Tech with Tom: Get a website, part 4

Editor’s note: Tech with Tom Kirkham is intended to provide practical information about a wide range of electronic products, software and communication issues. Tom has promised to use layman terms, where possible, and to avoid geeky acronyms unless using said acronyms are the build up to an off-color joke built largely around sophomoric innuendo. Seriously, this should be good stuff and it will post on Fridays (barring any breaking news from Steve Jobs or elsewhere in the Tech world). Enjoy.

Over the past 3 parts of this series, we discussed why you need a website and domain names, website and email hosting, and then assessing what your website objectives should be and what you should expect to pay for a website.

I received a little heat for being vague on the price.

Here goes: Most small business websites with standard type features such as about us, contact forms, description of products and services should expect to pay $1,500 to $4,500. Notice I did not say newsletters, actually selling product online, or being able to blog and add content yourself. All of these features cost extra, sometimes quite a bit extra. Your mileage may vary.

Construction and technology of the website is critical for the website to be found on the Internet. Notice I did not say “looks.” Graphic design comes second to technology and construction of the site. Period. Putting design first, or overemphasizing the layout of the site over technology is a surefire way to cause Google and the other search engines to skip parts or even all of your site. Putting looks first is about like hiring a Hollywood film studio to build your house:  It will be beautiful and photogenic, but it’s just a facade. I’m not saying to build a less-than attractive site by any means, just remember that form follows function.

For those that don’t speak geek, here are some tips and buzzwords to look out for:
• Flash
An entire site built with Adobe’s Flash can be one of the coolest and most beautiful sites you’ve ever seen. But, it’s expensive and hardly the best way to go if you want search engines to find you. Small parts of the site can be okay, just not the entire site. I will grant artistic-type businesses a pass, but only if one of the objectives is NOT to be found in Google.

• CMS
This is good. Building a website on top of a Content Management System (CMS) allows quick and easy edits and additions. A good CMS will allow you to add your own pages, pictures, blogs, etc. without paying a bill each time something goes in. There are limitation of course, but designed properly, a CMS website will allow you to literally add thousands of pages whenever you like, just like The City Wire.

• Templates
If you hear the word “template,” it better be accompanied by “saving money.” Using a template will save you money, but at the expense of the overall layout and design of the site. A pre-made template is the design. Very little can be changed, so be careful not to compromise the design too much.

The next and final part in the series will discuss what to do with the website once its built. Yes, there is more work to do.

Notes on Tom
Tom Kirkham is the publisher and co-owner of The City Wire. Tom also is host of the Tom Kirkham Show on Newstalk KWHN 1320 AM, which airs each Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. He also owns and operates Kirkham Systems, a computer, communication and networking company. Tom has more than 20 years of experience in business and technology, and claims to be a photographer, jazz lover, Cajun food expert and dog rancher.

You can reach Tom at [email protected]