Would you be using this service?

For building websites for your clients...

[mirceagoia]

I am trying to find out how much impact can have these kind of service on the market...would worth using them or not?

Any argumented feedback is appreciated...

These services - <snip> - is offering the possibility to build a website online.

You, as webmasters, web designers or web programmers, would you be using this service for building websites for your clients?

Or you prefer to build them yourself? Or you prefer to hire somebody to do it?

Thanks,
Mircea

[edited by: trillianjedi at 8:41 am (utc) on Mar. 23, 2005]
[edit reason] TOS [/edit]

[JKMitchell]

As a designer - build it myself.

That was the client gets the site they want without having to use a limited number of templates (I guess that the online tool you refered to - now removed per TOS - is a template driven one)

[mirceagoia]

Yes, it's a template driven but not only...with one of them you can aslo modify the graphics, add your graphics, etc...all done online.

So you as a designer won't use these tools (I've sent you on Sticky the URLs)...but as programmer?

Mircea

[rocknbil]

Programmers would be less likely to use them. Programmers write CMS's. :-)

But these are likely to be very hot items for the DIY website owner. Many people want a website, dont have a clue as to how to create one, and don't want to pay anyone to do it for them. The CMS is a perfect solution.

However. Here's the truly, completely, totally BAD side about it. Most CMS's don't incorporate an HTML export, or resolve the finished pages as standalone HTML files. They are generally dynamically output. In these situations, if the customer ever wants to move this site - it's back to square one, or a painful process of saving pages from the web. I say this because I'm going through one of these now, a shopping cart build in a CMS and the customer wants to move. It's gong to be a nightmare.

[dmmh]

i had to learn PHP to build my own website, CMS style. I can do anything from control panels, I mean anything. The more I get to completion, the more it gets put back hehe (new ideas, gotta love it)

But I guess its all about the amount of time/ money you have. I had little money to spare, but plenty of time, so I was in a position to write my own. Hope it will be finished soon, after 8 months :D

[incrediBILL]

You, as webmasters, web designers or web programmers, would you be using this service for building websites for your clients?

Huge emphatic NO!

Those sites are for people with no or limited skills to get something online.

Definitely an inexpensive route, but not a flexible route and in many cases you can't take the site you paid for with you if you want to move to another hosting company as it's locked into their software.

Check all the fine print before you dive in.

[mirceagoia]

And if, supposingly, the generated site is HTML? And you can take with you (because HTML can be put on any server)?

Mircea

[topr8]

there is a market for every product, no matter how good or bad ...

the question is more how you pitch your potential customers.

[tbear]

Personally, I think it a little sad when supposed web designers use these services. Believe me, in my neck of the woods, several are!
Many compete with me..... (Well, actually there is no competition, but no-one told the clients....)
Sad... Sad...