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In my last blog entry I made a point that apparently touched a few nerves. I stated:
“While it may not seem all that harmful on the surface, an out of date website can sometimes be almost more detrimental than having no website at all!”
Apparently that statement ruffled a few feathers with a couple folks out there that beg to differ with that statement. So I figured that I would take that opportunity to expand more upon my statement.
A while back I was asked to review a website for a friend. They were looking at possibly redesigning their site, but were hung up on the fact that it had worked for them for years. Did it really need to be redone they asked? After a few minutes of browsing through their site, I could pick out countless issues that served as exclamation points for why the site needed to be redone.
First, the overall appearance was very outdated. The site used a variety of Java applets/animations that were common on websites in the late 90’s or shortly thereafter. In addition, many of the graphics were of a much larger in size, but yet of lower quality than what is typically found online today. Lastly, when browsing some of the pages, they actually had ‘Last Updated’ dates included right on the pages. My jaw dropped when I saw dates that actually read 1997!
Switching perspectives a bit, I encouraged my friend to look at the website as if they were a customer coming to the site for information. Most novice Internet users would be able to see that the site was outdated. The fact that there were “Last Updated” dates over a decade old underscored that fact! A customer could very easily wonder if my friend’s company was still in business. In addition, a customer could end up wondering if they’ll receive quality service. Or, they may be left wondering if the lack of attention to detail that the website received will carry over into the services provided to them. First perceptions can often times be a lasting perception…
After a few weeks of talking about the website, my friend finally decided to go ahead with a redesign. It’s always tough saying goodbye to an old website, especially one that has served you well. But the technology available today is amazing and cutting edge. Websites can now be edited and updated within minutes from anywhere in the world, even by novice computer users. So rather than sitting on an old website that might be marginally working for you, now’s a great time to step up to the plate and look at launching a new website for your business or organization!
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Cold weather and even snow have snuck up on us here in the Midwest over the past week! It seems as if summer flew by. But in all reality, fall is in full swing! And as scary as it is to think about it, winter and the holidays are not too far away!
Over the course of summer, it’s easy to let some things slide. Workweeks get shorter as people scramble to get out of the office early on Friday afternoons. Vacations sometimes take people away from their office & computers for days (or even weeks if you’re lucky!) at a time.
But while people are off enjoying themselves, websites are often times the first thing to be neglected. Regular updates sometimes get skipped. Planned upgrades get postponed. Redesigns get shelved due to the lack of time. As a result, many websites find themselves sitting stagnant and free falling through the search engine rankings. While it may not seem all that harmful on the surface, an out of date website can sometimes be almost more detrimental than having no website at all!
With that in mind, fall is a perfect time to catch up on all of those website projects! Maybe it’s as simple as updating some content, writing a blog entry, or posting some new photos. Or possibly it’s as complex as moving forward with a complete redesign or new website. Either way… Now is the time to do it! Take advantage of the time between now and the holidays to make sure your business or organization is well represented on the Internet!
If you find that it’s time to tackle a major fall project on your website, contact us today to find out how we can help! Whether it’s simply adding new content, reworking your current design, or coming up with a completely new website, we have a solution for you!
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It is with great pleasure that I introduce all of you to the new Timothy Osterbeck Web Development website! Over the past 3 years, TOWD has progressed from a company with three clients to a company with dozens of clients in 5 states. As the company continues to grow, it's important that our online presence continues to grow as well. Thus, the introduction of our new website! There's a lot of new features that will be introduced as time goes on with the new site. At the same time, it's always interesting to look back at how things started out, and the progression to where things are today. When I initially started TOWD, it was a little unclear to me what direction the company would go. Web designers are literally a "dime a dozen". It was immediately clear to me that I faced stiff competition in the web design market. However, as I started to meet with potential clients, I heard time and time again several common complaints. They regularly complained that other website design companies were lacking in the areas of quality, customer service, and value. Some excelled in one area or another, but the overall impression I got from many people was one of frustration. The project either was going to cost way more than they expected or budgeted for. Or, the project was going to take way longer than expected. And in some cases, I even heard that the web designers were rude to the clients and communicated with them very poorly. Enter me into the picture! Since 2006 I've made serving the customers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the surrounding Great Lakes region my top priority. I have strived to excel in the areas where other web designers have fallen short. That means offering personalized service that allows the client to have a one-on-one dialog with me over the development of their website. Your project will never be subcontracted out to a third party company (I'll save that issue for another day!). More importantly, you'll have control over your website throughout the entire development process. And in these times, perhaps more important than all of the other points, the project will be affordable! With the various levels of design packages that I offer, you will be able to plan accordingly when budgeting for your new website! On top of that, I've also added web hosting and domain name services to the list of services that TOWD provides. Why? For the same reasons as I listed above. There are literally hundreds of companies out there offering these services. However, many force their customers to deal with cumbersome user interfaces, annoying advertising and solicitations, and worst of all... poor performance. A slow website is almost as good as no website at all. By offering web hosting and domain services, I can control all of the above aspects and insure you that you will have the best experience possible with your website! This blog is a new feature for TOWD and will be updated regularly with information that concerns you... my clients and potential clients! I always like to hear feedback from my clients as well as potential clients. So if I write something that you either agree or disagree with, please feel free to leave a comment. Otherwise, please check back soon to see what's posted next!
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This is the first of many blog entries to come! A lot is going on with the TOWD website right now. A whole new look along with a whole new set of features are being integrated. I encourage everyone to check back often to see what's new as the site develops!
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