400 USD enough for a custom blog design? help me please!

October
28

I have been tinkering with the idea of a professional redesign for some time now, I am capable of doing one myself but I’m too lazybusy! I think it would take me a lot longer than would be healthy anyway! so I am committed to spending up to 400 USD for a new design of FiddyP… You can help even if you’re not a designer yourself and get a $25 gift certificate to spend where you like!

I’ve seen quite a few designs that I like the look of so I thought I would share some with you and get some feedback!

My definite wants are:

  • 3 columns
  • 2.0 colours but not clinical
  • unique sidebars that can be widget enabled
  • incorporate my own 50p logo somewhere
  • easy to read text
  • a full 1024 wide theme, maybe with the main content resizable for bigger screens
  • space for a promotion box or featured product
  • all the files required for a 2.3 wordpress theme folder like 404.php and sitemap etc

This is the style of boxes that I like

Here’s a mocked up from an existing template in photoshop, the double span box on the top part of the sidebar should be repeated below the two widget enabled sidebars and a big footer to show other things like blogroll, archives etc. It looks like this:

mockup design

A cross between the two would be perfect! What do you think? is my budget enough?

Here’s how you can help..

If you know a theme designer that does this type of thing, ask them to take a look at these two pictures and the needs of the site and give me a quote, either by commenting here or using the contact me page.

Get them to mention that you sent them here and if I go with that person, you get a 25USD gift certificate for an online store like Amazon or even one local to you.

It’s almost like a contest because you can get paid for participating even if it’s not you that does the designing! You’ll also get a chance to help out someone you know if they are a designer. I get a new site, they get paid and so do you. win win win :-)


just some testing of AJAX here to see if I can grab a last post from an author url while the user is still on the page..it’s a prelude to me adding some AJAX functionality to commentluv, below is a test version of the comment form once the comment authors site has been entered and they go to the next form field, the ajax should call a php file to find the title of the authors last post and put it in the pink box.

now all I have to do is find a way to make an event listener for the actual comment form author url field without adjusting the comments.php file….

Name:

0 Comments zu “400 USD enough for a custom blog design? help me please!”

  1. SmockLady
    28.10.07 3:12 pm

    Typically, I could do this for you, but I’ve got too much on my plate right now (for the next 4-6 weeks). If you put together a complete PSDesign with what you want, you could give these guys a try-they are really, really good:
    http://www.psdxhtml.com/

    I know I didn’t follow you instructions for winning, but don’t let stop you from checking them out.

    SmockLady’s last blog post..Death Sentence Carried Out

    #1

  2. AntiBarbie
    28.10.07 4:04 pm

    Andy….

    You should really consider going to a freelancer portal and let them bid on your project. I think you could save a lot of money that way.

    AntiBarbie’s last blog post..QOTW – What Color Crayon Are You?

    #2

  3. Andy Bailey
    28.10.07 5:08 pm

    @SmockLady: thanks for the link, I’ll check it out.

    @AntiB: I have it posted on a freelancer site as well, I’ll see what happens…

    #3

  4. Bobby Revell
    28.10.07 7:04 pm

    That’s a very cool looking idea! Talk to Mark from
    http://meandmydrum.com/
    He is really talented and maybe interested. He’s a great guy too.

    Bobby Revell’s last blog post..That Page Is Rank – Smelling

    #4

  5. Mark
    28.10.07 9:48 pm

    Hi Andy, I’d be willing to do this for you and have responded to your email. Please contact me at your earliest convenience.

    @Bobby: thanks for the referral buddy! ;)

    Mark’s last blog post..Find Salvation In CleanCSS

    #5

  6. Andy Bailey
    28.10.07 9:57 pm

    thanks for the link Bobby, we are discussing the project now…

    #6

  7. pelf-ism is contagious » Some updates and more link loves
    29.10.07 3:55 am

    [...] Bailey, the author of the Commentluv plugin, is looking for a web designer who would help him redesign his site for less than USD 400. He wants a 3-column theme, widgetized unique sidebars, a space for promotion of featured products, [...]

    #7

  8. pelf
    29.10.07 3:59 am

    Hi Andy, I hope you find your guy soon! :)

    pelf’s last blog post..Some updates and more link loves

    #8

  9. Andy Bailey
    29.10.07 9:47 am

    thanks Pelf,
    Bobby recommended someone and hopefully, he can take on the project, I’m just waiting to hear back from him…

    #9

  10. Diana13
    29.10.07 10:25 am

    I think your budget is enough and I hardly wait for your new look :)

    Diana13’s last blog post..CLIQ – a good tool for getting good traffic

    #10

  11. Calamity
    29.10.07 8:54 pm

    Cool idea! I dont know anyone that makes themes, but I will keep my eyes open for you! I hope you get one you like. Thanks for visiting my blog. Even if it wasnt Cold Monkeys LOL

    Calamity’s last blog post..Pay it forward

    #11

  12. chase
    30.10.07 8:30 am

    I wanted to do your blog and even for free since you have always been a good friend of mine but I am also quite busy here. But I can ask a friend and I think she charges for a very low price.

    chase’s last blog post..Hair-Raising: A Halloween Special

    #12

  13. Andy Bailey
    30.10.07 11:27 am

    @diana: I am going through a few different people at the moment, I can hardly wait to get a fresh look too!

    @calamity: thanks! anything with monkey (or even a word that looks like it) will get my attention :-) thanks for coming by

    @charleyboy: thanks mate, I have 3 people bidding for the project at the moment with one clear front runner but your friend is welcome to bid for the project too.

    #13

  14. Bobby Revell
    30.10.07 7:16 pm

    I want Mark to make me one too! Although $400 is WAY more than I can spend. I’ll write a killer review and help recruit customers! LOL!!!!

    Bobby Revell’s last blog post..Tag Madness

    #14

  15. WaterLearner
    31.10.07 9:19 am

    Hi!

    I know nothing about blog design and their accompanying cost. I see that my blog guru Bobby has been here and given his good views.

    Just here to support your blog.

    Thanks for visiting WaterLearner’s. I appreciate that!

    WaterLearner’s last blog post..Have You Showered Today?

    #15

  16. Andy Bailey
    31.10.07 10:34 am

    thanks Waterlearner, I enjoyed your shower post and even tried it this morning!

    #16

  17. Sharon
    01.11.07 6:52 am

    Hey Andy. Not sure if you’ve gone ahead. I think $400 is steep. You should get the guys over at http://www.templateworld.net a try on their custom website…..

    They do very, very well for cheap. India I think.

    Sharon’s last blog post..
    Greetings From Your Pet

    #17

  18. AntiBarbie
    01.11.07 2:04 pm

    So, how is the freelancer stuff going? If you can find someone from Romania or India to work on your project you should be able to cut a lot of the cost.

    AntiBarbie’s last blog post..
    Happy Halloweenie

    #18

  19. Andy Bailey
    01.11.07 5:07 pm

    @sharon: thanks, I went there but it looks like an adsense expired domain page

    @AntiB: I am waiting to hear from an Indian designer now. It is cheaper to get it done this way but it seems to take a long time for a response to emails.. [update] he sent me a mockup image and it’s looking good so I am getting him to do the job. yey!

    new design within a couple of weeks and I have some great posts to do when it is live.. more news later this week as a post

    #19

  20. John Kolbert
    08.11.07 2:24 pm

    I look forward to the new look! I’d be intrested to know the final price you end up paying, too, if you don’t mind. I’ve been wondering what a fair price is for an upgrade for a little while now.

    John Kolbert’s last blog post..The Future of JS-Kit: My Interview with CEO Khris Loux

    #20

  21. Lisa
    18.10.08 1:01 pm

    Thanks for providing information and prices of different variety of shopping product. I need this info because i am using online shopping services.
    Thanks

    #21