Thread

So how much to you ‘invest’ on a new website?

I’ve only every launched 2 sites, my personal domain, and a project I started with a friend years ago.
Over the course of the past few years, we are ready to launch a new (commercial) site using EE.
The following is what WE plan on spending investing (we are at least one year away from site launch);

These numbers are just pallbark figures:
WEBSITE
GoDaddy domain registration = $8.95 x 3 (.com .net .org)
Hosting = $10-20 per month average (prepay annually)
Mint = $30 (statistics analysis) (yes, I know about Google Analytics)
What other analytics programs do you use? My partner wants to use ReInvigorate.net.

MARKETTING (optional)
Business cards = $10 (overnightprints.com)
Flyers/Brochures = $100 (overnightprints.com)

Since I haven’t started a site in SO many years, what other factors are we missing!?

Jeez. Its scary really. I know you gotta spend money to make money but its still scary.

I’ve spent money on

Webhosting - Two years
Custom EE Coding
EE Commercial License
EE Modules
The text for the website
Mint

Business Cards
Press Release (done by the same person who did the website text)

Then there’s all the other expenses related to trying to start a company… Camera gear, travel expenses, print costs, the list goes on and on.

Hands down I would go with a focussed Adwords campaign.

what other factors are we missing!?

Expression Engine Commercial License: $249.95 :lol: 😛

Using EE to drive your site…. Priceless.

Rather than just a few generalizations, I was hoping for a few specifics.
:(

Jammo, I dont know what it is that you are trying to market and that would be a big help. for instance if you are selling web design services in your local area you would market in one way. If you are looking to sell web design services online (good luck with that one 😉 you would market another way. If you are selling a product you would approach it another. I guess it would be really helpful if you could tell us what you are selling?

also just a random plug for http://www.48hourprint.com I have used both overnightprints and 48 hour and 48 hour is much much better quality. I have never had to send anything back to the printer because of tracking issues or colors going awry. They are more expensive but at 75$ per 1000 cards it is still 1/2 or better than a local printer.

M.

Jammo, I dont know what it is that you are trying to market and that would be a big help. for instance if you are selling web design services in your local area you would market in one way. If you are looking to sell web design services online (good luck with that one 😉 you would market another way. If you are selling a product you would approach it another. I guess it would be really helpful if you could tell us what you are selling?

I am neither marketting nor selling any product, or any service.

Over the past 5-6 years of ‘web design & development’, I’ve only ever provided consulting services (SEO, image optimization, layout/design). I’ve assisted friends in their web dev startups.

If you’ll take a look at my sig, I have some issues.
These issues are what keeps me from being all that I can be. I try to focus and pay attention to the tasks at hand, but, alas, I am easily sidetracked.
But this isn’t a thread about GTD, David Allen, etc.

This is a thread to help me focus on WHAT TO DO when starting a new site.

As I’ve mentioned, I know I need the domain names, registrar and hosting.
As far as that goes, what other necessities or wants/needs do YOU ALL personally go after when starting a new site.

Essentially, I’ve learned as much as possible with GTD and David Allens principles, LifeHacker tips/tricks, I’ve got a thousand bookmarks on CSS resources, design, galleries, jQuery plugins, etc.
I have all the tools, but I need to know where to focus my attentions first.

Sorry for the long post, this just gets troublesome for me, and I easily tend to sidetrack myself.

OK so you are not selling nor marketing any service or product. So if you want to know what you need just to have a site I think your list is pretty much complete.

Hosting
Domain Registration
Any applicable software and the appropriate licenses.

But you have to be marketing something otherwise why the business cards and analytics?

M.

Going back to my mention of the 2 sites I ever created.
While they will both be an immense project, they are both recreations of old dead content.

The first one is my own personal site (has gone through various WordPress, Nucleus, and other countles CMS units). My wife and I are having a child soon, and want to showcase our babys growth, pics, videos, etc. for family members.

The second site is the bigger of the two. This one was last powered by a heavily modified InvisionBoard unit, complete with gallery, blog, archive, and other content.
This one is the one that will be minimally ad-driven to offset hosting costs, etc.
It’s centered around the automotive industry, more geared towards the local truck/bike/hotrod/custom car clubs.
It won’t be much a community thing, but more a magazine theme site, with fresh content by staff, & volunteers.

As for the business cards, brochures, etc. we go to shows & events, leave our ‘calling cards’ and set up interviews, photo ops, etc. for area auto enthusiasts.

Well considering your sites I would say that some business cards and brochures would be about all you would need.

Jammo,

Have you considered reading a project management/workflow book?

http://www.web-redesign.com/

Yes, I’ve done a ton of reading:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life by David Allen

Plus almost everything under the sun online. Am registered on several helpful forums, I get some RSS feeds via del.icio.us, and I’m constantly on the move, trying something newer, better, that will help be focus.

<< on a totally different note; I’ve even sought the help of a medical professional who states that my ADD tendencies are not really ADD, but ‘symptoms’ of my bipolar :( >>

But my wife has helped me in greater ways that my Dr. has yet to talk about - meditation.
In just one lengthy sitting with my wife the other night, we sat and meditated on my thought process, next thing ya know - i’m writing all my ideas down!
I just started using the application ThinkingRock, VERY, VERY helpful!