One more morning of walking a client through the quagmire of a domain name transfer. Transfers should be like gas pumps...some reasonable expectation that even a novice will be able to figure out how to use the service....but that's just not so.
And that's where I get involved. We're a Denver Web Design company, not a Domain Transfer Company; but I've had days when I spend more time on the transfers than anything else. The current registrar doesn't reply to inquiries; they don't have an auth code...heck the worst case scenario is that all calls went offshore and any real need was to have been addressed via email by upper level support...which we never heard from Client finally gave up and just bought a new domain name as the domain was tied to hosting which she no longer wanted.
We belong to some networking groups and if asked to give a short promo on my services; the single most important thing I can tell clients, friends or associates is this, "BUY YOUR OWN DOMAIN NAME, KEEP IT UPDATED WITH A CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS, AND FILE THE USER AND PASSWORD SOMEWHERE THAT YOU CAN LOCATE IT!"
Not to yell, but seems that very typically none of those happen in the course of a purchase and then we get called to help; so I'm making it my own personal mission to spread the word!
Barbara Kiebel
President
Kinetic Webs, LLC
www.kineticwebs.com
Monday, October 29, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Contract Services
I use contractors and probably won't change that in the near future. Some are great but, well, it's always the BUT's that make it difficult. I've used one fellow for 18 months that is now defining to me his specs...he won't help with a bid and doesn't want anything unless he can make a grand on it minimum.
Hey, that sounds good, maybe I should tell that to all of my clients, too...well, then I wouldn't have many left, would I?
I've been looking for someone else; amazing how my posts for the position in Denver gets me more response from India than anything close to Colorado.
Guess I want to offer web design and development services for Denver and need someone local to partner for larger jobs; how does that work when your programming partner is 1. Not available 2. Doesn't really speak your language, and...well, guess I don't need a number 3. Exasperating
Barbara Kiebel
Kinetic Webs, LLC
http://www.kineticwebs.com/
Manage your own website
Have you ever lamented about the high cost of making some small (or even not so small) changes to your website. Maybe it's time to think about changing to a system that allows you to do that yourself.
Clients want something that works...most are concerned that anything that would allow them to manage their own site would be too difficult to learn or take too much time. The truth is just the opposite. Most content management systems today have an administrative feature that looks a lot like a Word document.
And time it takes to update; well, unless you have a magic wand and your developer knows what you want to say without direction, you'll have to put it to paper. Might as well type your new content into your website directly and hit 'Save' then send it by email or attachment and then wait days for the results!
Kinetic Webs delivers a content management system with every website we build; we're located in Denver, CO and deliver Denver Web Design projects both locally and across the US.
Barbara Kiebel
President
Kinetic Webs, LLC
www.kineticwebs.com
Clients want something that works...most are concerned that anything that would allow them to manage their own site would be too difficult to learn or take too much time. The truth is just the opposite. Most content management systems today have an administrative feature that looks a lot like a Word document.
And time it takes to update; well, unless you have a magic wand and your developer knows what you want to say without direction, you'll have to put it to paper. Might as well type your new content into your website directly and hit 'Save' then send it by email or attachment and then wait days for the results!
Kinetic Webs delivers a content management system with every website we build; we're located in Denver, CO and deliver Denver Web Design projects both locally and across the US.
Barbara Kiebel
President
Kinetic Webs, LLC
www.kineticwebs.com
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Web Design or Web Development
OK, I'm writing this out of frustration...seems no one knows the difference between the two. Yea, maybe I'm ticked since I just lost a job to another web 'designer' - she self admittedly acknowledges she DOES NOT KNOW HTML!!!
But what is worse, her not knowing or that her new client doesn't know...the difference - AARGH!
I bet she did deliver a better price, but then they didn't really understand what Content Management means; all they know is that a sister group used her services for their site; so what if it's totally stagnant the day it's done.
Guess it's enough if it's pretty...yippy!!!
Our intent wasn't to make a bunch of money from an org we are a part of; it was to enable them to have a useful site they could manage themselves and not pay someone for every change. Guess it didn't help to just deliver a hard copy proposal and not get to speak to the powers that be; but when the president called me with the news (which included the fact that we not only delivered the MOST PROFESSIONAL proposal, we also had the MOST PROFESSIONAL person answering our phones, all leading to the big BUT - she absolutely did not know what I was talking about when I asked if she could give me some details. Did the winning party provide content management and an email newsletter service as part of the proposal...she wasn't sure.
Anyway...just in the mood to bitch; we all lose jobs and expect that as part of doing business but it seems that people would be catching on to this stuff; Dreamweaver does NOT make a person a web developer, period!
For REAL web development and some great Denver Web Design (!); visit us when you have a chance. My tagline - We build websites so that your neighbor's son doesn't have to!
Barbara Kiebel
Kinetic Webs
Denver, Colorado
But what is worse, her not knowing or that her new client doesn't know...the difference - AARGH!
I bet she did deliver a better price, but then they didn't really understand what Content Management means; all they know is that a sister group used her services for their site; so what if it's totally stagnant the day it's done.
Guess it's enough if it's pretty...yippy!!!
Our intent wasn't to make a bunch of money from an org we are a part of; it was to enable them to have a useful site they could manage themselves and not pay someone for every change. Guess it didn't help to just deliver a hard copy proposal and not get to speak to the powers that be; but when the president called me with the news (which included the fact that we not only delivered the MOST PROFESSIONAL proposal, we also had the MOST PROFESSIONAL person answering our phones, all leading to the big BUT - she absolutely did not know what I was talking about when I asked if she could give me some details. Did the winning party provide content management and an email newsletter service as part of the proposal...she wasn't sure.
Anyway...just in the mood to bitch; we all lose jobs and expect that as part of doing business but it seems that people would be catching on to this stuff; Dreamweaver does NOT make a person a web developer, period!
For REAL web development and some great Denver Web Design (!); visit us when you have a chance. My tagline - We build websites so that your neighbor's son doesn't have to!
Barbara Kiebel
Kinetic Webs
Denver, Colorado
Friday, March 30, 2007
Too many choices!
I got another call today from someone window shopping for a website; they've talked to some big companies and some part time contractors. How do they tell the difference?
First, big or small, it's wise to use a web design and development company that has some history. Today, everyone is a web designer or programmer; students, out of work IT folks, graphic designers...and it's true, they can manage to get a site built, but what kind of result can you expect?
I just bid for a job with a small business recently. They own a cigar shop/lounge and desperately needed a new site. I had advised him to start with my standard design Content Management System with an additional hour or two to provide a customized banner.
We agreed; cost would be less than $1000 and the owner's daughter would be able to make any and all revisions necessary.
Until a customer, who comes in occasionally, offered him a deal he couldn't refuse. For $30/month in cigars, he would build a site for them. Sounds like a great deal, right?
Hmm...some guy? With a cigar habit? What if the guy gets a job? Or quits smoking cigars? What then...well, they would be back to the drawing board and starting over again. He's getting a couple of html pages and back to depending on someone else for changes.
Yes, our fees sound higher, but once setup; the clients makes all of their own changes and my smoking or lack of smoking habit won't keep them from being able to manage their website.
If you think you could benefit from a comprehensive system that you manage yourself, we're a Denver Web Design and Development Company offering a product that can't be beat.
Barbara Kiebel
Kinetic Webs LLC
www.kineticwebs.com
First, big or small, it's wise to use a web design and development company that has some history. Today, everyone is a web designer or programmer; students, out of work IT folks, graphic designers...and it's true, they can manage to get a site built, but what kind of result can you expect?
I just bid for a job with a small business recently. They own a cigar shop/lounge and desperately needed a new site. I had advised him to start with my standard design Content Management System with an additional hour or two to provide a customized banner.
We agreed; cost would be less than $1000 and the owner's daughter would be able to make any and all revisions necessary.
Until a customer, who comes in occasionally, offered him a deal he couldn't refuse. For $30/month in cigars, he would build a site for them. Sounds like a great deal, right?
Hmm...some guy? With a cigar habit? What if the guy gets a job? Or quits smoking cigars? What then...well, they would be back to the drawing board and starting over again. He's getting a couple of html pages and back to depending on someone else for changes.
Yes, our fees sound higher, but once setup; the clients makes all of their own changes and my smoking or lack of smoking habit won't keep them from being able to manage their website.
If you think you could benefit from a comprehensive system that you manage yourself, we're a Denver Web Design and Development Company offering a product that can't be beat.
Barbara Kiebel
Kinetic Webs LLC
www.kineticwebs.com
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
According to Jakob Nielsen, there are three key things that a user must accomplish in the first thirty seconds of viewing your site. 1. Who are you? 2. What do you do? 3. What should I (the user) do next.
If you aren't able to discern this at first glance, neither are your viewers.
Let's look at the first question: Who are you?
Tell it quickly and in the most old fashioned way possible...readers read left to right; place your logo at the top left and you'll provide that information and branding for your viewers.
What do you do?
This is difficult for many site owners. Avoid high gloss words or slogans; just tell people what you do. Are you selling something or offering a service or just providing free information...tell it quickly and succinctly.
Finally, make it clear what to do next. If your home page has enticed them with what you do; they want to get to it. Use a call for action; text or image that tells them such as 'Contact Us for Free Stuff' - something your designer should know how to do.
If your site is not providing these basics; maybe it's time for a re-design.
Barbara Kiebel
Kinetic Webs
A Denver Web Design Firm
If you aren't able to discern this at first glance, neither are your viewers.
Let's look at the first question: Who are you?
Tell it quickly and in the most old fashioned way possible...readers read left to right; place your logo at the top left and you'll provide that information and branding for your viewers.
What do you do?
This is difficult for many site owners. Avoid high gloss words or slogans; just tell people what you do. Are you selling something or offering a service or just providing free information...tell it quickly and succinctly.
Finally, make it clear what to do next. If your home page has enticed them with what you do; they want to get to it. Use a call for action; text or image that tells them such as 'Contact Us for Free Stuff' - something your designer should know how to do.
If your site is not providing these basics; maybe it's time for a re-design.
Barbara Kiebel
Kinetic Webs
A Denver Web Design Firm
Monday, March 26, 2007
Web 101
Designing a website is serious; it's business after all. It's not just about the computer programming, it's about the design, the keywords, the above the fold, the keyword density, the...well, you get the drift.
If it's a job that calls for serious results and professional expertise, then hire a web development firm with some experience and some staying power; not an out of work guy who needs a few bucks; he'll be gone the first time you need a change and you'll be starting all over - again.
We're specialists in Content Management. We set up the system and you make your own changes; the best of both worlds; but not subject to your designer's date on Friday night...or hangover the next morning!
Denver Web Design and Development
Kinetic Webs, LLC
www.kineticwebs.com
If it's a job that calls for serious results and professional expertise, then hire a web development firm with some experience and some staying power; not an out of work guy who needs a few bucks; he'll be gone the first time you need a change and you'll be starting all over - again.
We're specialists in Content Management. We set up the system and you make your own changes; the best of both worlds; but not subject to your designer's date on Friday night...or hangover the next morning!
Denver Web Design and Development
Kinetic Webs, LLC
www.kineticwebs.com
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