your website's URL and I will review your website and email you my professional comments over the weekend subsequently.

Furthermore, if anyone wishes to get their pages professionally proof-read OR to add more "sophistication" and "marketing power" to their content (ie. both language & graphical), I would be happy to do so for a small FEE... USD $5 per page !!! Is that "small" enough ??!!! :) The immense power of "words" should not be ignored when it comes to your intention to make a very positive impression at first impact... arranging words appropriately is an art in the field of marketing and advertising. That is what makes proof-reading by a competent professional so important, and thus, absolutely necessary.

Also, I would like to know from other members what the average charges American and European designers charge for designing web pages in the U.S.

Our experienced design team would be happy to professionally design fast downloading pages for your website for just USD $75 per page (it's per page, and not per hour !!!) on an average... some pages may be charged even lesser... and some a little more perhaps. We can afford to design professionally at these low rates because our local currency (I reside in INDIA) is much weaker to the U.S. dollar. For example, one U.S. dollar equals 46 Indian rupees. Therefore, USD $75 works out to be 3,450 Indian rupees (which is a fairly high rate for web design services (per page) here in INDIA.

This charge would also include originally created graphic design, necessary animation (if required), appropriate javascripting, professional proof-reading of content, the "correct way" to submit your site to the search engines to increase your business (we do not use silly automated programs for doing this), and other such relevant services.

I should also mention that we collect all pertinent information from our clients before we commence designing, then ask our clients to refer us to some website whose designs they really like, and then we get down to work on designing fresh creative web pages, keeping our client's requirements and design format appreciation mind. We generate a few pages and send them as presentations to our client as individual jpeg images for approval.

There is no obligation on our clients to pay us if our presentations aren't approved... in other words our presentations are totally free.

We also do not charge as conventional designers do. WE DO NOT CHARGE BY THE HOUR. We would be happy to work on a per-page basis, depending upon the complexity of the page. This way our clients won't have to unnecessarily cough up more cash while we take longer to design what could be achieved sooner.

So feel free to contact us if you wish. You only start paying us after we design a few pages for you. This means that if you don't like our services after the first few pages, you simply don't pay us anything at all. This fact is always clearly outlined in our client-agreement. WE BELIEVE IN COMPLETE TRUST AND TOTAL CLIENT SATISFACTION... AND TREAT ALL OUR CLIENTS AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED OURSELVES TO BE TREATED.

Before I end this post, I would like to point out that many hosting websites out there suffer from extremely poor design.

It is important to remember that the costs saved between a poorly designed website and a well designed website will only cost you a loss of potential business that could have easily come your way. Most surfers are naturally inclined to feel confident and secure in doing business with websites which are professionally designed.

[b]A well designed and programmed website should at least have the following 10 attributes...

1. Must download fast... the most important.

2. Have content seen in an easy to find manner.

3. Have content which should be to the point, but not in a way that sounds unpolished.

4. Have an aesthetically pleasing design and layout with some original creativity. Nothing is more boring that those sites which look as "seen one - seen them all" !!! In short, creativity correctly applied will benefit you more even if you are a strictly business-oriented site.

5. Have "clean" and fast downloading graphics. Issues like image compression, edge definition, image alignment, safe browser coloring, the graphical message implied, etc. should be as perfect as possible.

6. Offer easy navigational facilities for the complete site.

7. Should provide "secure" facilities whenever important personal information is asked for... such as a street address or a credit card number.

8. Should have a readable (easy to understand ) TERMS & CONDITIONS page, a PRIVACY STATEMENT page, FAQs page, etc.

9. Should not "boast"... because one can say the same things in a dignified and subtle manner, which works even better and more powerfully in the viewers' minds !!!

10. Should not make false promises... I mean, don't promise the WORLD... espec

Originally posted by Brian Farkas:


dreamweaver 3


Ive always hard coded recently I decided I wanted to try a WYSIWYG editor to help speed up the process.I tried them alllll

Spiderwriter BLAH it deleted the whole page I was working on

Hotmetal is a major resource hog and I have a 500MHZ 3 month old machine.

Namo which I liked alot (namo.com)

And now dreamweaver the price tag almost knocked me over(keep in mind I am a freeware fan LOL)..I was talking to a designer friend of mine who uses it 2 days later she messaged me that I had a gift coming...she *bought it for me* I almost fainted I find the GUI much different than Im used to. Tool bars everywhere...but Im giving it a shot. *G* I sorta have to she spent so much $ on it I cant not use it LOL :)



[This message has been edited by Dana (edited 08-28-2000).]

Dana, you'll find once you get used to DreamWeaver, you'll absolutely love it. It makes creation and updating of templates, tables and what not so much easier.

I've ordered direct DreamWeaver 3, Fireworks 3 and Flash 5 in order to update my arsenal of tools for my little side 'hobby' ;) and hopefully I'll get them really soon (they're sold out where I am - unbelievable!). I'm looking sooooooo forward to using DW3.

Just a quick 2.2 cents on the actual topic : no matter what kind of site you're creating (with the possible exception of a personal site), I usually argue (with my client, and 90% of the time, get) for a balance between design, content and color scheme. In my eyes (for a hosting company anyway), content is king - be upfront, hide absolutely nothing, give the full impression of total honesty while proving you have the technical expertise in order to help your clients. Next, design is queen - clean, efficient, easy on the eyes, yet professional. Finally, color scheme is all dependent on what the client wants, and just fiddle around with the colors.

Uh... oh... :(

Seems the transition to vBulletin ate up the lower portion of my above post !!!

And I cannot understand why I am not able to edit or delete this post, so that i can repost it ???!!!

Oh well... seems I will have to re-enter from memory what I had said above earlier.

============================================================

Continuation of my truncated post above:

10. Should not make false promises... I mean, don't promise the WORLD !!! False claims only tarnish your reputation subsequently. Losing clients later on due to false promises is bad business strategy for the long term.

There is one other important issue I think is specially relevant to pricing content in some websites... it is the issue of offering EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE HUGE DISCOUNTS as compared to the prices offered by most competitors offereing similar services. If you really are able to pass on savings to your clients thereby enabling them to enjoy much larger discounts than your average competition can offer, it would be beneficial to honestly disclose to your clients exactly how and why you are able to offer these discounts when your average competition cannot. That is because most of your viewers will be asking this question in their own minds anyway. Your clearing up their doubts only makes them feel naturally more confident and secure in doing business with you.

And, lastly, offer as many modes of communication as you can to your clients, so that they can contact you just about easily. Some hosting companies who have a lot of local clients wisely provide their clients with a pager number as well... in case emergency requests get overlooked. These things do happen !!!

Furthermore, a good website which has a detailed, user-friendly and easy-to-comprehend trouble shooting FAQ and well formated online support information will go a long way in saving costs in maintaining an extra support staff to communicate with your troubled or confused clients. It would be a very wise policy to make a list of all the common questions your clients ask you. Then compile that list in an explicit manner and host it on your site as an online reference. If your clients still continue asking you the same questions, your online reference isn't either all that user-friendly as yet OR is simply not comprehensive enough as yet. You should continue improving it till it becomes so.

Oh well, I have said enough for a day !!! I apologize for the length of my post in this thread if it is not considered useful advice.

Dana, you have started a nice thread here... I hope it receives a lot more suggestions from others too... from both webhosting companies and their clients !!!

Learner
====================================
[b]Am always Learning...
Always... in all ways !!! :)

[Edited by Learner on 09-29-2000 at 12:37 PM]

<awaiting update at request of user>

[Edited by SysAdmin on 09-29-2000 at 01:37 PM]

Akashik, too late - I've already ordered my copies :) It's ok, since I've still got a few weeks to spare so that should be enough time for the latest versions to make it into my hot little hands. Thanks anyway ;) While waiting, I'll just stick with trusty DW2.

And yes, space is an important consideration - really space of any sort (not just 'white' space). Blank space, used judiciously, adds a bit of breathing space to the site and breaks up the site to give a more 'filled out' impression instead of being crammed with information overload.

<awaiting update at user request>

[Edited by SysAdmin on 09-29-2000 at 01:38 PM]

Originally posted by akashik *awaiting pass*
Ordered Flash 5, but with the nasty Adobe people trying to stop it's release who knows how long it'll take to come out (I think it's over now though).

Akashik... what exactly is this problem with Flash 5... i have been hearing similar things on and off... could you fill me in please with the exact reason ??!!!!

Learner

Greg, bad news : you've got me drooling now :D Bad!

I like the design of http://www.atomhost.com and http://www.bovia.com . They don't seem so shiny-smooth and super-commercial...