Finding A Web DeveloperA guide to choosing the right person to create your site

I'm always asked if I know a good Web developer and how muchthey charge. Here's a quick guide to finding a developer, fromcheapest to most expensive:

• Student.Contact art schools or local colleges and seeif they have a Web design program. Sometimes students can create asite as a class project for credit, or they'll charge a nominalfee to build their portfolio.
• Independent Web developer/designer.A designer who worksindependently often has experience, affordable rates and the timeto work more closely with you.
• Small Web development company.A firm with less than 10people can often charge competitive rates while providing you withthe benefit of several experts in their fields.
• Midsized to large development firm.With larger designshops, you begin to pay for overhead. Many large firms won'teven speak to you unless you're ready to spend $250,000 or moreon a Web site. You are buying prestige and reputation.

You can also find developers through local computer user groups,advertisements in local papers, articles in trade magazines and bylooking at other sites and inquiring who designed them.

Aliza Sherman is an entrepreneur and author ofCybergrrl:A Woman's Guide to the World Wide Web(Ballantine Books).She is currently working on her next book and new company.