Hi
I am based in Australia, and am currently researching to find a company to build and host my website, as I have no experience what so ever in this field. If there are any VA's from Australia who can recommend a good company, it would be greatly appreciated.

I have received a reply from one web developer who has asked me to partner together with him so if clients ask me to create a website for them, I forward the request to him and receive a monetary thank you from him.

My first instinct is that it doesn't sound very good for me to be advising I can create a web page when really I am just passing on informatoin to the developer.....which is completely dishonest. The only way this would work is if i advised the client i can refer to them to another company. Has anyone else come across anything like this?

Also for anyone who hasn't created their own website and had a developer do it for them, what are the traps that some of the developers try to snag people with?

thanks

My first question is what is the work like for the person who wants to partner with you. Are you comfortable with what you see and the services they provide? What reflection would his work have on you as a business.

This would be the same as subcontracting or adding a team member, if all is well with the relationship add him as a team member and run everything through you. There is no dishonesty in this. I would have reservations though of not knowing this person with the exception of a reply he sent you.

If that is the route you choose then you should get a signed contract as to the partnership.

However, with that all being said, why don't you submit an RFP here. We have many excellent and qualified VA's that do web design.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Hi Lee

Thanks for your reply. There just seems to be alarm bells going off, so I think I will stick with my gut instinct and leave the referral plan well alone. As I am only just starting out, the last thing I need at the moment is more things to be trying to work around LOL

Just as I pressed the send button on my thread I thought of searching here for web designers, so I have done just that and sent off a few emails asking for quotes etc. hopefully I can find something that can get me started, as I am basically at a stand still until such time as I get my website online.

Thanks again for your advice and thoughts, its much appreciated.

I tend to agree with you that outsourcing projects under your company to someone you don't know, and for a skill you have no way of providing should something go wrong, is a slippery slope and you're wise to take another approach. As you get to know more VAs and other service providers, you'll likely come to know people you feel comfortable sending your clients to should they request this or any service you don't provide.

As to how to best work with a developer I'd say that applying your knowledge of working with clients to actually being the client will give you a good head start. Also, as a business owner, it pays to do a bit of research so you're coming to the table armed with information and at the very least a few questions that should be answered.

How much of a deposit will you need to make to get work started?

How will you update your website later? Does it come with a CMS or is that a sep. charge?

How many revisions are you going to be given during the process of designing your site? And how much will possible further changes at your request cost?

Is there a kill fee should you decide this designer isn't going to fulfill your vision for this site?

Who will pay for images, content development, is SEO included in the cost of your site?

Does your developer code to updated standards for web development and SEO? [this you can see by viewing the source code of a site they've done and checking the code in the W3C site, no need for 100% but it should be fairly high compliance.]

If your site design includes hand drawn or computer drawn graphics, will your designer be using stock images or will they be creating fresh designs for you? Same goes for, will they be using a template or will they create something custom for you?

If you are hosting with the designer how many emails, databases, and other features like autoresponders and basic statistics about traffic, etc. are included and at what cost? If you have to pay extra for these things then it's not a 'good deal'.

Those are just a few suggestions - hope it helps

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thanks Tess,
as I read through your different questions that I should be asking, I was very impressed to see that nearly all those you listed were what I asked, so atelast those long nights researching website creations, hosting etc all paid off, because I advised them I have had no experience with this aspect, but atleast I had a bit of basic knowledge.
thanks for your input, atleast now I know I have taken a step in the right direction with my newly acquired basic knowledge

I've only seen this now and somehow missed it. How did you go? Did you find anyone to help you? I'm a VA in Australia who provides both webhosting and webdesign support to my clients.

Hi Kathie
Yes I have found someone to help me, and have now got a very nice website up and running. Thank you for your reply

Good to hear - and thanks for letting me know.