In the past few weeks I have ran into a few people who have asked me, “what kind of virus protection do I need for my computer, my friend tells me that I need, spybot, firewall, and to buy a really good virus program”. This is about the time when I really need to slowly put my hands up to my head and try so hard not to scream! Where do these people get their information from?

Keep it simple people; you don’t have to download so many different ways to protect your computer you just need to ask someone that has no clue to what they are talking about. I have worked on so many different computers throughout the years and I have found sometimes that people have as many as 2 to 3 antivirus programs installed on their computer and it is no wonder why their computers run slow, they are just so misinformed themselves, and think that they are so protected that nothing can penetrate their defenses, the truth is? Use the tools that come with your computer and do not pay for something you can get for free.

If you would like to learn more about this give me a call and I would love to help you clean up your computer and get rid of all the stuff you don’t need.

A Great Server Company

When Shape Web Designs first started out we were on a shared server, mostly reselling server space.   After a few months we decided to get our own server and started shopping around -- which proved to be a great learning experience and ultimately a step-up in our company evolution.

Typically when starting out you try to find the least expensive server you can afford. Please note, I’m not referring to buying a server, but leasing a dedicated server instead, which has definite advantages…

Some web developers do buy servers that are housed at their residences or offices. Taking this route poses some great risks to customer information. Private residences and offices are typically not as secure in theft prevention, equipment malfunction avoidance, and disaster recovery as facilities that are specifically designed to house servers. These are not risks that I would gamble with. Our customers and their information are too important to us, and we pride ourselves on minimal if any downtime.

Developers with servers in their homes or offices can run into many problems including power outages and even power surges. Consider how many times per year power goes out – even with a generator – problems can still occur and sometimes linger for days, rendering your website off-line until power is restored. Natural disasters such as fire and flood are always considerations as are burglaries which could result in vandalism of the server, or information theft. After careful consideration of these risks, Shape Web Designs decided to lease our server with a very good company that was secure and had risk prevention protocols in place.   We soon discovered after our first year, however, that they were charging us three times the cost of other reputable companies.   The server shopping continued…

In early 2005, I discovered a server company called Liquid Web out of Lansing, Michigan.   I moved my customers to the new server which was not only faster, but one third the cost of my original server. When I first started with Liquid Web I really didn’t know what to expect, and over time I found them to have the most reliable and dedicated customer service of any previous company that I had ever worked with. Their support is exceptional because you get real hands-on support and they are willing to help you through any issue when it arises.

As a developer we all run into issues from time to time, and we can spend hours trying to resolve these issues. I have contacted Liquid Web even when I’ve encountered coding issues (which are not always server-oriented) and they were more than eager to help me. Since I have been with Liquid Web I have never had any down time. I don’t ever have to worry about anything because I know that Liquid Web is standing behind me and my customers.

This year my server began to act odd and I started having issues keep it online. The Liquid Web monitoring team kept a close eye on my server night and day, and if it went down they would let me know and immediately have it restarted. One Saturday afternoon my server went down.   Liquid Web recommended that I migrate to an upgraded server.   The biggest surprise is that they didn’t charge me for this. They truly stand behind their product and service. Migration to a new server it can be a challenge, but with a little help from me, working together as a team we were able to do the whole migration within days -- and this migration was flawless. I have worked with many different server companies over the years and I have not found one company that compares to Liquid Web, not one! You get everything and more from this company.

There are developers that will try to save money by going with cheap hosting companies, or acting as a reseller to a hosting company, which ultimately means the developers are not held responsible for the   customers’ hosting accounts. When you get a server with Liquid Web, you get a dedicated server right out of the box. They assemble it and insure it is 100% operational. Many server companies don’t do that, because they don’t care if you are using a new server or an old server.   All you are to them is just another account.   They don’t care if they keep you long-term or not because they make their profit from high customer volume – not longevity. Liquid Web treats you like you are a valuable customer and will do anything to keep you happy and satisfied.

A few weeks ago I was talking with a developer from Godaddy.com. Godaddy is a massive company with the largest Domain Register in the world.   After discussing my Liquid Web experience with him for about 15 minutes, this developer was ready to take all his customers and move them to Liquid Web. The developer called the Liquid Web sales team and found out that not only could he get a server for a third the price of what he was paying at Godaddy.com but also discovered the helpful sales person at Liquid Web. Ultimately what sold this developer wasn’t the cost, it was the tack of the sales person -- never once criticizing Godaddy.com, just striving to make the developer happy.

I visited Liquid Web in Lansing Michigan not long ago, and when I walked through the door I was taken aback by how nice I was treated – even at the door. I met with Patrick Henderson, sales manager for Liquid Web. Patrick was very eager and proud to give me a tour of his company. I was impressed by the size and complexity of the building, especially by the intricate and diverse back-up systems. Their backup systems (Generators) are massive, putting out as much power as General Motors!

After the tour Patrick answered every little question I had, and even showed me plans for new concepts that Liquid Web is planning for the future. It was clear to me that Liquid Web is here to stay. As I listened to Patrick talk about how they got their start, and where they are going, I knew I would never find another company that I could put this much trust into. They want their customers to be happy, and want to be number one in the world.

Liquid Web is a very strong company that truly cares for their customers. I have never encountered a company as willing to help as much as they are. Their support, ability to work fast, and dedication to keeping you informed is top notch. There is no one that does it better then these guys.

Being in the web business is difficult and stressful.   I know however, that as long as I am in business with Liquid Web I never have to worry about my server crashing or down time. I can rest at night knowing 100% that I am in the best hands and so are my customers’ sites. For me Liquid Web is the only way to go, and if I can’t have them backing me up, I would rather just go out of business because without Liquid Web it wouldn’t even be worth it. That is how much I trust Liquid Web. They have my back, what more could you ask for in the web world?

A Special Thanks to the following people of Liquid Web. For the rest of the Liquid Web Team -- Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to your great company.

Patrick K. Henderson

Steven Sublett

James Dooley

Rex Hatt

Robert M. Fekete

Jeramy Chunko

Sam Goodman

Jeramy Chunko

Josh Schinkel

Terry Weaver

Peter Buxton

Jason Gillman

David Bigelow

Nichole Bulmer

When it comes to web development it is hard to be sure you are getting the right people to build your site. There are so many different companies that claim to be the best, but Shape Web Designs is a company that is trusted, and has everything to offer in a web development company under one roof.

Shape Web Designs is not just a web development company they are a full service management system that will not only build your website but will maintain it and keep it up to date. What makes Shape Web Designs so unique from other web development companies, is their ability to market your business or products, in such a way that you will start to see results. “Our motto is - It is all about the customers”, says Robert Woonacot, CEO . “So many people out here have websites that are not doing anything.   The website just sits there getting outdated and not attracting new customers. We always ask the customer, So have you got a website? So, how is that working for you”?

In today’s economy it is very important to cut back on your cost, and maybe it is time to cut back on staff that could be holding back your website’s full potential. Most if not all in house web managers have no experience in marketing your site. Marketing your website can really impact your company’s place in the search engine world. Your IT department may be good at building the site, and those others neat things, but marketing your site goes beyond their ability. They really don’t know how to market your company in the web world. Unless your IT staff is thoroughly trained in the specifics of website marketing procedures, they will always fall short in this very important aspect of website development.

Shape Web Designs, who has been serving Western Michigan for years has proven time and time again that they are a company you can trust. If you are looking for someone to build your site, or take over your company website we would really highly recommend choosing them. They are very reasonable and will get to know you and know your company and the products you sell.   They will set up a marketing strategy and walk you through it every step of the way. Shape Web Designs will stick with you, and focus on what is going to make sales, not what makes the site look pretty. Shape Web Designs is truly the best company serving Western Michigan.

Shape Web Designs doesn’t take on any website, they tend to focus on more of the corporate world, while reserving time for the small business men/women trying to get a leg up in their community. Shape Web Designs, is the one company you want to call if you are a new business because they will blast your company into the web world faster than any other web development team. The key word here is Website Management. So if you are just starting out, wouldn’t you want Shape Web Designs in your corner?

If you are looking to advertise your company in the Yellow Pages you may want to stop and reconsider.   It is a fact that approximately 70% of the world population uses search engines for their main source of information.   Most people who are using the net these days are between the ages of 25 and 50 and that number climbs a little more each year. It doesn’t make good business sense to spend a lot of money on a huge ad in the Yellow Pages when statistically the Yellow Pages are not the primary source of information for most people.   Use your money to market yourself on your website, the payoff is so much more in the long run. Most businesses are getting away from the Yellow Pages, mainly because the cost is much too high.   Even with the “extras” most phone book advertising companies are now offering, such as free websites and free larger ads, the bottom line is still a higher cost for less overall impact. Phone book companies are continually working on strategies that appear to offer better deals for the small business man, but in the end the cost is greater than if they were to market themselves on the web.

Shape Web Designs is just not a web development company, they do it all under one roof and network with many other venders to offer your customers one stop shopping.   What could be better than that? Their staff can help you start your business up, tell you the do’s and dont’s of good marketing practice, and help you to make the right choices. Shape Web Designs is well connected and trusted by many different business owners who see them as a partner and a tool that they can use at any time.

I know that sometimes when us tech people talk to customers, the customer can get lost very easy and that is why I try very hard to get down to their level and talk their language and not spend a lot of time on the tech stuff that I feel that they will either not want to know or will just confuse them, and there are so many times I have seen this happen, I too once in a great while get lost in my own tech language, and you can see this in the body language of your customer. I say if they don’t ask then don’t tell them.

I also have seen that most customers are really counting on your to make them feel comfortable and relaxed, they want to be sure that their website is in good hands, and want to know that they can count on your to give them that assurance. After all, if they knew everything we knew you wouldn’t be talking to that customer.

Anyone can build a website; yes it is that easy these days. You can hire people from overseas from India, or some other country to build a great looking website, but in the end what are you going to do when something goes wrong? There is chance that you might find that designer, but you just never know. When talking to your customer make sure to always let them know that you will do your best to provide them with the best possible service, that you will be there for them, and that if they have questions they can always contact you about them.

When I meet with a customer my first goal is to learn as much as I can about them. I want to know who they are, how they got started, and what their ideas are for a website. I then ask them the questions that can provide them with the proper information needed to help them make right decisions. If you walk into a meeting with your customer, and just start out talking about your company, and bore them, I myself feel like you already have failed your customer. Let the customer ask you what they want to know and just be very kind and honest with them.

It is very important that no matter how much you may want a job from your customer; there is the chance that they might now hire you for many different reasons. Sometimes it all comes down to their budget, and if you cost too much in their eyes they are going to go with the person who they can afford. Most customers will contact you and let you know that they went with another company, and might even share the reason why. Don’t be negative! Be very supportive, and always let them know that you are there for them if they change their mind, if you are negative towards your competition, you will be remembered that way, so it is best to leave it as it is, and congratulate them on their decision.