Web Site Development
Why might I be able to help you?
A lot of small companies and individuals who don't understand website programming, but think that they need a website, sign up with website developers who immediately try to sell them on all of the latest hi-tech gee-wiz gadgetry.
Predictable Results
- When they sign up to have their new website developed, they are promised dedicated technical support and quick response to website modification requests.
- In a short time, they get a really flash looking web site.
- They get a really big bill.
- They are very happy for a few days.
- Then they ask for a few modifications to their new flash website, and they discover that the response, regardless of what was promised, is really slow, if not glacial.
- In frustration, they go to another website development firm to see if they can shift responsibility for their website to another firm which might be more responsive to their modification requests. But the new folks say, 'Nope, your site is much too complicated. It would be better to let us rewrite it from scratch. And then we can do what you want.'
Maximizing Web Site Development Profits
Why does all this happen so predictably? Because most of the folks out there writing websites are looking to make a killing, economically.
- You sell the customer on the most flash gee-whiz website gadgetry you can by telling them that if their site isn't really flash, then no one's going to look at it.
- You know that if you sell them a complicated website, they are never going to be able to figure out how to maintain it themselves.
- And, you know that if they try to pass it on to another website developer, the new folks are not going to want to wade into it either because the more complex it is, the greater the risk is that they will mess it up if they try to modify it. Effectively, by making it complex, you've ensured that the customer is dependent on you.
- Once you've interviewed the customer to see what they want, you turn twenty-somethings, totally wired on caffeine, loose on the project and they write it at warp speed - because time-is-money.
- You deliver the website to the customer and they are thrilled. This is a good time to slip them the bill as well.
- Later, when the customer calls for the inevitable updates and changes, you are responsive to them at first. But, as time goes on you are less and less responsive because the truth is, you are going to make the better money by signing up new customer accounts rather than by servicing old ones.
- You see, the quicker you can get in and out of a job and move on to the next one, the more money you make. That's why the romance always starts so sweetly and ends so bitterly for the customers of website development shops.
Unfortunately, many website development firms are run by twenty-somethings who have been in business six months and may be gone by this time next year. It's the way of youth and it's natural. But, you may not want your business to be dependant on such soft sand.
A Better Way
If I write a website for you, we'll keep it as simple as possible. Very often, folks mistake flash for functionality. For example, if your required functionality is to be able to run down to the corner store and pick up a dozen eggs, you certainly don't need a Maserati, do you? A little Volkswagen will do just as well and be a lot cheaper.
Acronyms
For those who are fond of acronyms, here's a pile: HTML, ASP, PHP, CSS, ODBC, ADO, ADOCE and SQL. Season with Javascript and/or VBScript as necessary.
