Before people become too incredulous with this statement this author believes no. Web design is not dead, neither are the firms who are offering such services dead. It was something I heard recently with regard to the proliferation of blog publishing systems and with many sites offering free templates.With the apparent availability of a cheap instant web presence, is there is any need for anyone to sit down any more and learn how to create a website from scratch and all the programming and design skills that this demands, and subsequently for any business to invest in the people who offer that service? Well obviously this statement is something of an insult to all the talented designers and programmers out there, and the million of students investing time into learning these skills, and fortunately the statements are wide of the mark. Businesses do want to hire web design companies, and personally I think it's in their interests to do so. The purpose of this article is not to simply knock creators of templates, as they are designers themselves - it is simply to suggest that there is sometimes there is an alternative, that will pay dividends in the long run.

Businesses want to cut corners, the market is tough globally - when faced with the choice of spending $5,000 on a site and less than a $100.00 for some businesses it is an easy choice. There are millions of ready to go websites out there, some are stunning, some are quite frankly not. Some are dated, some are not. But my advice to any business would be not to dive into the 'cheap end' immediately.

Having a professional web design company design a bespoke website will enhance your brand, it isn't a necessarily a question of avoiding duplication, i.e risking choosing a cheap template another company is using, it's about starting your own perception of your business on a strong footing, giving you the confidence in your brand from the outset. A professional web design company will be able to work with you from the ground up to achieve a brand you can be proud of. If you work with a committed web design team from the start they can grow with your company, understand your goals and react to your changing business goals. In that sense they become a valued extra member of your team.

It's understandable why many businesses strive to cut costs, especially start-up businesses, but in today's crowded markets and where your on-line presence has become critical, it's worth listing your web presence on your list of costs as high as your office IT requirements.