| A little while back I had a bit of a discussion about a | | | | being too subjective initially. My business, for |
| certain profession that I will not mention here in case | | | | example, differentiates by bundling over 250 |
| someone from the industry in question takes it the | | | | enterprise-level applications into our small business |
| wrong way. Don't get me wrong, every major | | | | package, at a lower price than most web designers |
| profession is there for a reason and adds a | | | | will charge just for the design and some basic |
| tremendous amount of value to society. The fact of | | | | functionality.Long term cost/benefit. What is it going |
| the matter is that every industry and profession has | | | | to cost you the next time you need to make a |
| good aspects and bad. When you think of a doctor, | | | | modification? I've never yet come across a |
| lawyer, architect, accountant, etc, you tend to have | | | | successful website that was designed and left as it |
| a personal frame of reference, as well as a more | | | | was created on day one. Your site needs to change |
| widely held stereotype. There are usually some | | | | with your business, so make sure you know how |
| aspects of that profession that irritate you, or that | | | | you will be billed for those changes, and what the |
| you think could do with some improvement. Perhaps | | | | time frame for them will be. Every site also has |
| you don't make use of certain professional services | | | | hosting, bandwidth and maintenance costs that most |
| because of these perceptions, whether or not they | | | | people don't think of when first creating a site. Look |
| are commonly held or based on fact.That got me | | | | into what these will be, and what you get for them, |
| thinking about my own industry, and what it is about | | | | so that you can budget for them when starting your |
| the internet consulting and web design and | | | | project. Also keep in mind that a cheap solution with |
| development industry that drives people nuts, and | | | | one or two features will probably not serve you as |
| that if things were different, people would utilize | | | | well as a slightly more expensive one with extensive |
| these services more often. What would people | | | | built-in capabilities.Personal style and preference. |
| change about the industry if they had a magic wand? | | | | Different businesses will bring different styles and |
| What would you do differently if you were, for | | | | methodologies to the party. Make sure that the one |
| example, a web developer, to differentiate | | | | you go with suits your personal preferences. If your |
| yourself?These are some of the things I have been | | | | internet specialist loves graphic-intensive Flash-based |
| told hold people back when discussing this topic with | | | | sites, they will probably develop your informative |
| some small businesses:- Web design and development | | | | content-based solution, just not as well as someone |
| is too expensive for the average small business- | | | | who specializes in your preferred style.Online |
| Apprehension over how qualified an internet | | | | promotion. Make sure that the business you choose |
| professional really is- There is too much jargon in the | | | | is good at promoting their own online presence. |
| industry, which makes it confusing to assess as a | | | | Google, Yahoo, and MSN are the three most popular |
| non-technical business person- There is a shortage of | | | | search engines, so make use of them when choosing |
| internet programming skills relative to visual design | | | | a provider. If you are looking for a web developer in |
| skills in the industryPersonally, my big wish is that a | | | | your local area, search for the terms you find most |
| certain level of qualification (a degree combining | | | | important and include the name of your area. For |
| computer science, design and business) was a | | | | example, I optimize my services for the Joondalup |
| requirement to practice, the same way that older | | | | area of Perth, Western Australia, so a search for |
| professions are required to, like accountants, doctors, | | | | "web design Joondalup" or "web development |
| lawyers, etc. The low barrier to entry makes it | | | | Joondalup", or many other internet-based services, |
| difficult for businesses to distinguish experts from | | | | brings me to the top when people are searching for |
| hobbyists. Imagine having to choose your doctor | | | | local service providers. An internet business that is no |
| based on what he tells you he knows how to do for | | | | good at promoting itself online will be worse at |
| you!So, how then does one assess a potential | | | | helping you get yours up to full potential.Satisfaction |
| internet partner, who can and should be a long-time | | | | guarantees. No website can make a flawed business |
| partner in the online success of your business? Here | | | | model work, but an online expert should be able to |
| are some things to look at carefully when choosing a | | | | help you make it everything it can be over time, |
| web designer, web developer, internet business | | | | much the same way a personal trainer can't make |
| consultant, or related service provider, from my | | | | you fit overnight, but they can help you become a |
| experience:Technical and business qualifications and | | | | top athlete with focused ongoing attention. Find out |
| experience. Is the business comprised of an | | | | what guarantees, if any, are provided. This is a real |
| inexperienced person with a web design hobby, or | | | | differentiator, because, understandably, many web |
| has the business got people with tertiary level | | | | design businesses won't do this. Those that do are at |
| business, programming and design skills in-house? | | | | least serious and confident in their abilities to ensure |
| Make sure they have real-world business experience | | | | that their clients are happy and |
| in developing e-commerce solutions, and look into | | | | successful.Management of expectations. Any internet |
| how far back that goes.What online business | | | | business that claims excessive short term success |
| applications has the business developed previously, | | | | rates is probably overselling themselves. Make sure |
| and how does this match your requirements? Some | | | | that they (and you) are realistic about the time |
| web design businesses will give you a very nice | | | | frames in which your online presence will start |
| looking static brochure site, while others will be able | | | | producing results.Consulting skills. Make sure that you |
| to offer advanced functionality, such as a database | | | | are dealing with an internet consultancy, not just a |
| and content management capabilities, e-commerce | | | | web design house. Experienced internet consultants |
| functionality, internet business consulting services, site | | | | have the business experience to help you make your |
| promotion, site management, hosting, domain | | | | business successful online in ways a web designer will |
| registration, design, application development, site | | | | probably not.Find successful web sites online. Many |
| optimization, newsletter systems, form processing | | | | will have the site developer's details in the footer, or |
| capabilities, logging of user activity, online surveys and | | | | in a credits section of the site.David Malan is an |
| polls, user registration and authentication, advertising | | | | internet and e-commerce expert with over ten years |
| management, content syndication, and the like. Check | | | | experience in designing and developing enterprise |
| how many of these are optional extras an how | | | | grade online solutions for business.He owns and runs |
| many are included in the price you are quoted up | | | | RealmSurfer Consulting, based in Perth, Western |
| front. You should always get a detailed proposal up | | | | Australia. |
| front, and compare apples for apples rather than | | | | |