Don’t Spend Another Cent on Your Business Website Until You See This

Either way, the folk who make these claims usually want you to open your wallet and empty the contents into theirs in return for content creation, new features, or a shiny new thing.

Who’s right, who’s lying, and who’s crazy?

The answer, as always, is complex. It really does depend, and that’s why you shouldn’t spend another cent on your site until you’ve seen what I have to say about it.

Why Listen to Me?

I’m a web developer who put together his first website in 1997. I've worked for myself, for one of the world's largest media agencies, and even removed malicious code placed on a website by hackers who working for the Iranian government!

You can get a sense of who I am to my clients and former colleagues and why it's worth considering what I have to say by clicking here.

I’ve been around the block a few times and have developed a cynicism for shiny new things in the world of web development. You can rely on me to spot a shovel pretending to be a spade and call it a shovel.

Let’s look at some common scenarios...

1. Your web developer tells you the software on which your site is built is out of date and needs to be updated. This will cost you oodles of money because “reasons.”
2. A new framework or development platform has come onto the market and your web developer thinks it will solve all your problems at a cost that resembles the GDP of a small island nation.
3. Your search engine optimiser is panicking because you're not number one in Google and asks you to pay him or her a monthly fee equivalent to the amount you were planning to spend leasing a new S-Class.
4. Your social media creator wants to make videos in which disturbingly upbeat young people claim your product or service is even better than the best thing since sliced bread, all for a cost that causes your ears to fall off.

Perhaps your scenario is different to those outlined above, but I’m sure it’s not going to be all that different. Most pitches involve some sort of problem that can only be fixed by a shiny new thing that the vendor happens to sell.

New and Shiny!

That's fine, as long as you know how the shiny new thing is going to benefit your business. And even better, if you have an idea of what your return on investment is likely to be.

Let’s cut to the chase. Most additions and changes to your business website never needed to happen. A business website, even if it looks awful and uses outdated colours, fonts, and technology, is still better than having no website. Think of it this way...

A person may live in a shack and would be embarrassed if the Prime Minister of New Zealand dropped in for a cup of tea. But, that shack keeps the rain out and it's better than having nowhere to live.

Your existing website almost certainly gives you a way to add new content and edit existing content.

If it doesn’t, contact me (Wayne). If it does, and you’re not already adding new content, then ask yourself why you’re not doing so.

What is the Financial Payoff?

And, just like that, we get to the heart of the matter.

There are many things you could be doing with your business website, but for whatever reason, you’re not doing them. It’s worth pondering whether this lack of action is costing you anything.

Maybe you don’t know whether it will pay off, so ask the person recommending the change or addition to explain it to you. If they can’t, is there another reason for doing it? Are there regulatory or security benefits? Will it reduce the amount you’re spending elsewhere in the business?

Maybe you think it might pay off, but you’re not certain. In that case, it’s up to you to decide whether you’re willing to take the risk.

It’s Your Business Website

Websites and web marketing have fads, trends, and fashions. These come and go, and sometimes we get tempted to do something because it’s the hot, new thing. In my view, that’s not a valid reason to proceed. Limit your web spend to things that you think could pay off in some way.

Doing that will help you eliminate most of the superfluous cost of running a business website.