With rifle season now underway in Michigan, many outdoor enthusiast are turning to the woods in hopes of bagging a giant buck. If you find yourself in that camp, you can visit one of our client websites for all your outdoor gear. We thought we would modify a list of hunting tips to relate it to our customers.
1. Watch the wind
This is a good time to survey the field. Take a look around and try to spot the current trends. Things such as flash introductions, music on home pages, and video introductions were all the rage in the 90’s, but a true website should avoid these if they will distract from the message you are trying to promote.
2. Be still
Now is when you watch your competitors. It is important that your website be planned out an methodical. Building a website is a lot like painting a room. The final result is highly dependent on the prep work you do.
3. Be quiet
It’s important that you don’t tell too many people your intentions. Many times, a business owner will tell people that they will be launching a new website “by the end of the year” without consulting a web developer. It is very difficult for someone that has no formal training in web development to anticipate project duration. Something that seems very simple could take months to develop. It’s also a nice surprise to launch shortly after announcing the redesign.
4. Learn all you can about the animal you are hunting
At this stage you are probably hunting the developer you will choose to work with. This is a good time to call business acquaintances for referrals, pull out the phone book (do people still use these?), and check Google for a healthy list of designers. Most designers will have a portfolio that will allow you to check their work and determine if you feel it would fit your business.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask people more knowledgable than you questions
Start scheduling meetings with the professionals that catch your eye. Most will meet with you for free. Pick brains and enjoy a little bit of friendly conversation. Often, the web professional will offer ideas that you hadn’t even considered. Don’t forget to contact us!
6. Learn to use your firearm or bow (or website) effectively
Just because you now have a website, does not mean that you can rest. If your developer was kind enough to give you a Content Management System, learn how to use it. Make a plan that will keep your content fresh and accurate. Continuously think about ways you could improve small things on your website.
7. Attend a hunter safety (or website related) course
Often times, your local chamber of commerce or web development companies will host training sessions that will help you to get the most out of your website. Take advantage of these courses, they can offer a wealth of information.
8. Spend as much time as you can out hunting
Don’t rush yourself. Meet with many developers, and determine which one you are more confidant in. Once your website has been built, spend as much time perfecting it as you can. A website is an ever evolving being.
9. Expect mistakes, and learn from them
Not everybody is perfect. The important thing here is to remember this and catch mistakes early. If you allow your web developer to make a mistake, and you do not correct it, how can you expect them to learn from it. If a mistake is too severe, move on to a new developer and express this mistake to the new person.
10. Wear a safety harness each and every time you climb a tree
If you have signed on with a web developer, you should be allowed to have another web developer review their work. This can put two sets of eyes on the same project, and point out vulnerabilities or inefficiencies.
We hope this article will help you when you are starting the hunt for a new website. Please don’t forget to add us to your list of candidates, we would love to hear from you!