I wanted to let you consumers know that if you have a website created in Flash it will not be visible to Ipad users. That alone is a huge demographic you are missing out on. I have had many calls for redesign of websites containing Flash.
Some of the same features can be accomplished using other resources that work on all platforms.
A while back we wrote an article “Just Because it’s Expensive – Doesn’t make it Good”
I just want to clarify some things that our customers and future customers do not understand.
In recent months I have been involved with an existing customer wishing to make their website better than it was. I gave a quote for a content managed website using WordPress totaling my hourly rate to build and set up a better SEO (Search Engine Optimization) website that would include more functionality than they already had and increase traffic to their website. Since WordPress is an Open Source software I do not feel right charging what some companies charge for a custom Content Managed Website when they are using templates they purchased at a low price to reach a high profit.
Without my knowledge my customer went to a less expensive web designer that changed the DNS (Domain Name Servers) on the website that re-directed it to another host rendering it unavailable to the internet costing them their internet rank to go down as it was not being acknowledged by any search engines.
My client then fired that person to go to someone else that doubled the quote I gave them to begin with. Results: Website is still down and stuck in limbo because the person they first hired was new in the business and didn’t know what they were doing when they transferred the DNS to a new host.
I recently was contacted by a company that paid a high dollar amount for a WordPress site that they thought was custom built to their needs. The result: The web designer paid less than $30.00 dollars for a WordPress template and added some free plugins to the website to increase functionality.
This company thought they were getting a website compatible across all platforms only to find out it didn’t work with certain browsers. They contacted their web designer and have yet to hear back from them. They called me for damage control on their existing website. When using an Open Source product such as WordPress I strictly charge by the hour and not for the technology since I did not create it.
WordPress is a great tool that many fortune 500 companies use. I highly recommend using WordPress as it is very easy to use and highly customizable to suit your needs. It takes some set up on the back end that people not in the business do not understand.
My problem is the lower end web designers that use WordPress to take advantage of customers as a Content Management solution when there are many web designers out there that will be up front with the service they are providing and not claim templates as their own creation.
If you are thinking about having a website built DO NOT go to your lowest bidder. It may end up costing you more in the long run to get it running the way you want it.
Make sure your web designer knows how to update your server to the latest versions of software available. If they have never transferred a website or MYSQL database to another server, move on.
As I have said, this is a content manage system. Your web designer should take the time to show you how to manage it so you are self sufficient.
Their are plenty of WordPress templates to choose from that may fit your companies needs and work across all browsers. Your web designer should be able to do this research and present it to you so you know exactly what you are getting.
As you can tell I’m A LOT disappointed in these new web design companies that claim these templates as their own.
On January 2, 2011 it will be a Delaware State requirement to use a “Hands Free” device for cell phone use while driving a motor vehicle.
Motorist must use a hands-free device to talk while driving and also prohibits text messaging, sending or reading e-mails or browsing websites while the vehicle is in motion.
Delaware is also the 30th state to prohibit texting while driving.
The bill allows a driver to use a headset, speakerphone or other hands-free device to talk on a cell phone while driving. It also permits a driver to punch in a number or activate the hands-free device, but the driver must then put the phone down while talking. Rep. Scott said that the new law takes the phone out of the driver’s hands, eliminating a major distraction.
Click this link to read the full story http://governor.delaware.gov/news/2010/1007july/20100706-cellphoneuse.shtml
Many Flash websites look really cool but if you’re browsing a web page it can get annoying. When you visit a website built in flash you might get a message like the ones shown below.
To most people this would a no brainer but for some other people it might be enough for them to leave your website.
When someone visits your website they don’t want to be told what their settings should be or what software they need loaded to browse your site.
It usually takes people less than a second to know if they want to stay on your website. Giving them instructions on how to view your website is almost like telling them “it looks really cool but you have to download some stuff to make it work”.
I’m not trying to talk you out of a flash website, we have few that we’ve built. I’m just letting you know the cons of having a flash website.
Have you ever heard your friends say “I use Mozilla, Opera or Safari” and known what they were talking about?
There is more to browsing the World Wide Web than just Internet Explorer. Faster browsers with more functional options and best of all………THEY ARE FREE!
If you have a website our you’re having one built. Make sure you ask your web designer if the website they are building is compatible with the browsers listed below.  Most designers build with Internet Explorer in mind. If you don’t ask, chances are your web designer won’t ensure your website is compatible with Mozilla, Safari or Opera.
www.mozilla.com (Be sure to check out their email add on Thunderbird as an alternative to Outlook)
www.apple.com/safari (If you’re a Windows user that want a taste of MAC try out this browser)
www.opera.com (Fast,lightweight and a lot of very user friendly free products)
