Help Desk
By Brett Error, guest Webmaster
Hiring Help
Dear Help Desk,
On April 1 we launched our site at www.ElectronicHouse.com. We're just entering the second phase of a redesign process that will include customizing this site with message boards, chat rooms, personalized information, and miscellaneous items like online calculators, and so on.
To make this a success, we need to hire a Web developer to help implement these features (my coworker and I have limited Web design experience). Could you please tell me what qualifications (languages, programs, and so on) this new hire would need to have?
- Holly
Dear Holly,
Congratulations on building your Web site to the point where you're ready to add more interactive and personalized features. Before hiring a Web programmer to implement these features, you should first ask yourself whether custom building these programs is really the best course of action.
Today's Web is packed with application service providers (ASPs) and Web services that offer most of the functionality you're looking for. ASPs typically offer some type of interactive service such as message boards or online polls that can be seamlessly integrated into your Web site by simply copying and pasting a few lines of code on each page. You can find most of these services online for free or for a very affordable monthly fee. Some services you should consider reviewing include MyComputer.com, bCentral.com, and BeSeen.com. Here are some advantages to using an ASP to enhance your Web site:
Easy to Implement.<>
