Do You Get Service With Your $1 Website?

I couldn't even bring myself to read the ad--- Websites $1 --Up Same Day ( or something to that affect.) I shivered, cringed, and then wondered... who would actually think they could purchase a website for one dollar and get any reliable website design service guarantee?

What I've come to realize in the many years that I've been providing Tampa web design and web marketing services is that most of my clients care less about price than they do about quality and service. Although price matters to most small businesses who are hiring a designer, and finding affordable website design and marketing services is part of adhering to a stringent budget in a struggling economy, service is so much more important and in most cases at the absolute forefront of the decision making process.

Reliable, friendly and available website designers are often born out of experience in their field. Someone fresh out of college with a degree in design often has the technical know-how but lacks the sense of urgency, accuracy and marketing skill that is needed to appease the masses.
Freelance developers and website development firms who have worked with numerous clients and on many levels often times deliver more simply because they have an understanding of business operations. It helps tremendously if a developer has managed their own business not only in the design industry but outside the industry as well. Having done so often develops a healthy insight of what a business owner expects from a service provider, including their website designer.

Equally as important for many clients is where their prospective website designer is located. Not that it necessarily affects the outcome of the design or marketing of a client's website, but because it adds to the client's overall comfort level. With business and even social aspects of our lives becoming less and less personalized it still matters to many business owners that they receive personalized service. And afterall why shouldn't they? A website is generally an ongoing part of day to day operations with many businesses, even small ones. Knowing that you can call your website designer today or a year from now and feeling confident that you'll receive the same dependable and affordable website design service is what most small business owners strive for. Often times, meeting just once with a designer is enough to instill a sense of camaraderie that we all still enjoy.

I've had clients who have worked with many designers prior to using my services-- As a website designer and business owner in the Tampa area and in an attempt to understand my client's likes and dislikes, I always inquire as to why they did not remain with their original web developer. It never seems to be a money issue, it is a service issue. Providing top notch customer service and custom website designs for my Tampa clients takes time-- a lot of time as well as total commitment. I work in excess of 14 to 15 hours a day (on a slow day.)
So when I see the advertisements for $1 websites, and assuming one would obtain any kind of decent service that goes along with it, I can only ask, "Why didn't I think of that?"

For more information or to find out how to locate an affordable website designer in Tampa without forgoing service, visit http://www.websitestampabay.com or call us at 813.948.1062.

Tampa Website Designers Should Meet Specific Criteria

Have you decided that it's time to hire a Tampa web designer? Doing some legwork prior to hiring a website design firm or Tampa freelance designer, may save you a lot of money and even save you from disappointment. Which Tampa, Florida website designer you decide to hire should meet certain criteria and you shouldn't decide based on website design pricing alone. Affordability, Availability, Flexibility, Reliability, and of course Reputation and talent, should all play a role in who you hire to design your Tampa bay area website.

With many small business owners being affected by the economy, now more than ever people are searching for the "cheapest" Tampa website designer. Sure, everyone wants to obtain the best deal when it comes to any purchase, but you have to compare cost to quality.

I see the stenciled website design signs in Tampa, Lutz and all around the Tampa Bay area-- "$299 Website Design and I want to ... uh... run it over with my car. I know that whomever writes that check will end up writing subsequent checks to get a finsihed product.

In short, working with a stable website design firm in Tampa is a good start if you're searching for a website designer, yet...that's not always enough. Stable isn't everything and some Tampa website design firms cater to only high end customers. In other words, if you're a small business on a limited budget, you should probably look elsewhere. Freelance website designers are another option and there's plenty of talent with regards to this option. But be careful-- If you're in the online business for the long haul, your freelancer may not be. Do they have what it takes to stay in business? What happens when you need website updates or website marketing for your Tampa website and they're no longer around to assist you?

Asking the appropriate questions of your potential website designer can save you time and money. The most important thing to remember is don't simply look for cheap website designs without considering all of the variables. If you rush into hiring a designer based on price alone, you may -- you probably will, end up feeling regretful at the very least.

Visit http://www.websitestampa.com or www.websitestampabay.com to read more about how to choose a website designer or website marketing firm, Tampa.

Branding Your Tampa Business With Graphic Design

I can't tell you how many times I've heard a small business owner tell me that they don't need to brand their Tampa business---after all, they're only a small business, why spend money on branding? The truth is that no matter how large or small, whether you're offering a product or service, branding is of the utmost importance to any size or type of business and can be achieved through utilizing custom graphic designs for your Florida website and for your print and promotional products.


Tampa businesses such as The Urban Exchange in Tampa (http://www.theurbanexchange.com/) recognized this concept from the start. Although they are a small Tampa clothing reseller, branding using creative graphic designs was an important part of their marketing strategy right from the beginning. The graphic design placed on their homepage when we designed their Tampa small business website, was built to accommodate their existing logo design. Over the years, their Tampa print ad designs and campaigns have been custom designed so that even if their logo and contact info was omitted-- today, most people would recognize their advertisements because of the consistent "vibe" their graphic designs offer up.


This (branding with graphic designs) certainly isn't a new concept but it's a concept that all Tampa businesses should consider however, many are not. Some business owners believe that all they need to do is to obtain a decent logo design for their Tampa business. Yet branding your Florida business requires much more than obtaining a great logo design. Your logo, although most important should be accompanied by an overall style and feel that your printed brochures, postcards and even your website graphics initiate. Building your brand through the utilization of great graphic designs is a sure way of captivating the consumer. No matter how small you think you are, your designs should be big and bold even if the graphics are soft and subtle---Most importantly, they should reflect your company's personality. Although ad content is important as well, often times, "words are truly cheap" and using visuals can be worth their weight in gold.

Then why aren't more small business owners doing what it takes to get better graphic designs for their websites and printed promotional products and ad designs?

The biggest misconception about custom graphic designs? Affordability. Companies don't have to pay a fortune to obtain graphic design services in the Tampa area. Tampa businesses can contact Bay Area Graphics & Marketing directly or visit our website to view our affordable graphic design prices or Google, Graphic Design Tampa to do some comparison shopping.

Whether it's an ad design, logo website design or web graphics for online ads, make sure you are branding your business with awesome graphic designs and undoubtedly, your small business won't just exist, it will outshine your competitors.

Web Designs That Get SEO Results

It seems to be increasingly difficult to obtain website design in the Tampa area that are affordable, functional (yes, I said it) and also built to be SEO "friendly." Bay Area Graphics & Marketing is mindful of search engine optimization for our Tampa clients and always prior to launching their sites. Although no one can promise immediate or guaranteed fist page results, it is well noted that key word rich written content combined with aesthetically pleasing designs and great structure, "take the cake" with Google and other major search engines. So, why don't some design firms build them this way from the start? It's hard to know the exat reason yet I can only speculate that it has much to do with either expertise ( or lack thereof) or the designer or web design firm's way to ensure additional income from their web clients. Don't get me wrong, often times, depending on a client's industry and locality, additional SEO service is needed however, great content goes a long way.



Many of my Tampa Bay clients are of the understanding that website development is separate from search engine optimization services. Often times website owners are paying far too much money for SEO services after their sites are launched. We've found that in the majority of cases had the website content been written properly prior to launching the site, site owners would not have had to pay someone to come in at a later date to re-write the copy.



To learn more about finding quality website design in Tampa, visit http://www.websitestampabay.com/seo.htm.

Sluggish Economy Makes Way for Innovation

Have you or are you thinking of launching a new business in the Tampa area this year? Many people are contemplating starting new businesses despite the sluggish economy and in many cases have done so only after having been forced to find innovative ways to survive.

I've always been a "glass is half full" kind of person and I would like to believe that although some of us are facing devastating times economically my motto stands firm. "Where there's a will there's a way." This applies to one's desire to start a business based on natural talents and/or innovation.

I've spoken with a few people recently who share in my sentiment. Having recently experienced a layoff after having devoted all of their time and efforts to a company who seemed stable---like many were railroaded. To be let go with no notice and little or no severance they found out how deep their "will" ran. Despite their predicaments, these folks decided to rely on their talents and abilities to find niches that will not only help sustain them financially but some have realized that they are much happier than previously perceived! I was so impressed with their motivation that enabled them to move forward and to take a chance on a new endeavors. I've learned much about human resilience and how to look within to find the strength to embark on something new in the midst of a trial. It is admirable to say the least. It's tough to start over and to begin new ventures. It can nearly suck the life out of you at times (if you let it) but nine times out of ten, there'll be no regrets.

Most said the biggest challenge in starting over was determining what type of small business they wanted to build. With little money for start up costs they had to take a good look at their financial picture and allocate monies to areas that would bring forth the largest return. With a huge leap of faith these brave entrepreneurs decided to take what they had and first and foremost get a websites up and running. Surely it would produce the most favorable outcome in time. In other words, they were taking their business ventures seriously and---they had done their homework. Service based businesses don't require much in the way of product or inventory so luckily, there is more to invest into marketing. Selling product can require more of an investment and you still have to be conscientious of maintaining reserves to market that product. The key was to limit the product initially, then build on your inventory as online sales increase.


What Every Small Business Needs, Bay Area Graphics & Marketing Has. Each one of the new small business owners recognized that they needed website design and graphic design services to start. Business Cards, Brochures and Postcards were next on their agendas and in small increments, they have obtained what they need to get off to a good start. With a lot of hard work and at times more faith they are succeeding. I know these new business owners will enjoy continued success in their local markets. Working for yourself is one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences you can ever have even if you've been "forced" into it.

About Bay Area Graphics & Marketing

Bay Area Graphics&Marketing; offers affordable services such as website design, graphic design and other marketing services-- and clients can make just one call to obtain what they need to get started or to jump start their existing small business. Not all Tampa website design firms cater to small businesses but we do. We keep our prices affordable for everyone.

We offer just about everything a business owner would need to get their dreams off the ground and to keep it thriving. From logo design to SEO (Website Marketing)---we've got you covered.
If you're starting a new business give us a call, we would be glad to provide you with a friendly, comprehensive quote for services. If you need affordable website marketing or printing services for your existing business we'll offer you fast, affordable and friendly service. Visit www.websitestampabay.com for more information.

Tampa Website Marketing and Updates Easily Obtained

If you have a small or large business in Tampa and you've had difficulty obtaining website marketing services or updates from you original webmaster, then you're not alone. Many of our clients who come to us to obtain website maintenance and updates for their websites have expressed their frustration with their former Tampa area website design firms. Most tell us that they were fairly satisfied with the design process but-- once completed, it was either difficult or impossible to receive updates.

Often, cost was an issue and there was the issue of "communication breakdowns." No call backs on requests for service was a huge problem. Tough as it is to believe... it's true that many Tampa Bay area website design firms would rather make their money on designing websites and do not however make a priority of maintaining or updating the websites they've built.

Search engine optimization services usually come with a high price tag and often with mediocre results. So, what's the solution to obtaining affordable small business website marketing and maintenance services in Tampa?

Choose a Tampa area website design and marketing company who is proven effective in offering above average customer service as this is in most cases, the key to success. There are more than enough talented website designers in the Tampa Bay area, and SEO (website marketing, search engine optimization services) seem to be easy enough to find as well. However, just because the talent is there, it doesn't mean the service will be good. Website updates and website marketing is easy and affordable when you hire Bay Area Graphics & Marketing. Since 2001 we've been offering affordable web design, web maintenance and web marketing for Tampa area businesses. Visit our website at http://www.websitestampabay.com and read our reviews. Feel free to contact our clients for a reference or input and as always, contact us directly with any questions you have by calling (813) 948-1062 or email bagraphics@verzion.net.

Guide to Choosing a Website Designer in Tampa

With so many web designers to choose from in the Tampa area, how do you know exactly which one to hire to accommodate your small business website design needs?

Well, the answer is to take time to do some comparison shopping and to use a reputable website design and website marketing firm in Tampa, one that is established and who can provide you with good references. Pricing plays an important role in your decision making process. Most small businesses have a strict budget for their online business however, choosing the "cheapest" website designer isn't always the best idea. Often times, using a Tampa web designer whose prices seem too good to be true, will often end up costing you more money in the long run. Fixing a poorly developed website, or correcting mistakes that challenge your website ranking, can end up costing a great deal more than you had planned. But how do you find a website designer in Tampa that can offer affordable website design and website marketing without forgoing quality?

Make a list of questions that you want to ask the prospective Tampa web designer. Some questions may be obvious and may include the cost of the website, how many pages will be included in your design, will your website include graphic design or hosting. You may want to know how edits, updates and changes to your website will be dealt with and the cost that will be involved.

Other questions may concern the writing of your website's content. Is the designer an experienced writer with a background in website marketing? Can they initiate a call to action when writing your web content including page titles and descriptions? You should inquire as to how many clients the firm handles at any given time and always ask who will be designing your website and that person’s experience.

One of the most important questions to a prospective Tampa web designer is regarding the website design firm’s customer service policy. It may sound trivial a very high percentage of customers who switch over to Bay Area Graphics & Marketing after having been with another web designer or website design firm in Tampa, have sited poor customer service as a top reason why they found a new company to handle their website design and SEO/SEM needs for their Tampa small business. Ask if (yes, I did say if ) who-- and when you will be able to speak to your designer directly with requests and concerns about your website as well as their policy for response times when you do have questions. You may wonder what this has to do with a good design but, experience shows us that poor communication is directly correlated with poorly designed websites. Additionally, inquire as to a completion date, if one will be provided and guaranteed. These are just some questions that should be asked however you will also want to have your own list handy based on your personal needs.

Website Marketing is usually not at the forefront of most of our client's minds until after their site is built. That is why we address this matter at the start of development. Unfortunately, many Tampa website design companies will build eye catching websites that are unfortunately lacking good content, titles and descriptions. Why is this important? A website must be more than aesthetically pleasing and it needs a variety of qualities to rank organically, in other words based on content and proper linking. We believe that utilizing proper development techniques that address the issue of ranking should be discussed and initiated from the start of your website design project. Additionally, we submit to the major search engines as part of your website design package and additional website marketing services can be included at an affordable price either at the time of service or after your site has been developed.

Lastly, always make sure your website design firm is willing and able to provide you with at least three solid references. Do not rely solely on testimonials and examples of websites they've designed (from their site) but real people that will provide you with information about the service that was provided by that particular Tampa area website design company.