ZakGraphix' Core Mission!
One of the most important things we can offer a client is our experience. Having been in the professional web design industry for a number of years, ZakGraphix' primary goal is to educate business owners and professionals. Naturally, this helps us out in our development process, but more importantly in helps our clients and non-clients stay away from scams, uneducated designers & developers, and making unwise financial decisions due to the smooth talking of a paid-on-commission salesman.
Here is a list of a few things we try and educate others concerning:
- Instant Mobile Websites
- Leasing A Website
- Not Owning Your Domain
- Expensive Hosting
- Choosing the Right Type of Website
- Embracing Technological Progression
- Social Media
- Blogging And SEO
- Planning For The Future
Naturally, each one of these is important to us, but they may not seem very meaningful to a business owner - that is - until they are faced with the consequences each has on has on a business, both financially and time-based. Again, our focus it to make sure you and our clients don't run into these issues.
Instant Mobile Websites
This is a horrible example of technology-based scamming. The facts are these - if you have a proper website to begin with, your website will have two options built in already: #1) if a mobile device is set to "mobile only", its browser will strip the Styling Language (or CSS) and display a collapsed, "mobile-friendly" version of your site, without any pictures, or #2) the mobile device will be set to "standard view", and its browser will display the entire website, exactly as it is meant to be viewed. As technology progresses, the later will become the standard. If you are concerned about giving a "different mobile experience" you will need much more than an "Instant Mobile Website" conversion. You will need your web designer to add new a new Styling Language aimed specifically for mobile devices (yes, every website can do this), and this will transform the look and feel of the site when it is displayed on a mobile device. Naturally, you could go further than this,( take for instance Facebook's mobile version), and have your developer program a whole new website that looks and interacts different that the standard site, but that solution is a bit out there.
So here's the wrap up, Instant Mobile Websites aren't worth the money or resources you'll invest in them. DO NOT USE THEM. In a few years, technology will have reached a level where we won't need them any way.
Leasing A Website
This is where you purchase a website and you pay $300 to $500 a year - every year - with little to no setup fee. The company will tell you - this covers the hosting and the design! Yet another scam, this means that, when compared to a $1000 web design, over the course of 5 years you will be paying significantly more:
- Original Price: $1000; Hosting Per Year (GoDaddy): ~$50. Over 5 Years = $1250.
- Original Price: $0; Hosting Per Year (The Company): ~$300. Over 5 Years = $1500.
Sure the numbers look good right up front, but what if you decide to take your website to another hosting company? You many not have that option, based on the contract you signed. In the long run, it is always better to OWN your website. Naturally, try to make friends with a good developer than can help you grow your website as you need it, but you should always be the one to own it.
Not Owning Your Domain
This one seems to be my theme song. OWN YOUR DOMAIN! This means you have the account number, the user name and the password to the registrar where you purchased it. If you purchased it through a "company" other than Domain.com, GoDaddy.com, NetworkSolutions.com, etc, you need to get that domain transfered into an account "for your eyes only". Too many businesses have lost their domains due to poor business management with 3rd party middlemen and unscrupulous college kids.
Expensive Hosting
I love it when people tell me what hosting package they have. Unlimited this, or unlimited that - all for only $30 a month! Unless you're in the real estate sphere, have a massive (amazon.com) like e-commerce website, you most likely are getting ripped off. Shared hosting for more than $4 a month is too much, and anything more than shared hosting - like virtual dedicated hosting - is overkill for most businesses.
Choosing The Right Type of Website
Static HTML/PHP/ASP.net, Dynamic CMS, E-commerce, or Advanced Design. Sounds pretty simple. Make sure you have the one that best suites your business needs and growth plan.
Embracing Technological Progression
This is a hard concept for people to grasp, so I'll give a terrific example. Don't optimize your website for IE6 (Internet Explorer 6 - released in 1999). In fact, if people view your website via IE6, have a red screen pop up saying - "GET OUT OF THE STONE AGE!". By embracing the progression of technology, you will have faster loading websites, better looking designs, and a website that will be able to last for years to come. Don't worry if 4% of the population can't see your website. Next year it will be 3%, and by 2014, IE6 will be dead. Always embrace technology!
Social Media
Let's face it, Facebook has 500 million members, so why doesn't your website have a "Follow Us On Facebook" button? More specifically, if you have services, or a blog, what doesn't it have a "like" or "share" button? Want free advertising? Share it your website on Facebook, twitter, You Tube, and many other social media sites. There really isn't a better way to market yourself or your business.
Blogging And SEO
This is top-secret! Do you want your website to be found for key phrases (index terms) on Google? Good. So, get your website optimized for the key phrase(s), then integrate a blog and start blogging! With both Yahoo and Google, the secret is not just "content is king", but rather, "current is king!" Make sure the search engines know your website is always up to date with new content, and they will start moving you up in the rankings rather quickly.
Planning For The Future
Websites are going away, and as technology grows the opportunity for business growth and advancement will only keep getting easier! Get to know a good web developer and always pick his brain for the latest trends in technology as well as where the technology is heading!
ZakGraphix - “Raising the Standard of Design, One Website at a Time.”
Micah Zak
St. Louis Web Design – ZakGraphix.com