Now Let’s All Be Professional Here …

Now Let’s All Be Professional Here …

Frustrated Person Venting

Here’s a cautionary tale – well, two cautionary tales – about over-estimating your abilities, and trying to save a buck.

Now this can apply to your business, your copy needs, or even a website overhaul.

Or anything else, really …

I recently rebranded and changed my web hosting, within months of each other.

Yeah, I was just asking for trouble.

First the change of website host …

I’d had good service with my previous host, but I didn’t like their attitude – they were less than friendly, and liked to go ahead and do their own thing, at my expense.

But still, good service, and fast website loading – but my server was in the U.S.

I did some Googling and found what I thought was a good deal on web hosting. The server was in Australia, and the price was in Aussie dollars.

They came highly recommended, with great customer testimonials.

And unlimited everything – that should have been my first red flag. Even though I use very little of the servers resources with my websites.

After signing up with them for three years, I found out the server is really in Canada, somewhere …

Second red flag – they were deliberately misleading.

But still, they were a big help with my website migration, and everything went smoothly.

I was back online, with all my website files now in Canada, somewhere …

Then came my recent rebranding …

Sure, it’s a big deal but I have a degree in computer science, and I love to tinker with website design, I just don’t have the time.

But this was my website, so I made the time, rolled up my metaphorical sleeves, and I did it myself.

Or tried to …

Now here’s where I’ll mention two old adages that most people are familiar with, and you’ll have a fair idea where this story is headed.

You get what you pay for, and …

The best laid plans …

I was fast becoming a double adage cliché …

Turns out I’m either too picky, or not as good at website design as I imagined myself to be …

I’m a professional copywriter, not a professional website designer.

Something I was reminded of daily as my rebranding efforts dragged on, and my website continued to be offline …

I’d said two weeks – plenty of time to get it all working, and just how I wanted it, right?

Try six weeks …

And some sage advice from a website designer.

Someone who doesn’t just tinker in her spare time, like me, but a real professional who does it for a living.

She wisely advised me to stick to my own profession.

So I wrote her some great web copy, she saved my website, and we’re both happy campers.

And there folks, is the first lesson …

Stick with what you’re good at. And if you have a side interest you love but rarely have time to practice, you’re not as good as you think you are.

If you spend your time doing what you do best, you can afford to pay another professional to do what they do best.

Which leads me to the second cautionary tale …

My new website wasn’t such a hit with my new web hosts.

Despite still using minimal resources I was getting complaints that I was using too many resources.

I wasn’t, but I tweaked, and I appeased …

And the complaints kept coming …

Now I was staring at a field of red flags, with new ones popping up all the time.

*Sigh*, you get what you pay for. Lesson number two …

To save my sanity, and the rest of my hair, I sheepishly moved my website to a server in Australia, and a new, very sympathetic, web host.

They cost a little more – only a little more – but it’s oh so worth every cent.

They’re fabulous, and I’ll never leave.

That’s the true value of good service …

No more website stress. I don’t have time for that, I have a business to run.

And so do you …

When it comes to your business, don’t cut corners, don’t be cheap, and don’t try to do it yourself when it’s not your specialty …

It just isn’t worth it.

I dare say you have a few horror stories of your own, and you’ve already learnt this lesson.

If only I’d practiced what I preach …

Lesson learned.

Keep The Faith

 


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