Hi, I'm looking for a little advice on hiring a web designer/developer. I'm trying to create a commission based website similar to Fiverr or Elance (sounds like a bad idea, but I have a niche in mind). Here's an example of a site with a similar structure to what I would like to create: http://acadam.com/ . I know a little bit about HTML/CSS, etc, but not nearly enough about PHP to finish a project like this. How would I find someone reliable (and affordable) who can help me create this small to mid sized project? I'm a little overwhelmed by the amount of talent to choose from (on Elance, here at DP, and elsewhere), but something tells me that if I just randomly "pick somebody", I might be sorry. A few considerations I have are: This project is still an experiment, so I would like to keep it as affordable as possible (under $1000) I would like to maintain the web hosting myself (since I already have the domain registered with Network Solutions) I would like the code to be clean enough for others to understand (seems reasonable, right?) As far as the design goes, I have a pretty clear idea of what I want done, but I think hiring someone who can make my design idea more efficient and user friendly would be a good idea. Any tips on how to find someone who can do a job like this without getting scammed would be greatly appreciated. On behalf of myself and anyone else looking for similar advice, thank you very much!
With the vast options out there, you are right, it is difficult. If it all possible try asking people you know to refer someone they use. Usually if someone you know is happy with the job your chances of being happy with the results will be better as well.
You know, in business.. it holds true "you get what you pay for." I have written articles for as low as $1.00 per 100 words and I have programmed and designed websites for as little as $200 per site and it's an absolute nightmare. Your pricing will decide what kind of people you are working with. I know a lot of people think cheaper is better and what ever gets the job done, but the reality is, if you hire a cheap programmer, you're going to end up with cheap content and coding. If you work for a cheap client, you're going to end up having to do a bunch of unnecessary revisions and who knows when or if you'll get paid. Business is a cruel game, but in the end, "you get what you pay for." With that being said, there are plenty of talented developers on here.