How to Avoid Website Development Disasters

SAN FRANCISCO - May 29, 2014 - PRLog -- Here at Boomer-Productions, the most frequent complaint new clients have is with their former web developers. Boomers are starting new businesses at a record rate, and they need to wear many hats on the business side to keep the doors open. They know that their web presence is critical, but may not be familiar with the many technical aspects of building, launching, and marketing their new websites. Some web developers may take advantage of this. They’ll use confusing technical jargon like SEO, analytics and responsive to potential clients and promise that their one-stop solution is just what the client needs. Too often results are substandard, and clients waste many months and thousands of dollars before throwing up their hands and beginning the search for a new development team. All the time and money spent on the site is lost, and in the worst cases, the business may fail due to poor web execution.

Three years ago when Jack McLaughlin, CEO of MyBrokerDonates.com and his team were searching for designers to create their first website, they found a website that was very much like the one they wanted. They contacted the development company and after several discussions, signed a contract for a site similar in look and feel to the one they liked. What the web design company didn’t tell the customer was that the people who designed and built the desired site had all left the company. And it never occurred to McLaughlin to ask. Instead of getting a quick replica of the site, they got a nightmare.  After months of design and development, the site never worked properly. It was built on a proprietary platform that required much custom programming. Plus the developers hosted the site on their server. It took over 6 months for just a simple text change. MBD was held hostage: they were unable to get statistics or make simple changes and customer service was awful.

When Jack contacted Boomer Productions, we suggested that MBD host their new site on a popular and secure public web server, and that WordPress, a highly supported format known worldwide be used for development since there are several free or low-cost plug-ins that add functionality to the site.   We were able to bring the new MyBrokerDonates.com site live expediently. Updates are done within 48 hours or better. “Linda and her team at Boomer saved our company. They rebuilt our entire site in just a few weeks, and now it is sleek and effective. We make many changes ourselves, and it is quite simple. Design changes are done in a day or so, and Boomer is very easy on our budget.”

Advice:. Question the platform the developer plans to use. When a proprietary format is developed, you are held hostage and dependent to their terms. In most cases, it’s unnecessary.

Your website is your introduction to the world. Appearance, functionality and speed are key factors but getting there doesn’t have to be a stressful hassle. Do your homework and ask questions. Moreover, make sure your personality and the developers are in sync. You’re going to be spending time together creating magic!

Boomer-Productions (http://boomer-productions.com) will work with you to create the best experience for you and your viewers.