As an accomplished Do-It-Yourselfer, I have learned the hard way that there are some tasks better left to professionals. In my years of trying to do everything myself, I have learned two guiding principles regarding whether or not to get help:

• I won't risk my life to DIY (e.g. front-end work on a truck)
• I will not do it myself if I can afford to and it makes sense to have someone do it for me (ex: excavating land in the yard)

The web is a complex structure, filled with standards, acronyms and complicated technologies. In the 10+ years that I have been working on the web, I have seen many potential customers who try and make their own website or work with amateurs. The results are obvious. A new customer can spot an amateur website within just a few seconds of visiting your site. It doesn't make a good impression.

Look Familiar?

I hereby nominate this graphic as the official brand of websites designed by amateurs (we don't do this):

Doing Things Right

My sites are created on schedule using modern web standards, valid html and valid css.

Advice from a Professional

The other reason for this page is just as a friendly warning. It's too easy to spend many hours, just trying to figure out how to do something simple. I've already spend those hours and after a few years, I learned what works and what doesn't. I actually continue to learn new things on the web all the time, but that only works with a strong understanding of modern web standards. I can say, with all confidence, that making an effective website requires considerable expertise.

An Example

Recently, I got a call from Gene, the Kenpo Soke Grandmaster at his Kenpo-Kobudo School of Martial Arts. His website had been shut off by some company out in the middle of nowhere. He heard from a friend that I was good at web stuff and gave me a call, explaining that he doesn't want to mess around with providers that he doesn't know. He wants to work with a local web host who would clean up his site and be there for him to make it the best it could be. Later that day, I had his site up and running again. Within 2 weeks, his site was completely redesigned and looking much cleaner. Gene is very pleased with his new site and is glad to be done with trying to answer questions by email from DIY hosting providers that expect him to know everything about how a website works.

Be like Gene, sign up now to learn more about having your site hosted by New England Webs.