| I know that the Internet can be a scary place when | | | | person has any hope of understanding. Other |
| you need a website and don't know where to begin. | | | | instances involve shouting and even threats. If the |
| Some people's entry to the web is with a site | | | | relationship isn't working it needs to be dissolved, but |
| created by a family member, a graphic designer | | | | not necessarily at the expense of either person's |
| friend, or a business connection from a networking | | | | ego. |
| group. Any of these individuals can put up a website, | | | | "Why?" is Not an Answer. One of the most annoying |
| but may miss the mark when it comes to driving | | | | tactics is the excessive questioning from web |
| traffic to you business. | | | | persons who senses a client is gaining web |
| As you become more web-savvy you may find the | | | | knowledge and is becoming an empowered web |
| relationship feels less comfy. You may wonder if your | | | | owner. Rather than answer the client's questions the |
| web person has been keeping you purposefully in the | | | | web person becomes a virtual question machine: |
| dark. Do you know your own login information and | | | | "Why do you want to do that? Why do you think |
| do you own your hosting and domain name? | | | | you're not getting any web visitors? Why would you |
| Excellent questions for any website owner. Despite | | | | get better results with another developer? Why don't |
| the old adage, online, ignorance is seldom blissful. If | | | | you trust me?" When your web consultant sounds |
| your web relationship has any of these red flags, it | | | | like a curious three-year-old, take note as it may be |
| may be time to say good-bye to your web gal or | | | | a defensive maneuver to ask so many questions |
| guy. | | | | that you start to question yourself. |
| They Own You. Some web companies register your | | | | What You Don't Know... Do you keep discovering |
| domain name and set you up with a hosting account. | | | | things you would have liked to have known about |
| When you want to make changes to your website, | | | | your website a year ago, but your web person |
| you have to go through them... only them. This | | | | never told you? Maybe you recently discovered that |
| relationship should make you very nervous, as some | | | | you could have an email address that uses your |
| web site owners have been "locked out" of their | | | | domain name. Or you just found out that your |
| website when their web consultant disappears or | | | | hosting account has free monthly statistics that |
| doesn't share access to the domain or hosting | | | | would be useful in figuring out how many people |
| accounts. Sorry, the website you thought was yours | | | | really visit your website. Did someone just show you |
| is now theirs and unavailable to you! | | | | how to look at your keywords and meta tags and |
| Can Do is Often Can't Do. Have you frequently asked | | | | you found out you didn't have any? Ouch! |
| for a website update or enhancement only to hear | | | | When 15 Minutes Equals a Car Payment. It's easy to |
| that it can't be done? There's a laundry list of why | | | | be unknowingly gouged by Internet companies who |
| changes can't be made to a website: | | | | prey on ignorance. I heard from one client who paid |
| 1. Does the web designer lack the technical | | | | $75 to have a text link added to a web page. A |
| know-how? | | | | simple text link is about 15 minutes, so $75 means |
| 2. Was the site developed by someone else with | | | | you are really paying your web person $300 per hour. |
| code unfamiliar to your current designer | | | | When you call around to get quotes and start building |
| 3. Did your current designer create the site without | | | | your pricing knowledge, you'll figure out how long |
| the foresight to accommodate future growth? | | | | specific web updates will take. While hourly rates |
| Pick any issue, it doesn't matter... any one of these | | | | vary, understanding when you're paying too much will |
| reasons can be a disaster for your website updates | | | | help you determine if your web relationship is healthy |
| and plans. | | | | for you and your wallet! |
| I'm OK and You're NOT! I hear from web site | | | | On the web and in business, trust is everything. Any |
| owners who complain when they question or | | | | one of these reasons is enough to part with your |
| challenge their web person, the response makes | | | | web guy or gal. The goal for website is comfy and |
| them feel inferior. The tactics include speaking down | | | | simple... if it isn't it's probably time to change direction. |
| to the client in elevated techno-talk that no lay | | | | |