Your ONLY Two Choices
Posted on March 30, 2009
15 Responses to “Your ONLY Two Choices”
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Mar 30, 2009
There are quite a few unemployed design students out there who would happily make websites for startup companies, either for really cheap, or even free, as they need more in their portfolios.
If you don’t have enough money to pay a student or an unemployed designer to make you a website, then find the money. I see far too many people who think they’ll go the “i’ll do it myself” route.
Only to realize, months down the line, that their website isn’t what they originally wanted it to be.
You can find a designer willing to help you on twitter within the space of an hour. Whether that designer will be good or quick is hard to tell. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t try yourself, you’ll probably end up making something that doesn’t look professional or something that reflects badly on your company.
Even if a designer isn’t able to do it, they might be able to point you in the direction of someone who can.
Great vid Laura, people do love to procrastinate.
Mar 30, 2009
[...] social media rockstars, Laura Roeder this morning and her smack-upside-the-head video blog post “Your ONLY Two Choices” and it was right in line with what I’m about to talk about here. Laura talks about how people [...]
Mar 31, 2009
In contrast to TheLukas there are so many basic options to build a website without having any prior technical skill out there that you can easily create one without any trouble. It may not be perfect or full of design wonder but it’s better than nothing which is what you had before.
Then you can go find a student designer or someone who wants to build out their portfolio on the cheap.
Great vid.
Apr 01, 2009
There is actually a third option. Depending on how good you are at relationships, you could have been doing things for others and building up pay it forwards that they would then do things for you. Share the love, help others and they will help you when you need it gratis.
Apr 01, 2009
Scott – I agree that giving and receiving help are great things. However it’s never something that you can count on, and many people never move forward HOPING someone will come along and do it for free. Also I like to pay people for their work – I’m happy to receive advice and guidance but it when it comes to a long, complex project like building a website gratis is probably not the way to go in my opinion.
Apr 05, 2009
In response to Carl,
There are indeed many website builders out there, and they are getting a lot better, Especially with companies like SquareSpace.
But it’s often quite obvious when a website has been made using a site builder.
With the internet being the way it is these days, with twitter and other social networks, you can always make a site using a site builder, and ask designers on twitter for any feedback. A lot of people on twitter will be happy to spare a few minutes to lend a helping hand.
A site builder site, if used badly, can give a negative impression of your company. Or you.
Just make sure you get a bit of feedback before you start throwing links out.
But yes, i agree, there are some good, free options out there. You just need to know where to find them.
Apr 06, 2009
You cannot run a business on the expectation of largesse from others. Once you create a Web site, you have to maintain it, keep it current. You are again back at the place of learning to do it yourself, or paying to have the work done.
Having a Web site created is a business expense, and creating professional looking web sites, which is the first impression many people have of you and your branding, is critical. Why would you want to cheap it? Creating a Web site, and creating the graphics to convey the proper image are two different things.
Apr 08, 2009
Laura! Love this, you are so right, there are two options.
The third one that you did not mention is try and get someone to do it for free!
This should not be an option. We are all trying to make our businesses successful and when you ask someone else to provide you with a service for free you are undermining the success of their business.
I see this often, people want to do “coffee”. And what that really means is they want to talk to you about your area of expertise and see if you will “trade” services or do the work for free.
I love this post, two options, only two options. Pick one or suck it up, stay stuck until you are ready to pick one.
Lisalarter’s last blog post..The Cost of Judgement
Jun 03, 2009
Not waiting for anybody to make it for me.. this is exactly how I taught myself web designing and many other things! and yes I’ve been one of these making projects for free .. for skills exchange .. and for money .. I agree Laura.. If you really want it you can make it !
Other option is setting up a blog which doesn’t require much programing/designing skills and is free ! This is where I made my very first steps in web designing …
Best , Kasia
Oct 01, 2009
When you are making your decision as to whether you want to spend money or learn how to do it yourself, you also have to remember that both options involve you spending one of your resources. You are either spending your money or spending your time.
When you wait around trying to decide which option to choose, you are actually choosing to waste your time resource. Acknowledge your choices, choose one, and take action!
Chase Roper´s last blog ..Does Roman Polanski deserve more jail time?
Oct 25, 2009
I totally agree. I get so many compliments on my website and I did it 100% all by myself. I have no background in IT or technology or computers, I just took the time, had the determination and focus, and just figured it out. Believe me, folks – if I can do it, YOU CAN! If you need to get something done, you can do it!
Great post! And thanks for the inspiration.
Danielle Omar
Dec 06, 2009
Very informative posts and stories here. Much appreciated!
Dec 07, 2009
This is great. It reminds me of one of the biggest success killers, “I can’t do it”. Either at all, as you explain that falsehood, or “perfectly as I want to see it”.
Repeat this on hundred times and do it:
I am successful because I DO things NOW and fix them Later!
I am successful because I DO things NOW and fix them Later!
I am successful because I DO things NOW and fix them Later!
.
.
.
Thanks,
marshall
Apr 22, 2010
OMG Laura, I couldn’t agree more! People REALLY need to work on this. There’s such a scarcity mindset (can’t believe I said that— sounds like something a woo woo guru would say), but I see it again and again with the mompreneurs I coach. It’s like they’re just not prepared to uplevel their business, or “take it seriously” as you say.
I’m fortunate in that I have a design/web background, and that’s definitely a plus, but people would be surprised that I DO hire a lot of that stuff out sometimes when I know I need to be focused on income-generating activities.
Thanks for sharing your kick-in-the-pants POV on this issue!
Jul 26, 2010
This is a wonderful clarification of what all of us know but often refuse to face. Making it so stark is a great way to force people to confront their inability to be decisive.
I’d like to clarify it one more step: whether we pay someone else or do it ourselves it costs us money, either in out of pocket costs or in the opportunity cost of the time spent learning how to do it.
In my experience the question comes down to a cost benefit analysis. The people who don’t invest the money aren’t convinced the benefits will outweigh the costs. Once they’re convinced it’s a good investment, they’ll find the money.