Evaluating web site costs

[socialentry]

Hi ,

I'm starting a web design company.I have a programming/IT background, but I have no clue I have zero photoshop/artistic skill so I'd like to outsource it.

I'd just like to know how much it would cost to outsource these jobs and what options are cheapest:

1) Have a Wordpress template done from scratch that is mobile compatible

2) Take an exiting wordpress template and have it customised

3) Have a code snippet implemented to switch to the mobile version of the site depending on user-agent (or is there a better way?)

4) Having minor adjustments be made

5) Have two photoshop images made from scratch to represent
a. Mobile website
b."normal" website

6) Split/Make a wordpress template based upon said photoshop images

If you know the answers,thanks
thanks

[HandsomeRob]

I am in the midst of learning to write html, so take it for what it's worth.

Everything we are learning is XHTML + CSS, and consequently content is separate from presentation.

So you have your website, "Socialentry's website blah blah blah blah blah"

Then you have;
"If desktop/laptop - use ABC.css for that type rendering."
"If mobile - use STV.css for that type rendering."
"If printing - use XYZ.css to remove add's, flashy stuff that isn't content related, etc."

Actual exact code is advanced for me at the moment, but it isn't actually multiple websites.

That covers 3 & 5.

For 4, writing HTML really isn't that difficult to learn. Editing content on already written webpages is childs play. Media a little more difficult.

I don't know about the rest.

[Thai]

Hi ,

I'm starting a web design company.I have a programming/IT background, but I have no clue I have zero photoshop/artistic skill so I'd like to outsource it.

I'd just like to know how much it would cost to outsource these jobs and what options are cheapest:

1) Have a Wordpress template done from scratch that is mobile compatible

2) Take an exiting wordpress template and have it customised

3) Have a code snippet implemented to switch to the mobile version of the site depending on user-agent (or is there a better way?)

4) Having minor adjustments be made

5) Have two photoshop images made from scratch to represent
a. Mobile website
b."normal" website

6) Split/Make a wordpress template based upon said photoshop images

If you know the answers,thanks
thanks

I prefer Joomla, IMO it's much more flexible than Wordpress. You can purchase templates from places like www.rockettheme.com or www.yootheme.com and customize them to the clients needs. At least then the framework is already there. Those templates usually have mobile versions/detection as well.

I usually charge $1500 for a personal site or for small businesses and up to $30K for large corporations. For partial work, I charge $50 an hour at 1 hr minimum.

As far as mobile detection, here's an easy one:

<script type="text/javascript"> // <![CDATA[
if ((navigator.userAgent.indexOf('iPhone') != -1) || (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('iPod') != -1) || (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('iPad') != -1)) {
document.location = "http://www.yoursite.com/mobile_version/";
} // ]]>
</script>

[mikeo007]

What about using an online CMS? There are oodles of templates available and everything is customizable. Plus you have the added benefit of not having to code your own CMS, you can just use theirs.

Squarespace is one such example: http://www.squarespace.com/