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Easier to Build a Website or Hire Someone to Build It?

by deckman
17 replies
I am frustrated and got to spill it here so please take it easy on me. I am a carpenter by trade. If you can cut it with a saw, level or plumb it and drive a nail in it to make it stay in place I am good but this damn website building stuff is hard to wrap my thoughts around and I would gladly pay for someone to help me with it or build it.

I have what I think is a great idea for a online venture that is not your basic IM niche that could really help people in need. I want to build a membership site that these people come to for info and share experiences with others. I am willing to accept the fact that it will not make any $ starting out I am willing to spend a little getting it set up and maintaining After it is getting a good traffic flow then I will be able to monetize in several different ways.

I have written a few articles about my trade, got them accepted on EZA and seen the benefits of getting it on Google 1st page. So I think that I can get some traffic flow to it.
I have also had a little experience building a blog for my trade:

Fences and Decks in Dallas Texas

I know a lot of the lingo spoken in the IM world since I have been reading it for a while now.
I have also ran a post here
http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...uild-site.html
looking to hire someone to build a membership site for me with out much luck.

I looked on craigslist and found someone local that sounded promising but after several days of trying to meet up with him, getting him to return phone calls and not being available when he said he would so I gave up on him.

Just looking for some direction. Thanks for listening!

Deckman
#build #easier #hire #website
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    You should post a project at Elance.com and scriptlance.com and choose the most qualified bidders at your price range. Make sure you look at their feedback from previous customers. Tell them exactly what you want in the project description so they can make an accurate bid.
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    • Profile picture of the author deckman
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      You should post a project at Elance.com and scriptlance.com and choose the most qualified bidders at your price range. Make sure you look at their feedback from previous customers. Tell them exactly what you want in the project description so they can make an accurate bid.
      Thanks. Actually I knew this but it hadnt crossed my mind that this was an option
      Right after I started this thread A very trusted friend in Florida contacted me asking about my project. I had told him about it earlier and he is going to pertner with me so I think that my frustration has been solved.
      Thanks for the input here and we may still use these two. This thing is worth getting right the first time around so we may need some one with webdesigning experience.

      Thanks
      Deckman
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    If web design isn't your thing...hire somebody...period.

    If you can afford it, it's not even an issue...just do it.

    I don't know anybody personally who does web design who is good AND
    can also be trusted. Yeah, that's a big problem online, for some reason, and
    it drives me crazy too...which is why I do everything myself IF I can. If not...I
    pray real hard.

    Maybe somebody here, who I know, will offer to help you out publicly and I
    can jump in and put in a good word for them. But most of the folks here I
    know and trust do NOT do web design.
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    • Profile picture of the author deckman
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      If web design isn't your thing...hire somebody...period.

      If you can afford it, it's not even an issue...just do it.

      I don't know anybody personally who does web design who is good AND
      can also be trusted. Yeah, that's a big problem online, for some reason, and
      it drives me crazy too...which is why I do everything myself IF I can. If not...I
      pray real hard.

      Maybe somebody here, who I know, will offer to help you out publicly and I
      can jump in and put in a good word for them. But most of the folks here I
      know and trust do NOT do web design.
      If someone took my idea and ran with it there is not too much that I know could be done about it. So yeah the trust issue is a real big deal here. With this being said I just wanted to share this with you guys since I have spilled here. I went to a IM workshop here in Dallas. We had to form groups of five for a mastermind group, Well this was a great idea but didnt take long for them to fall apart. One of the members has kept in touch with me telling me of the successes he has had with IM since the workshop. I just got off the phone with him and he is wanting to help me along with this. This is someone that I really think that I can trust.

      I really appreciate everyone's input here but it looks like I may have it nailed.

      Thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author Philok
    If you know how to do it do it if not hire someone the job will be done faster.

    Take care,

    Philok
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Riddle
    Deckman,

    I have several people who work with me that are more than qualified to build what you are looking for.

    It really boils down to how simple of membership site can you use to test before going with a huge investment.

    Although its not popular with the IM crowd a simple site that uses password protected directories is probably all you need to get started.

    A full blown membership site doesn't have to be developed to test your concept.

    Mark Riddle
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    • Profile picture of the author tenaciouscreations
      As a web developer myself I have a few tips to pass on. Careful if you are hiring someone online as I have heard of numerous people being taken advantage of this way.
      Be sure to set marker points along the process so you and your web designer can talk about where the project is going and if you are both happy with the results thus far. Too many times I have seen web developers / designers finish the project only to have the client say "That is not what I wanted!". Both the developer ad the client end up unhappy in this situation.
      It is not uncommon for a developer/designer to want a deposit, or payments along the way to completion ( a good time for these payments is at those predetermined marker points). I generally ask for a deposit after I have provided the client with the wire frames of the proposed site.
      Be sure to provide your developer with a clear picture of what you want. This not only helps the developer but you as well. A good developer / designer will be skilled at learning how to figure out what the client wants even if the client is not quite sure and will ask several questions to be sure they know the direction the client wants to take.
      If I had more time I would pass on some more but this should help to get you started.

      Ben
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      • Profile picture of the author deckman
        Originally Posted by tenaciouscreations View Post

        As a web developer myself I have a few tips to pass on. Careful if you are hiring someone online as I have heard of numerous people being taken advantage of this way.
        Be sure to set marker points along the process so you and your web designer can talk about where the project is going and if you are both happy with the results thus far. Too many times I have seen web developers / designers finish the project only to have the client say "That is not what I wanted!". Both the developer ad the client end up unhappy in this situation.
        It is not uncommon for a developer/designer to want a deposit, or payments along the way to completion ( a good time for these payments is at those predetermined marker points). I generally ask for a deposit after I have provided the client with the wire frames of the proposed site.
        Be sure to provide your developer with a clear picture of what you want. This not only helps the developer but you as well. A good developer / designer will be skilled at learning how to figure out what the client wants even if the client is not quite sure and will ask several questions to be sure they know the direction the client wants to take.
        If I had more time I would pass on some more but this should help to get you started.

        Ben
        I feel so strongly about this that I know that someone here on WF could very well take advantage of my idea run with it just by me giving one keyword so I know that I had to be really careful with it.
        This is some very good input and I appreciate it very much.
        ISince I started this thread I had a solution to my dilemma call me on the phone. Ask and ye shall receive.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ellen C Braun
    Hi Deckman,

    Definitely hire someone else to do it, if it's giving you a headache! I do so all the time.

    There are times that it pays to learn something new (if you'll need to do it multiple times) and other times that it's worthwhile to outsource.

    Would a password-protected site work for you?

    What about amember?

    Or wishlistmember on wordpress?

    It's worthwhile to do some research and first figure out what type of system you want to go with, THEN go look to hire someone to implement it.

    good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Nic Lynn
    Don't just hire someone to do it... being a tradesman, you should barter it! Try an ad on Craigslist to "trade" a fence or deck (or offset the cost of it) for the site you need to be built. There are plenty of willing designers out there that would probably jump at the chance if you put it in front of them the right way.

    Plus this is a great way to make sure you get what you need. If they do a lousy job or don't meet their deadlines.... well, they get an unfinished fence!
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    • Profile picture of the author deckman
      Originally Posted by Nic Lynn View Post

      Don't just hire someone to do it... being a tradesman, you should barter it! Try an ad on Craigslist to "trade" a fence or deck (or offset the cost of it) for the site you need to be built. There are plenty of willing designers out there that would probably jump at the chance if you put it in front of them the right way.

      Plus this is a great way to make sure you get what you need. If they do a lousy job or don't meet their deadlines.... well, they get an unfinished fence!
      Very interesting thought. Thanks for the input.
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    • Profile picture of the author LynnM
      Originally Posted by Nic Lynn View Post

      Don't just hire someone to do it... being a tradesman, you should barter it! Try an ad on Craigslist to "trade" a fence or deck (or offset the cost of it) for the site you need to be built. There are plenty of willing designers out there that would probably jump at the chance if you put it in front of them the right way.

      Plus this is a great way to make sure you get what you need. If they do a lousy job or don't meet their deadlines.... well, they get an unfinished fence!
      That's a brilliant idea! Now lets see...there's the leaky roof, the broken gas appliance, the eaves needing painted...Gumtree here I come!


      Lyn
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  • Profile picture of the author Johnathan
    Depends what your budget is. If you have a budget of $300+, then yes, hiring a person would probably be your best bet. Anything lower and you'll probably get quite frustrated trying to get someone to complete it for you.
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    • Profile picture of the author deckman
      Originally Posted by Johnathan View Post

      Depends what your budget is. If you have a budget of $300+, then yes, hiring a person would probably be your best bet. Anything lower and you'll probably get quite frustrated trying to get someone to complete it for you.
      In all actuality I would think that at the $300 price range would be cheap. I want to put this together for the long term so I would expect to spend a little more.

      This may be a simple enough project to most and I may be overstating cost but to me it is not an easy project.

      I have had customers say to me "Thats a lot to just to build ...." and I want to say "Why dont you build it then" but I dont.

      Its not just cutting and nailing the board its knowing what kind of board to use for longevity, where to cut, what tool to cut with, how to plumb/level the board and where/how many nails to use as well as what kind of nails to use that will hold the deck together.
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  • Profile picture of the author CDawson
    Banned
    For me, it would be easier to have someone else make the template, and I would just simple add the content.
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    • Profile picture of the author deckman
      Originally Posted by CDawson View Post

      For me, it would be easier to have someone else make the template, and I would just simple add the content.
      I am with you on this one.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jawshh
    Try WYSIWYG by Pablo. Google it. You might actually find it too easy to use.
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