Some time ago I had a small discussion about a particular profession, which I will not mention here, if someone from the industry in question accepts this incorrectly. Don't get me wrong, every major profession exists for some reason and adds tremendous value to society. The fact is that every industry and profession has good aspects and bad ones. When you think of a doctor, lawyer, architect, accountant, etc., you usually have a personal frame of reference, as well as a more widespread stereotype. Usually there are some aspects of this profession that annoy you, or what you think can do with some improvement. You may not be using certain professional services because of these perceptions, regardless of whether they are usually conducted or based on fact.
It got me thinking about my own industry, and about the Internet consulting and web design and development industries, which makes people go crazy, and that if things are different, people will be more likely to use these services. What would people change in the industry if they had a magic wand? What would you do differently if you were, for example, a web developer to differentiate yourself?
Here are some of the things that I was told to have people come back to discuss this topic with some small businesses:
- Web design and development is too expensive for a medium-sized small business.
- Awareness of how qualified an Internet professional really is
- There is too much jargon in the industry, which makes it difficult to evaluate as a non-technical business person
- There is a shortage of Internet programming skills regarding visual design skills in the industry
Personally, my great desire is that a certain level of qualification (degree related to computer science, design and business) is a requirement for practice, just as required by older professions, for example, accountants, doctors, lawyers, etc. Barrier for entry it is difficult for a business to distinguish experts from amateurs. Imagine that you need to choose your doctor based on what he tells you, that he knows how to do it for you!
So, how then to evaluate a potential partner on the Internet who can and should be a long-time partner in the online success of your business? Here are some things you need to carefully consider when choosing a web designer, web developer, Internet business consultant or related service provider in my experience:
Technical and business qualifications and experience. Is the business contracted with an inexperienced person with a hobby in web design or has the business got people with higher education, programming and design skills? Make sure they have real business experience in developing e-commerce solutions, and see how far back they are.
Which online business applications have a business developed earlier and how does it fit your needs? Some web designers will provide you with a very attractive static brochure site, while others will be able to offer advanced features such as database and content management, e-commerce functions, online consulting services, website promotion, site management, domain registration , design, application development, site optimization, information systems, forms processing capabilities, logging of user activity, online surveys and surveys, user registration and ay entifikatsiya, advertising management, content syndication, and so on. n. Check how many of them are optional additions, many of them included in the price you specified in advance. You should always get a detailed proposal in advance and compare apples for apples, and not be too subjective initially. For example, my business is different, combining more than 250 enterprise-level applications in our small business package at a lower price than most web designers will charge for design and some basic features.
Long term cost / benefit. What will it cost you the next time you need to make a change? I have not yet come across a successful website that was developed and abandoned since it was created on the first day. Your website should change in your business, so make sure you know how you will be billed for these changes, and what the time frame will be for them. Each site also has hosting, bandwidth and maintenance costs that most people do not think about when they first created the site. See what it will be and what you get for them so that you can pay for them when you start your project. Also keep in mind that a cheap solution with one or two functions probably will not serve you, as well as a bit more expensive with extensive built-in features.
Personal style and preference. Different companies bring different styles and methodologies to the party. Make sure that the one you are going to fit your personal preferences. If your Internet specialist loves Flash-based graphically oriented sites, they are likely to develop your informative content solution, just not like someone who specializes in your preferred style.
Internet promotion. Make sure your chosen business is good for promoting your own online presence. Google, Yahoo and MSN are the three most popular search engines, so use them when choosing a provider. If you are looking for a web developer in your field, find the most important terms and indicate the name of your area. For example, I optimize my services for the Joondalup zone in Perth, Western Australia, so searching for “Joondalup web design” or “Joondalup web development” or many other Internet services brings me to the top when people are looking for local service providers. An Internet business that does not promote itself on the Internet will be even worse if you help you realize your full potential.
Satisfaction guarantees. No website can spoil business model work, but an online expert should be able to help you do everything that can happen over time, just like a personal trainer cannot do at night, but they can help you become a top athlete with focused attention. Find out what warranties are provided, if any. This is a real differentiator, because, for obvious reasons, many web designers will not do this. Those who do it, at least seriously and confidently in their abilities, to ensure that their customers are happy and successful.
Manage expectations. Any internet business that claims excessive short-term success rates probably resells itself. Make sure they (and you) are realistic about the time frame in which your online presence will start to produce results.
Consulting skills. Make sure that you are dealing with consultation on the Internet, and not just web design. Experienced online consultants have a business experience that will help you make your business successful online, as a web designer can do.
Find successful websites on the Internet. Many will have information about the site developer in the footer or in the credits section of the site.
