BudBrain

I'm employed full-time but I also have a small business developing websites, mainly for local traders.

Most small(ish) businesses around here have a website or want one - even if its just a simple web presence and when I make a move to Oz I'd like to think that I could do the same there.

So to those that have already made the move, what's the attitude like towards the web? I've heard that Oz is significantly behind the UK, especially eCommerce type stuff.

Gobbledegeek

I can only speak for the situation in Bendigo but would guess it's similar in all places outside the major cities. It's an eye opener. I would put it on par with rural Wales several years ago when u-mail (Ewe-mail - Post It notes stuck on sheep) was the high-tech communication to e-mail, a web site was where you'd find a nest of common house spiders and the Internet was a replacement for the coil!

Getting local business's (and our local centre of learning for that matter) to answer email is like extracting teeth......from a rabid ninja roo!

Business websites are on the whole a complete joke with slow loading and cumbersome 'virtual' catalogues preferred to a working e-commerce-enabled solution and in this day and age, especially considering the Open Source offerings, there's really no excuse.

The cost might also be and issue when it comes to a site. A year or so ago I spoke to a well established company who were understanding of the need and very keen to establish their first web presence. They never got in touch after I mentioned it was cost in the region of $800 with domain, hosting and loads of extras I needn't go into now. Several months later, it appears that they decided my quote was too high and opted to ask an employee's, brother's, cousin's mate who is studying web design at college.........the result speaks for itself:

http://www.mcclureelectrical.com.au/

I wish you luck in your proposed venture. I am in the same boat. I think much of my future success will be down to education. Businesses need to know why an online presence will benefit them. Businesses also need to know the difference between the awful and amateurish designers already out there and state-of-the-art professionals who can actually make a positive difference to their business.

Hutch

The missus brought her web design business here and her experiences mirror yours. When faced with the "I'll get my 16 year old cousin to do the website he's a right little geek" scenario, I ask them if they would use him to design their brochure too, or when the car comes up for service. With a few notable exceptions, web design is very backward here, but that opens up opportunities in itself and as long as you're prepared to go back to designing for IE3 and Netscape 2.0, you'll be laughing.

BadgeIsBack

I found it shocking in 2002 but that was rural. I work for the bigger companies/bigger corporations who, in the main, have passable web sites but it would vary as anywhere.

Now unless someone is actually quite gifted, you need a specialist to do anything sort of Web 2.0 (etc) what with the level of design or graphics.

The thing is, people really do NOT want to spend....the attitude can be 'how hard can it be' and that is an attitude I found everywhere.

BudBrain

Hehe






...You were joking right?