The Cost of Site Design

There are many subtleties to creating an effective website. The options are abundant, and we have often thought "If we weren't experts in our field, how would we be able to understand relative value?" In fact many businesses exist and thrive because they alone understand and have invested in a valuable product or service. The web is new enough that common knowledge of its technology, including the booming mobile market, is very limited.

We also notice that a little education is a dangerous thing for some business leaders because it creates a false sense of security about decision making. That's the hard news and we aren't afraid to say it

Price for quality can be difficult to surmise if one isn't an expert with integrated systems. There are many businesses with huge budgets which neglect to implement technology in a way that is integrated, and their results follow.

Yet there is something simple to do about this. Simply identify which priorities serve your interests best and never compromise on the top priorities when scheduling any project or build. Set a budget appropriate to achieve those goals and discuss options to round out a package. We are skilled in translating ordinary language into a technical system that achieves results.

Qualifications of a great Website or Application

  • Usability is supremely important. How will a real person use this website or app? What will their experience be like?
  • Appropriate Design: it is important to select all design elements for the audience you will attract and grow. For example, color selection ceases to be about color when it is about marketing psychology.
  • Content and resource material: we offer copy writing and sales pages if requested, and many of our clients opt for our expertise in content development even when they employ their own staff. Web media is a little different than traditional media.
  • Video: many clients are quickly becoming aware of the significance of video and social media.
  • Ongoing maintenance and development: apps and websites change all the time due to real-world usage. It is very strongly suggested to partner with a company to maintain your systems.

These are just a few considerations regarding a website.

"Is the site user-friendly? Does it create the right kind of impact for it's target audience? What about its target market? Is it just a design piece or is there substance to the way it has been created, and will it hold up in the Search Engines? Why is Facebook so important?"

These are very important questions; and it is these types of questions which will determine the appeal and success of your content, service, or product. There isn't anything wrong with "I don't know" if it's the answer to these questions, because many businesses believe mistakenly that they do know. The only thing wrong is simply neglecting to ask them!

 

Social Media on Facebook

Facebook changes constantly and the more involved your organization gets there is maintenance which must be kept up in order for your apps to survive. Literally. Facebook may stabilize somewhat after 10/31/2011 when it has been declared that their security and authentication platform (underpinning nearly everything that happens at facebook) will be completely migrated.

This also means your FBML pages are slated for demise. Most businesses do not realize they will have to revamp ALL their old FB pages. Do you know where you stand?

Facebook programming is not for the quick and cheap. Facebook coding is meant for higher standards of professionals attending to it, even if your presence is supposed to look "casual" and friendly. Do not let your facebook presence fall from grace, and by all means invest in Facebook if you'd like to prosper this year. Consult with us today.

Uncommon sense about the web

It can be tremendously important to establish content rather than wait for perfection. The web is a developing medium, and it's perfectly acceptable to provide an initial offering and then upgrade. Yet don't forget to revisit and refine! Taking an active role defines you to the search engines as well as your clients.

 

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Keep it simple, version 2.0

Here's a quick snapshot of how it looks when one industry expert contracts another. Expert Client A contracts Company B and believes they know exactly how a project should run. They have a rough idea of the fair cost involved, and they have expectations and budgets to meet like anyone else.

The expert builder who is contracted to create "the website" doesn't really know or understand the client's marketing model. They may not provide content, or anything other than a technical framework. B's agreement to build the project is based solely on the merit of Expert Client A's plans.

Should be fine, right? Next is a proof-of-concept phase that happens often before seriously investing in any system. After all this is accomplished, and A gets the results of the vision they have planned, add their content and launch to their public, we've seen Expert Client A go to another level of website or app builder called a developer. The pursuit up the chain of specialists continues until the site reaches a system that is intgegrated with the marketing model, and actually performs technically what is needed to support interactions with real people.

Many businesses waste time and money pursuing specialists because they haven't experienced consultations from an expert in systems integration, one which understands the New Marketing style of the net today, and yet one which was successful during the first dot com goldrush in the 90's.

Part of the problem with this is the industry itelf, which has led to "overuse of specialization." There really isn't a term to describe or qualify companies which integrate systems and marketing the way ours does.

Bottom Line: the simple message here is to return to the simple foundations of your business priorities and consult or at least communicate these with a company who is qualified to follow your vision through to success.

Key ingredient to success: Trust

Trust is something significant in developing relationships and partnerships with your technical team. Often it is easier to begin with a small project to build this trust. Think of your technological system in terms of investing. Who can advise on cutting edge systems or concepts that haven't been proven? Yet we see these presented all the time. New applications on the internet are suggested 80% of the time in our business scope.

One MUST come to understand the nature of their project in technical terms whether it is "business as usual" and very straightforward, or whether the system is to serve a new function which has not been proven in terms of marketing, media, and overall public readiness or acceptance.

"All too often we see very commonplace treatment of a product or service that is much more savvy, requiring a much different approach in order to appeal to the actual market it was intended for. This is where education and expertise with respect to the capabilities of technology and how to package these capabilities (implementation) makes a huge difference."

New clients begin with a free 1 hour consultation

Our Websites or Applications begin with a free 1 hour consultation for new clients. We provide actual consultative value during this process, usually handled in 2 phases. There is dialog, and written feedback. We rarely work with a client whose field is out of our interest. We may provide insight into marketing, or technical systems, or a combination of both (our specialty). The result is keyed to the level of development your product or organization has achieved.

 

 
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