After successfully staying afloat in the murky waters of the website business for over nine years, there is one, solitary action which immediately sends a distress flare up. Small businesses hiring inexpensive designers pay in the long run. The desire to save money in these troubled times is admirable, but branding and marketing is the one place that saving money can actually cost you money.

There are three basic types of design groups:

Hobbyist – This would describe a vast majority of the people willing to design a website in their free time. Usually they will have a “real” job doing something else. These types of designers generally are just around for the short-term and then they are gone. They do not have the best interest of your business in mind.

Small Marketing Firm – This would easily describe about 50% of the designers. Most are operated by a few people who take pride in the fact that the company is small and can give their clients personalized attention and services. Not only are Small Marketing Firms proud of providing the "personal touch", they manage to do this at a very competitive rate.

Large Marketing Firm – Large firms are the ones working for the Fortune 500 companies. They thrive off of very large and pricey advertising campaigns and budgets. Small businesses are ignored by this type of design firm because they lack the funds to entice the firm.

For a small business the Hobbyist is probably the most dangerous. They tend to lure you in with the idea that they can save you money, but I hear someone everyday tell me tales of how the Hobbyist was there today and gone tomorrow. This is just not how you should run a successful small business. You need a partner, someone that is there side by side with you who can help you succeed today and tomorrow.

Therefore, next time you are approached by someone saying that they can save you some money, make sure you ask them the right questions. 1) Is this your full-time business or a side business? and 2) Will you be around next year if I need more assistance? Websites are not like a flyer you print once and mail, a website is an organic process. It must be updated, maintained, and grow with the market demands.

By Mike Stutler

Mike Stutler is the CEO / President of 24/7 Designs LLC. 247designs.com provides websites, graphic design, social media marketing and photography for small to medium sized businesses looking for an affordable solution to their common marketing problems.