Lately I have been getting phone calls from former prospects that decided to use another firm to design and develop their website only to hear things like, “I should of checked them out before going with them!” …”I wish I had researched their track record online.”  “Should of pulled a Better Business Bureau report on the company I used, I would of never used them if I have.”  “Should of called their references.”  And many other comments about the horrible experiences they have had and how the price looked good going in but there was always up charges that often times made the price higher than even our original proposal.

While the vast majority of design and development firms similar to us, do great work and the vast majority of customers are extremely satisfied, some firms will use the old “bait and switch” tactic to get your to sign up with them knowing full well that the one price you thought you would pay at the end was never their intent.  Some of the firms using this method are recognized by such companies as Inc. magazine and other trade publications as the best at what they do. One such company has had 600+ complaints registered by the BBB against them alone.  Please note that all but 8 of the 600+ complaints have been resolved.  Interesting was the fact was that once this company’s BBB rating dropped to a C, they no longer used the BBB as a reference source.  The bad thing is that many small businesses that are signing up with these sort of firms that don’t have the money to waste or can find it hard to recover their original investment in the project should it go bad.

So what is a small business to do?

• Do your homework!
• Call all of a firm’s references that they list on any proposal.
• Ask those references the good, bad and the ugly of doing business with them.

When I’m investigating a company I want to do business with I will always ask the question, “If there is a problem, how do you solve it?”  Let’s face it no one is perfect all of the time, including us,  but I have found that over the last 20+ years how a company handles a problem usually gives me a pretty good window as to what it’s going to be like working with them long term.

After you ask enough questions that your are comfortable with your top two or three firms you are considering, next turn to the Web for websites that will give you some answers on just how good other people think your top firms are doing like WikiPedia (yes you will be surprised at the results), RipOffReport.com and Complaints.com to name a few.

Our Po!nt: If the price looks to good to be true, Run! No matter what firm you are considering to take control of your web presence, small or big, be sure to call references, search the web for complaints, examine a firms work and spend time getting to know the company you are going to be working with for what could be many years to come.  The end result of checking on the front end? A great ROI on whatever you spend and a design company dedicated to your success long term.  We always welcome your comments and thoughts.

Since the beginning of YouTube back a few years ago it has, by every indication, become the number two search engine in the world.  With more than 85% of all people with Internet access using the web now to research everything from products, services, and companies I see it also being used to answer questions, to find how to do something and even teach you Calculus!  Yes math through the use of streaming media!  My teenager can now have access to a host of virtual teachers online 24/7/365!  All I can say is I’m jealous because I had to do it the old fashioned way!

I have a high school senior that had a horrible teacher this year in AP Calculus and when he exhausted the conventional means of getting help to understand what was being taught in the classroom, I caught him one night on YouTube having the answers to his questions explained in remarkable detail right online by another teacher half a world away.  At first I was upset but then before I could say anything I had to admire my son for taking the initiative to use the Internet to solve his homework problems.  The end result was an A for the semester and we are still waiting for the AP results.

Our Po!nt: While many see little, if any, value in the Internet this second generation of Interneters have embraced it as part of their everyday lives as a resource base to find answers in a click.  Wait, after 17 years of Internet use I have done the same.  Like father, like son (he’ll hate that if he reads this)! As always we welcome your thoughts and comments on this or any topic.