| d="body"> | | | | you on some kind of multi-domain server that saves |
| The cornerstone of our Internet marketing | | | | them money but still allows them to charge YOU a |
| businesses is our web site or sites. This is the front | | | | lot of money. |
| door to our business, and the means by which we | | | | Solution: Insist on ownership of your site. Business |
| draw in our visitors. Having a web site designed | | | | relationships change; either you or your web designer |
| according to your specifications can be a challenging | | | | could change your mind about working together, and |
| experience, especially if your web designer is not | | | | you don't want your precious web site held captive |
| clued into what a savvy Internet marketer needs. | | | | by someone who isn't cooperating! When you go |
| There are also 3 secrets that most designers won't | | | | shopping for a designer, tell them you already have a |
| tell you because it might prevent you from doing | | | | hosting plan and server, and see whether they're |
| business THEIR way. Take it from this web designer | | | | upset or relieved that you own the site. |
| coach. Knowing these truths can save you money, | | | | Thought #3: I'm not going to be the one to tell you |
| time, and aggravation. | | | | how easy HTML and CSS are to understand and use |
| Here are the secret thoughts your web designer is | | | | -- why give away business? |
| thinking when you're not around... | | | | At their core, the concepts behind HTML and |
| Thought #1: I'd rather design than maintain your site. | | | | Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are very simple; you |
| Web design is creative and fun! You take your client's | | | | just need to spend some time on them as you would |
| ideas, apply your imagination, and turn them into | | | | any worthwhile skill. The advantage that web |
| something marvelous to behold. Then your client asks | | | | designers have is that they've committed to spending |
| you to update text on an ongoing basis. This is | | | | money on expensive HTML tools that have a lot of |
| BOR-ING. | | | | built-in shortcuts. The good news is that you can |
| Solution: Learn how to update your web site yourself. | | | | spend less money than that on web design tools and |
| Once the initial design is done, you can take it from | | | | still get lots of help from the tools. |
| there, provided that you have insisted that your site | | | | Solution: Take a class, follow a tutorial, get some |
| be simple enough for you to update. | | | | tutoring, do SOMETHING to get started learning |
| Thought #2: I'd rather have control of your web | | | | HTML and CSS. Even if you have a web site |
| server than have you own it. | | | | template, sooner or later you're going to have to |
| By "ownership" we mean that you, the client, have | | | | tiptoe through the underlying code to fix a problem. |
| the username and password, you get billed directly, | | | | Don't be held hostage either by your web designer |
| and it's your name on the domain registration and | | | | or your own ignorance! Set aside time each day to |
| hosting plan. Depending on the sophistication of your | | | | learn HTML and CSS, and to practice this valuable skill. |
| web designer, they may want to host the site for | | | | |