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Hey, a good friend of mine is wanting me to build him a custom acoustic. I offered to trade him for building me a website.

Do you guys think this is a fare trade? He is very good at web building and has done it for a career for about 3 years now.

What do you guys think?

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Rod,

I think it all depends on what price you normally sell your guitars for, but I would think that if you are selling guitars in the >$2K range, you can probably get a better deal on website design (but then again, it depends on the amount of work you are planning for the web designer to do).

For a small, simple site, you might be better off doing it yourself or scouting around and doing some pricing with other developers. If you are talking about a full-blown, flash-based, gee-whiz kinda site, it might be reasonable! :)

Russ, I emphatically disagree (Sorry if it seems like I am picking on you -- I am not. It is just this POV, which I find pervasive. I have worked in this industry for over a decade and watch people tumble into this hole all the time).

If all you want to do is slap up some pictures a little text and some prices sure you can find almost anyone to do this for you. Go to http://www.elance.com and you will surely find someone who is a decent designer who can make a complete web site for a few hundred bucks.

Now... understand that those people also (for the most part) 1) Don't speak english well (if at all). 2) Have even a remote interest on helping you promote your business. They are just doing what you tell them. 3) Have any marketing skill whatsoever. 4) Build you a site that is easily maintanable.

People who I have found in the states who will work for these rates are usually very poor designers or amatuers.

I would think it would be FAR FAR FAR more valuable to hook up with someone who is a professional and will help think through the entire decision making process, help you figure out your products and position them to best reach your target niche, and help you derive meaningful value from the effort. The marketing is far more important than the technology or design.

A $2k exchange for this is a bargain in my book.

Web design / marketing is very much a "you get what you pay for" proposition. Sure, it is easy to overspend, and not everyone takes my approach... regardless of what they charge. But.... I can guarantee you that if you "underspend" you will get virtually no value.

This kind of reminds me of a story that I heard about Pablo Picasso (I am not sure if it is true or not, but illustrates my point.)

"A woman setting at a restaurant looks up an notices at the next table Pablo Picasso is having lunch. She approaches him, gets to talking, and asks him if he would sketch her portrait. He happily agrees, and in 90 seconds hands her a beautiful sketch. She asks him how much she ows him and he says $6,000. She says $6,000!!! it only took you a minute and a half to make this..... to which Picasso, retorts, No madame, it took me a lifetime."




bpoling38371.4481481481

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Your website is your link to the world. So better make it a good one. When I see a really good website, to me it is a reflection of the person's character and workmanship. Attention to detail sells well. You get what you pay for in most things. Bottom line are you comfortable with the trade?? If so go for it. It's your time and effort.

Brock,

I don't disagree with your point of view at all. The point that I was trying to make is that it depends on how much work (and the quality therof) Rod will be asking of the designer.

For a simple site, $2K is quite a high price tag wheras, if is is planning something more professional, it's not bad.

I don't think we are in disagreement at all! :)

I've traded an electric guitar for both my guitar sites and my uke site. Seeing that really nice websites can easily cost $3,000-$10,000 It's not that bad of a deal.....

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Rod I think thats a good offer for a professional site. Your better off concentrating your efforts on what you do best. Build guitars.

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Thanks for the response's guys.

My friend is very good at what he does and I would love to be able to get another guitar under my belt. His would only be my forth, but you all started somewhere right.

Well, I think he will do a very professional job on the site, now I just have to do a very professional job on the guitar,

Bob, I don't think this is what I do best, but I am getting better with every cut of the wood, buff of the finish.

Thanks again folks.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson