Web Design Services in the Philippines

Web design is one of the popular services being offered by web development companies in the Philippines. What makes this competitive is that it is highly dependent on the creativity of the web designer in capturing what the client wants. As price is usually fierce in this field, clients usually picks on providers that have:

• Impressive portfolio
• Knowledge on the client industry
• Friendly rates

Fees usually gets driven by number of images to be created, number of customized web page templates, among others.

Business relationship in this type of projects has change through the years. Very rare would you find web designers giving a sample design prior to the signing and acceptance of downpayment. There are ethical concerns also as some clients do not proceed in a project after receiving initial studies, but later on carried it out with another provider using the same design that was initially given. The same is sometimes experienced vice-versa where the design they've created for a client were also used by other entities with minor modification.

With the availability of free templates online, the cost of design is no longer as high as usual. Entities who have higher budget than usual are the only ones who insist for customized design, that sets them apart from the rest.

Government support
The support of government in the field of web development is present but not as visible compared to other fields. One of its activities is E-Services Philippines where companies engage in this business can participate. Joining government trade mission is an option although the cost of participating in these activities can be quite prohibitive.

Another program that was created is the Funding for Information Technology Build-up (SME-FIT) by Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) where web design companies can apply for a credit line. Let us say the web designer has the following situation:

• Got a client interested in developing a website but has constraints:
• It wants to pay the web development project through installment amounts over a period of 6 months.
• Willing to pay an extra interest to cover the duration.
• Willing to issue post dated checks for the period covered.
  

If the web design company is accredited in SME-FIT, it can submit the copy of the contract and post-dated checks issued for consideration. Once approved, the web design entity issues post dated checks and receives the contract amount from SB Corp. This allows for immediate funding of the project although the web designer is expected to cover the funds for the checks issued, regardless whether their client pays them or not.

Web designers in the Philippines
There are close to a hundred companies offering web design services from different parts of the Philippines. I've listed some of them here. Note that these entities are those with online portfolios that cited international clients. I shall add more when I encounter other providers.

Companies

• http://www.softrigger.com/
• http://www.syntacticsinc.com/
• http://www.philwebservices.com/
• http://www.128bitwebdesign.com/
• http://www.phils-online.com/
• http://www.webph.net/
• http://www.webnetph.com/
• http://www.animomedia.com/
• http://www.webdc.com.ph/
• http://www.snoobdesigns.com/
• http://www.myoptimind.com/
• http://www.globalbizhost.com/
• http://www.dcgwebdesign.com/
• http://www.xugbuweb.com/
• http://www.teamholix.com/
• http://www.e-leaguers.com/
• http://www.g7markets.net/
  

Freelancers

• http://www.isoftwebsolution.com/
• http://www.imaginity.net/
• http://tsoknat.com/
• http://www.trueholix.com/
• http://pinoy-blog.isoftinno.com/
• http://www.uginteractive.com/

This blog does not guarantee the work of the companies listed here.

Getting Ready for E-Services Philippines 2008

I've been fortunate enough to take part during the early days of E-Services Philippines. It is amazing to see how this event has evolved and one of the most look forward to every year.

The 8th e-Services Philippines: Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition is the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) annual international exhibit and conference for the ICT industry. This will be held on February 11-12, 2008 at the SMX Convention Center, Roxas Boulevard Manila. Since its inception E-Services Philippines (ESP) attracted over 160 exhibitors and 2,000 conference attendees annually.

This year’s e-Services is a cooperation between DTI’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, THOLONS, and Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP). With the theme, "Outsourcing Centers of Excellence," ESP will feature outsourcing centers of excellence and emerging players and locations in the outsourcing industry.

Another highlight of the event is the E-Services Awards 2008. In a bid to inspire ICT creativity and innovation, create benchmarking opportunities for Philippine firms, and establish a marketing platform for ICT innovators and entrepreneurs, the DTI through its trade promotion arm, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) will hold its annual e-Services Awards on February this year.

Since its inception in 2001, the winners of the Awards have earned international recognition and paved the way for companies to get into new markets. The project involves web-based systems using open-source technologies and the automation of their manual processes and incorporated into the system.

This year, the e-Services Awards 2008 boasts of new categories for 2008 include: Outstanding Client Application of the Year, Outstanding Consumer Application of the Year, Groundbreaking Technology of the Year, and Most Progressive Homegrown Company of the Year. The Awards are open for Philippine-based IT companies that have successfully marketed their products and services in the Philippines and other foreign countries and those who have established essential competencies and achievements in the field of IT-enabled services.

The awards will likewise recognize personalities whose ideas, talent, and commitment have contributed significantly to Philippine ICT development and/or whose passion have helped raise the bar of Philippine excellence in e-Services. Past recipients of this special citation were Senators Mar Roxas and Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Mosaic Communications President William Torres, and former Business Processing Association chair Bong Borja.

For information on the e-Services Awards 2008, contact e-Services Philippines Secretariat at 833-1277 or 831-2201 loc 254/255 or email itservices@citem.com.ph.