SA programmers and web coders too expensive

[daveob]

Yes, I realise that I'll probably get a host of hate mail via PM, but just hear me out :

A few months back, I wanted a special software utility - nothing fancy, and only a few hours work for a good coder ( I know this with programming experience ).

The best price I could get locally was R12,500

Then I discovered rentacoder.com ( no, I do not get referral commissions )

On this site, I can find a web coder, html / php / mySQL/etc, a programmer that works in C++, VB, Java, Flash, etc, etc, or I can get a copywriter to write text for web pages, etc.

How does it work ? Simple - you deposit funds into your account ( pay via credit card or paypal ), then you write the specs of the job you want doing and post it as a "Bid Request".

RentAcoder ( RAC ) then list it on their site, and coders from all over the world come and post a "bid" to your project. You select a coder, set a deadline ( a full refund to you if the specs are not met by the deadline ) and away you go.

I have been using RAC for over a year, worked with coders from all over the globe ( India, USA, UK, Indonesia, Australia and more ).

Is it better ? Well, you remember that R12,500 utility I wanted ? I got that done for $65 in 2 days flat.

Another example ( punting my own sites now, if I am allowed in context ), is www.autobodyratings.co.za -- complete web site ( start to finish ) with database integration, and the copy text for the front page -- $135.

Now tell me why we should be ripped off locally. If I am going to use local, it has to compete with the service and cost that I can get in the international market.

OK. Fire away while I duck .....

[IanF]

Y
Another example ( punting my own sites now, if I am allowed in context ), is www.autobodyratings.co.za -- complete web site ( start to finish ) with database integration, and the copy text for the front page -- $135.

Dave
Good concept but not good to view in firefox. Will the $135 cover fixing this? I do not know how to do websites so this is a layman's view.

[daveob]

Dave
Good concept but not good to view in firefox. Will the $135 cover fixing this?

Yes, it probably will as I have just given the same coder ( somewhere in India ), another 2 projects. A quick chat with him ( I think it's a 'him' ) on MSN should get it done in a few days.

[Chatmaster]

I wouldn't say you get ripped off locally, you just got a better deal from a designer in India. the costing will be calculated very different. My company would have charged you a little bit less than 12k for the site but it would have been utilizing a CMS and would have been Search Engine friendly and fully optimized with ASP and SQL database. I would get a lot of clients from Europe and the US at that price.

India has been shacking up IT costing globally for the past year or 2 because they are able to go very low with their prices.

[daveob]

Maybe we need a local site that lists the local developers - something like the RentAcoder site, so it's easier to shop around for prices.

That R12,500 utility I wanted, and eventually got for $65, was actually coded in the USA. Yes, I agree about India - I have had a few really cheap prices from that area of the globe, but if they can deliver the specs that I gave, then why not use them ?

Overall, I have done 100+ projects through RAC and stopped asking locals to quote after the first 10.

[Chatmaster]

I know of a few companies locally that actually make use of RAC to do their web designs and then charge local fees for it. It is cheaper and safer than to employ locally.

[Dave A]

Auto body ratings looks like it is done with a CMS I think - Joomla or something similar.

Skin it, pop in some plug-ins. Done.

Now it's the hard yards - content! And I have no doubt this is where Chatmaster is worth his price tag. Especially if you're looking for something in sync with the SA psyche and the major search engines.

[daveob]

Well, since it is a non-profit Public Service web site, hopefully readers here will promote the site to friends as well.

I'll post a bid on RAC for SEO work on the site and see what it's going to cost.

[Chatmaster]

Auto body ratings looks like it is done with a CMS I think - Joomla or something similar.

Yah, that was my first thought as well and I think you are correct, but based on the query strings it doesn't seem to be Joomla. The Joomla query strings are more search engine friendly. But I agree that it seems to be something similar.

I would seriously recommend that you ask the designer to do some mod-rewrite, that is if you want good search engine rankings.

[Dave A]

I'll post a bid on RAC for SEO work on the site and see what it's going to cost.

That should be interesting. The really fun part will be evaluating the bids, though.

[daveob]

OK. I have just posted the bid request. I'll give you feedback when done.

[Chatmaster]

Just a note. India has amongst the world's best SEO's in their midst, but they also have some of the worst. On our SEO forum we have several members from India that are really worth while. Another thing to keep in mind when you ask for a quote on SEO, is if it is a site that are not within a competitive industry, e.g. "panel beater in Edenvale" this should mainly include initial keyword research, correcting the current on page factors, addition/modification of content and initial link building like directory listings etc.

[Dave A]

This is why I reckon evaluating the bids is going to be the tough part of this. With website design you can see the results immediately. The effects of SEO are less obvious.

[Chatmaster]

SEO can be a real money waster if you do not deal wit the right people. I see so many web design companies locally offering SEO as part of their service, even saw advertising agencies offering it to. Then when you contact them they actually meant SE advertising on Google ad words.

[Dave A]

Then when you contact them they actually meant SE advertising on Google ad words.

They must keep it up. That's how this site is funded