Your thoughts ? uncreative noob needs advice..

SiHH

SiHH

SiHH

Soldato
Joined
4 Mar 2004
Posts
3,019
Location
Hemel Hempstead, Herts, U
Hey guys,

So I have a plan to start a small business, IT related. I am starting to learn HTML, CSS and probably PHP, MySql and more..

For my company I wanted to produce a pretty but simple website which I am quite prepared to do myself once i have learned how to code.

My problem is I am so uncreative and coming up with Logo ideas and website layouts will be a problem for me.

I wanted to know what the general feeling was on using other peoples ideas or maybe using available templates on the web ?

Ideally I dont want to have to do this but I am struggling with creativity ideas and i know the importance of a meaningful logo and a useable, decent website.

Just wanted your thoughts really :)
 
DireEmblem said:
Can you not come up with your business plan first, and a name, and then work around the name perhaps for your logo design/website?
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Oh I have done the plan and have the name its just I am not very arty and I want it to be good.

I guess I could pay a professional designer to come up with something, you get what you pay for in life but I want to keep costs to a minimum really.
 
"efish it solutions"

If you fancy having a go then by all means go for it ! :D
 
I had a thought of and Orange and White colourscheme... simple but standout..

Off to bed now but will check back tomorrow :)
 
If you want something unique to your business and something that youre 100% poud of showing off to people then you'll have to pay for something.

If you want to keep costs to a minimum theres no harm in getting a nice template, something from themeforest. It won't be your own bespoke website but there are nice templates on there you can stick a logo on and change the colour schemes :)
 
tsinc80697 said:
If you want something unique to your business and something that youre 100% poud of showing off to people then you'll have to pay for something.

If you want to keep costs to a minimum theres no harm in getting a nice template, something from themeforest. It won't be your own bespoke website but there are nice templates on there you can stick a logo on and change the colour schemes :)
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Hi there, thanks for your comments.

I might have a look at themeforest, it might be an interim solution - certainly whilst im still learning the art of web design. The logo however, I believe is more important as it will appear on business cards, stationary etc etc.

:)
 
Not want to rain on your parade or anything, but isn't starting an IT business when you admit yourself that you aren't familiar with code and are "so uncreative" akin to starting a bakers with no clue about baking?

Would it not be a better idea to learn to code first? Also, when you're a one man band there's so much more than coding. You have to sort out the legal agreements, support sites you've already done and clients who may be clueless about the ways of IT and the web. You have to be proficient registering domains and handling DNS updates, carrying out SEO reports etc.

Don't take this as a bash because it not, I just wanted to give you an idea of whats involved when going it alone.
 
Spunkey said:
Not want to rain on your parade or anything, but isn't starting an IT business when you admit yourself that you aren't familiar with code and are "so uncreative" akin to starting a bakers with no clue about baking?
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True, but the OP does say "IT" which covers such a broad spectrum, programming may never come into it.
 
Spunkey said:
Not want to rain on your parade or anything, but isn't starting an IT business when you admit yourself that you aren't familiar with code and are "so uncreative" akin to starting a bakers with no clue about baking?

Would it not be a better idea to learn to code first? Also, when you're a one man band there's so much more than coding. You have to sort out the legal agreements, support sites you've already done and clients who may be clueless about the ways of IT and the web. You have to be proficient registering domains and handling DNS updates, carrying out SEO reports etc.

Don't take this as a bash because it not, I just wanted to give you an idea of whats involved when going it alone.
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Hey,

Fair comments indeed but as it stands I cannot code much at all. Basic HTML, CSS and Unix stuff but im getting stuck in to get my knowledge up. My expertise lies in other fields..

Long term goal will be to bring in people I know who are experts in different things to assist if needbe. Sadly I dont know anyone creative or they would be my first port of call !
 
Do a search on Google for "best logo designs" or similar, make a list of the logos you like and try to work out why you like them. You could even list logos you don't like and figure out why you don't like them, it all helps. There are probably a few blogs where you can find this sort of thing. Read posts like this: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/06/25/10-common-mistakes-in-logo-design/

Do the same for websites, I just found this list of tutorials: http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/website-layout-photoshop-tutorials/

There are some excellent tutorials and articles around, I know www.computerarts.co.uk has a few on logo design and branding.
 
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My advice would be to purchase a website from either a web design company, or a template that you can tweak.

If you're IT company is not going to be web design related then I honestly believe you should concentrate on running/getting started this business rather than waste time on unrelated activities.

You may be an expert system builder/network administrator/ system analyist, so why would you want an amateur website?
 
wilsky said:
My advice would be to purchase a website from either a web design company, or a template that you can tweak.

If you're IT company is not going to be web design related then I honestly believe you should concentrate on running/getting started this business rather than waste time on unrelated activities.

You may be an expert system builder/network administrator/ system analyist, so why would you want an amateur website?
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Yep that is the decision I have made.

I am now in contact with some professional design agencies to help me with my brand :)
 
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