____________

A Guest Post by Michelle Panulla

(If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.)

______

This is the second of a 3-part series.

The series How to Find a Great Webmaster begins here.

Step 2: Narrowing the Field

Okay, so you’ve got a list of names.  Now what?  It’s time to narrow the field.  It may feel uncomfortable, but digging deeper with your potential webmasters is necessary, and a good webmaster expects it.  We’ve had bad experiences, too, and any potential client who doesn’t ask questions sets off warning bells.

Ask for References

This one is a biggie.  Your webmaster should be willing to share the names and contact information of past clients.  Even if your potential webmaster is fresh out of college and has no work experience, somebody somewhere has worked with, taught or been on the IM softball team with him and can give you an idea of his work ethic, know-how and personality.

Once you contact the reference, listen to or read the responses carefully. This person was chosen by your potential webmaster because he or she will speak positively and make her look good.  Ask meaty questions.  In what manner do they know each other?   Have they worked together on web projects?  How is she with deadlines?  What are the details?

Ask about Specific Services

“Webmaster” is a generic term that can cover a wealth of possibilities.  Ask about the specific services your potential webmaster offers.  Does he design?  Is she a programmer?  How does he feel about databases?  Is she a social media expert?  Who you choose will depend on your needs.

Keep in mind that you probably will not find someone who covers all your needs.  The web is diverse, and most people cannot be experts in every aspect of it.  If your needs are diverse, you may want to hire more than one person or an all-inclusive agency (I’ll talk more about this in the “Other Considerations” section later).  Prioritize your needs, and make sure your webmaster is someone who can easily handle the most important ones.

Consider the Project Management Triangle

(Don’t Expect the Mona Lisa in One Day for the Price of Macaroni Art)

Good.  Fast.  Cheap.  Those are the three points on the Project Management triangle.  Choose two.  It is virtually impossible to find someone who can provide all three of these points.  Project Managers live by this triangle because it has proven true over and over again.  You need to decide before hiring which of the two will be your priorities, and then align your hiring choice with those priorities.

Of course, there are always those who fail at two (or even all three!) points.  Don’t believe that if someone is expensive, you’ll automatically get good and fast.  You still need to ask questions and research past references.

__________________________________

Michelle Panulla is a WordPress Developer in Portland, Oregon and part of the Blogging with Beth team.  She loves travel, dark chocolate, dark beer, Thai food, critters, coffee and karaoke night.

So many of you have written in with questions, concerns, and horror stories related to working with web designers / webmasters . . . . If you have had your website up for a while, you already know that “hiccups” happen.  And, if you are at least half-tech-clueless like me, then you’ll need your webmaster to take a peak on the back side of your website occasionally and clean up the mess.

I’ve invited my e-friend and colleague in Oregon, Michelle Panulla, to write a guest post today offering her suggestions for  finding that perfect webmaster to help you keep your site running smoothly.

____________

A Guest Post by Michelle Panulla

(If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.)

______

This is the first of a 3-part series.

Many people find themselves lost when it comes to hiring a webmaster.  Successful, intelligent people suddenly find they don’t know which way to turn.  Horror stories abound about other people choosing the wrong person for the job.  Thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars…wasted.  Unethical, unknowledgeable, unfriendly “professionals” have churned the web waters into a murky, sinister maze.

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to find your way out of the maze.  Like any good investment, you’ll need to take the time to do a little research before laying your money down.  By following the suggestions below, you should be better able to find the right web professional(s) for your needs, and make that investment pay off.

Step 1: Identifying Potential Webmasters

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

You’re lost.  I’m betting a few of your friends and colleagues were equally lost not so long ago.  Ask around and find out who they have hired.  If you’re part of a professional association, send an e-mail asking for suggestions.  (Webmasters familiar with your industry are icing on the cake.)

Once people respond with suggestions, dig a little deeper off-list.  Is this webmaster reliable?   What is her price range?  Does he reply within a reasonable amount of time or disappear for days on end?

In the last few years, 100% of my work has come from word of mouth.  My online portfolio is shamefully out of date.  I haven’t updated my résumé in quite some time, either.  Just like you wouldn’t want to go to a new dentist you picked out of thin air, getting a recommendation from someone you trust can direct you to the right person quickly.

Contact Local Web User Groups

The best web professionals keep up with the latest trends and technology.  And since technology changes constantly, it’s not a career choice for people who don’t enjoy learning new things.  One common way webmasters keep up is by participating in User Groups, which are small communities where they can talk with each other about the latest innovations and hear about new methods.  These user groups can be for a specific product or technology (Flash, Java, WordPress) or general topics (Web Design, Social Media, Blogging).

Doing a quick online search can lead you to local user groups.  (For instance, type your location and the terms “web” and “user group” into a search engine and see what pops up.)  Identify a group from the results that likely covers what you need.  Then write up a (brief) description of your site and what you need from a webmaster.  Contact the group leader and ask if she will send it out to the members.

Search the Web

If you strike out with the previous two steps, don’t fear.  There ARE great people out there online (many of them have updated portfolios, too!).  Do an online search and visit the sites that pique your interest.  Send them the same brief description/needs list you compiled for the User Groups.

Once you’ve found a few people who may fit the bill, it’s time to move on to more specific factors in order to make your decision.

__________________________________

Michelle Panulla is a WordPress Developer in Portland, Oregon and part of the Blogging with Beth team.  She loves travel, dark chocolate, dark beer, Thai food, critters, coffee and karaoke night.