Website Budgeting
What is the process?
Building a new website or replacing an existing business website involves an organized – step by step – process. At iBusinessLogic we build a foundation first for our clients. This foundation is the basic software that runs your website. This software is available with several different feature sets and can be open source or proprietary but in most every case we use what is called in the industry a content management system.
A content management system or CMS is not a template (although the word template is sometimes used to describe the graphics that a CMS displays), it is also not hand coded html. (although html can be and is used for many elements of a CMS website and can also be inserted almost anywhere on the site to bring in different elements that the client may need or desire).
What is a content management system?
Basically it is like modular building in construction, except for one small fact. Once the foundation is laid and the colors are chosen, the look is set and the style is selected… This foundation can build upon itself without an entire crew of engineers and workmen to put the pieces together, next week or next year… Parts and pieces can be added to the modular construction of a CMS based website with very little concern that the rest of the house will fall down. No cranes are needed, no permit required, simply tell the contractor you need a new element and it can happen very quickly. Or ask that an old element be removed and again, not a problem.
If you are handy, meaning if you can write an email or format a Word document, with a content management system you will be able to add your own pages to a CMS based website at will. No more waiting for your webmaster to change a price or edit an employee page or create a new sale or to describe your latest company promotion. All of these essential tasks that a website should perform can be done in house and on the fly. No html to format, no need worry about breaking another page or causing harm to the home page, just type, proof and publish.
Ok – So Content Management Sounds Good – Now what?
We have set up our 3 options on the previous page to be as simple as possible for any small business owner to get started. Basically our pricing is based on an hourly rate, the entry level “deposit” amount of $199.00 covers 4 hours of our basic setup time. This will get any business started with a working website on our server which has a style and theme and your logo inserted, with only 4 hours alloted we can not do everything that can be done with a CMS website. We can get you up and running, get your brand presented to the world and show you how to add your own pages and articles.
In essence, for $199.00 (The Simple Start Package) any business can have a foundation and a website in place which will grow and expand with your company.
We all know that time is involved with creating anything worthwhile. If you have ideas for your website which you believe will take more than 4 hours of our time to accomplish (or that we advise you will take more than 4 hours to accomplish) you may select to go with the other options on our deposit shopping cart list.
Why do you call it a Deposit?
Simple – we do not yet know what you want to do with your website. If you simply want a stylish and very functional, easy to manage site presenting your in house logo and your company message on a few pages, we think you could start with the Simple Start program and be on track for $199.00.
If you need 10 or 20 pages formatted, and a lengthy contact form created and 500 images edited and reduced for the web to be presented on your website on galleries or albums, we will obviously have more time involved on our end to accomplish your goals.
On average the entire website creation process for a small business CMS based website usually takes about 24 man hours of our time. This number can change dramatically according to a customers needs or desires.
Our “Open My Site Now” system allows you the freedom to budget according to those needs and desires and building upon a content management system allows us to work with you to build your site over time and as you can afford to add features we can also make it happen. You will never have a website which looks unfinished with this method of creation.
You can indeed Open your site now! while also have plans to make it the very best website possible for your niche or your industry, yet you do not need to budget for the entire project all at once. Building modularly, in stages, with set goals and known costs is a much more business like way to get the job done.
We hope you agree.
What is the process?
- Make your deposit of choice
- Sit down and think about your company message, what you want to tell the public immediately about you and your business.
- Imagine the page titles you want to present in the main menu of your website. (Sub menus will also be available).
- Gather your image files ( company logo, photos of your work or your office or your shop )
- Think about your colors (Closely tied to any existing logo)
- Arrange for your first personal interview with an iBusinessLogic representative (usually on the phone, but could be in person or in a chat).
- Secure a domain name – we can help you choose a good name and purchase same for you. (fee not included in deposit price)
- Let us create your design and then review it with us.
- Once the design is agreed upon – insert page content
- We will set you up with side bar data (widgets) which can be altered or moved to your liking.
- We train you on your website administration – how to create a page, how to add an image, how to check your formatting and publish your content.
- From this point you will be ready, your site will be live and you can use it in any way you wish. Our additional services will always be available to you, when you need them.
