These days, anybody can build a website. ... and you can probably find someone who will build it for free. You may even be tempted to build it yourself with FrontPage or Dreamweaver.. Remember: people will judge your website the same way they judge your printed material. Quickly. Without mercy. They’ll like it or they won’t. Why risk your image? A professional web designer has the equipment, personnel, and the most up-to-date technology to give you the best return on investment for your website. Plus, this frees you to do what you do best.

Your website should match your printed copy collateral.  Print work is different from web work; what may take 60 seconds to fix in print, may take 60 minutes to fix on the web.  Or, the reverse may be true.  Many companies look at a client's website before they ever make the first call.  And a cheap looking 1996-era website probably won't result in a positive first impression.

If you choose to hire a web design firm, remember you get what you pay for.  Look for people who have references and a viewable, online portfolio.  If they have neither, it means no one has hired them yet, and neither should you.  Also check references.  Some well-intentioned web workers promise whatever it takes to get the job, then come in late and well over budget.

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