Hiring
a Webmaster:
Keys to Success
by Cheryl Wolverton
"I need
a website."
Each one of
us has said that again and again and in today's world, that's a
fact. If you are selling books, you do need a website. And unless
you are very Internet savvy, you need someone to run it.
But who?
There are web
designers by the dozen clamoring for you to hire them. Unfortunately,
as writers, we don't make the money that many of these professionals
want us to spend. When I first started to put up a website many
webmasters charged $1,200 and up. That fee didn't include the monthly
fee of hosting it. So, I buckled down and started learning how to
do it myself and now actually host and create websites. Let me share
a few things you need to understand before hiring a webmaster.
Three Essential Questions
- What do you
want a website for?
It's essential
that you know your primary purpose for establishing a website. For
example:
- Are you going
to use it for selling your books? Or, will it simply serve as
a jump spot to the publisher's site? In other words, do you just
want one page that directs visitors to your publisher's site in
order to purchase your book?
- Do you want
a blog—a way to interact with those who come to your site?
Let's face it, blogs are hot right now.
- Do you want
an interactive page that changes on a fairly regular basis to
keep people coming back?
You need to
have an idea about your primary purpose because it will, with most
webmasters, dramatically affect the fees you pay! Having an idea
of what design elements you like—or hate—is also helpful.
Offer suggestions by providing examples, and be specific. Mention
that, "I want a site that looks like mybestcockerspaniels.com,
the way it is set up, but I want the colors of whydowedothis.net.
And, can you add a blog to that?"
- How much
are you willing to pay?
What can you
really afford to pay a webmaster? Use that sum as a benchmark to
guide you to a webmaster whose services you'll be able to pay without
straining your budget. Keep in mind that some webmasters charge
a "flat fee," which covers all services rendered, while
others charge a fee for each service. Often times, the flat fee
"caps" the total amount you'll pay, making it more affordable
than other options.
- What services
are included?
A website comprises
several components, and therefore the services your webmaster provides
may include fees for some or all these. The first component is your
domain name. Fees for registering your name can run from $5.00 to
$50.00, depending on which registration site you use! A second component
is web hosting. You need somewhere to put your site up on the web.
In other words, you need for people to be able to click on a link,
or surf to your URL, and directly land on your site. Web hosting
fees vary. Shopping around for an affordable hosting site can take
some time. Most webmasters have their favorite "hosts"
and will share some of the benefits and disadvantages of working
with each.
The "Write"
Choice
Answering the
questions above helps pinpoint the webmaster best suited for your
needs. To narrow the selection, keep in mind that a good webmaster:
- Offers
multiple services. A good webmaster is willing to find
a suitable web host, register your domain name, and create your
website.
- Allows
initial revisions. A good webmaster offers 30 days to
make corrections or revisions after you have the final draft of
your website.
- Maintains
contact. If a webmaster isn't answering his/her email
then you can't discuss changes, or monthly updates. Ensure you
have a webmaster who is reachable, when you need him/her.
- Provides
feedback. A good webmaster keeps in touch, providing
feedback on your project status.
- Sets
affordable fees. A good webmaster will have a tier of
fees covering various services, including monthly updates.
- Provides
referrals, or sample sites. A good webmaster has a portfolio
of sites designed, and is willing for you to contact his/her clients.
(Now, I'll be honest with you, there are some websites I have
created that I don't want you to see because they are not my favorites.
Ultimately, the look and content is up to each client, and I may
not agree with their choices. But when the client says that's
what they want...)
- Makes
recommendations/suggestions. Sometimes you really don't
know what you want. Other times you do, but the concept doesn't
really work. A good webmaster will make recommendations to ensure
your site is the best possible. Of course, these are only recommendations,
but it often makes sense to heed some of them.
Finally, having
a webmaster is like—gasp—a marriage. You have
to communicate and get along. If you're not happy you need to discuss
that. Obviously, not every pairing is going to work because personalities
are different. So look for someone you can get along with, who has
reasonable prices, who has a portfolio you like, and who communicates.
You'll know you have the right person when—as in a marriage—the
relationship advantages outweigh any disadvantages.
©
2007 Cheryl Wolverton
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