A email came in today regarding what to do when you have brought an e-commerce platform, sold the earth and delivered a small island. How do you prevent this from happening at the sales stage?
Bad Web Companies are plenty, and it can be hard to sort the wheat from the chaff but there are a few rules I have learned from my customers to stop the micky being taken by any web company - good or bad:
1. Always ask for a live demo of the functionality you require or have been promised.Take the words ‘its currently in development’ as ‘ it might never happen’. If this functionality is essential to the deal. Don’t do it yet.
2. Ask for a trial period, even if its just a few hours to see if the thing crashes every 5 mins or has hideous loading times.
3. Make sure that ANY domain names purchased for you are in your name, and don’t hand over or transfer any of your existing domain names. Control you own emails if you can. Gmail is best as you can get your domain emails too all to one account. Most domain name providers have an email POP3 mailbox service.
4. Make sure you can export all your data for an easy getaway.
5. Make sure the cancellation terms are clear.
6. Make sure you define the roles of you the client and the Webmaster/creator of said website to avoid confusion.
7. Make sure that in case of a web-mergancy or dispute, you can get hold of your Webbie.
8. Make sure you have a copy of your design and graphics, if this has been done for you.
Point one might sound a bit harsh but I have heard it over and over again. Plus development takes time, and if it is something you need don’t let it close the sale for you. The software/website you are buying must have the basic functionality you need (and the twiddley fancy stuff too if it be the edge you need) or you might be stuck a year down the line finding that the deal was not all that and you will have to shell out again.
If you can get an independent opinion on the software/website company that’s even better, and searching blogs is a good way to do that. The time might save you a hideous mistake later, or you might find a gem.
