Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design

Have You Been Ripped Off by a Web Site Designer?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Adrienne_Devita]Adrienne Devita

With the Internet business growing every day by leaps and bounds, it is obvious there will be an increasing number of people looking to rip us off. But did you think it would be web site designers?

Unfortunately, many new web design companies are thriving on the Internet, and they have absolutely no experience to be in this business. There is no law or credential a web site design company even needs to get started. Taking a class or two in school, or using an easy template for your client’s web site is unacceptable. Would you let a doctor remove one of your failed kidneys without checking his credentials? I certainly hope not.

I have known far too many clients and acquaintances in the past few years that gave up on their web site, got ripped off for thousands of dollars without getting one customer to their site, and they are now struggling to pay the bills from it all.

It is true what they say, knowledge is power. So without programming, web site design, SEO search engine optimization, AdWords PPC services, copywriting, and all of the other skills needed to get the best web site going, who do you trust?

Did you enjoy school? Either way, it's time to get back to doing your homework.

A professional looking web site is only a door way. It is what's on the other side that you need to investigate. You might open that door to find nothing but white space, no support, not enough experience, but you will find a person ready to take your check or credit card. Picture someone sitting in an empty room in a chair, rubbing their hands together greedily while you walk up and hand them your money. Would you go through with it? Of course not.

I am going to show you a few techniques that will help you find a more experienced web designer. Ready with pen in hand, or fingers on typewriter for that cut and paste key?

1 - Type your keywords into the search engine for whatever you are looking for online

2 - Copy the web site domain name, for example, http://www.websitenamehere.com

3 - Go to Yahoo, then copy and paste that entire domain name with the http:// into the search box

4- How many links does it show?

5 - None? Get out of that white room and run like the dickens!

6 - Are the links only links on their site?

7 - Start being very cautious and get your first foot out the door, but investigate further.

8 - Click on the links that aren't related to their own web site. Are they clients? Are they valid sites? Investigate the client sites and repeat the same thing as in Step 3. If they are an SEO and web site design company and their clients have no links, they didn't get a lick of off-site SEO. But maybe they didn't pay for it and it wasn't included?

9 - Contact their clients. Write or call them and ask them how the company was to work with, and did they get what was promised and paid for? Did they find their money well spent?

10 - If not, then keep looking until you find an open door with a lot of experience, SEO techniques, optimization, and happy customers.

This is one SEO technique you can use to check on your potential web site design company's experience and skills. It is simple and will save you thousands if you use it to your advantage.

If they contacted you (and I would never do business with anyone that does without your asking them to contact you), ask them for e-mail addresses or phone numbers of past clients, and check their links using the steps above. Whenever [http://adwordsandseoservices.com/2007/10/03/web-site-design-rip-offs.aspx ]web site design companies call my business number who do not know what I do, I research them while they are talking to me, and when I start asking pointed questions about their web site, THEY hang up on ME! A telemarketing company hung up on me because I called them on their products and services. I consider that a compliment.

Even if you do not want to come up on the first page of Google for your web site search results for free (although I am not certain why), you will still need an on-page SEO optimization and web site design expert so you pay less per click using [http://adwordsandseoservices.com/2007/08/07/adwords-and-seo-optimization-services-provided.aspx ]PPC advertising. There are various methods of online advertising, and it all starts with getting the best web designer, first.

Adrienne DeVita

Web Site Design, AdWords and SEO Specialist http://www.AdWordsandSEOServices.com

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