TRADITIONAL METHODS
OF SETTING UP BUSINESS WEBSITES
WEB DEVELOPING FIRMS
Pros:*Professional Design
*Website Owner doesn't have to learn
Programming or Software
*Professional Maintenance of the Website
Cons:
*Very Costly ... Often Money up Front
*Requires Hosting Company/Extra Monthly Cost
*Additional Features ... a la carte... Premium Fees
*Website Downtime when Under Construction
Individual websites are not a priority to the development firm after their completion. Some firms have proved to be less than reliable and lack professionalism.
Hiring a web development firm is a great option for a business that has money to spare and doesn't mind relinquishing control of its web presence or waiting for changes to be made ... each time ... and for an additional cost. The design of the website might have a professional appearance but could cost the business thousands of dollars for an initial set up. Additional features such as a product catalog, shopping cart, and statistical tracking require an additional investment. The natural changes that occur with a website would also require additional investment and a significant amount of time to complete. For many web development companies, their main objective is the initial development of a website, rendering the follow-up and day-to-day maintenance of the site a low priority once it is finished.
DO IT YOURSELF METHOD
Pros:*Owner Maintains Control
*Save on Initial Investment
Cons:
*Deal with Software Compatibility Problems
*Owner Required to Learn Software
*Must Purchase Software Upgrades
*Must Locate Hosting Company
*Must Upload Changes to Host
*May not have Professional Look
*Very Time Consuming
A pure do-it-yourself program allows businesses to stay in control of the design of their website and perhaps save some money on the initial investment. However, once the software program is mastered and the site developed, any changes must be uploaded to the hosting company, taking hours, if not more, to accomplish. This renders the site inaccessible in the process.
