My trip to Web site OZ
My journey through the trials of developing my web site is nothing short of a trip to OZ. The journey started many years ago at the insistence of a couple of friends . Me knowing nothing about web sites. I relied on a Local computer PSEUDO Guru. This guy turned out to be one of the best BS artists I have ever run into. He promised the world and delivered nothing. After six months of him never showing up except to collect money the site was never built. I went to plan B another old computer geek here in town. He informed me that may computer wasn't good enough to have a website it meaning the computer needed to be up graded. So out the door went another $2000 grand.
Little did I know that I did not even need a computer . The site is hosted some where else. Boy did I feel stupid. It gets even better This local guy built a site for me with my money that was covered with adds for other people and company's . That's right he charged me to built a site that hosted about a dozen other sites The site had flashing lights and jumping ducks and all manor of crap that made it load slow as frozen lead and had no activity at all for my knives. He also promised to teach me how to manage the site. That was over ten years ago It might have been two much to ask. I am slow but not totally stupid,
I wandered along in total disgust fro a few more years and met a very bright young guy from the west coast
He was the real deal He is a great guy and knows computers. He fell out laughing when he saw what this old fart had done to my naive ability. He in fact built me a great site. Again I was supposed to learn how to manage it my self. Again it might be asking too much to commit to teaching a grouchy old toad like me. Long story short the you man was and is very talented as a result of his success he just ran out of time. He had no time left to post or remove text and pictures in a timely maner.
In all fairness I was really slow to send the material to be posted. Any how what I wound up with is a static site . If things don't change in a regular fashion. Your traffic and as a result your sales go down. At this point I was determined to get control of my site and learn to make it work for me. Again a close friend told me several years ago to use FrontPage and learn to run the site my self.
I like to seek advise from people that are EXPERTS in their field. Again I let some one talk me into switching to another web wizard. This guy is also a great person and he manages lots of sites. But he is just like most of the web site gurus he wants to control every thing that happens with the sites he manages. More control means less work and more money it is a great formula . It makes good since if you don't have any one in the site you never have to clean or fix anything. Just like owning a huge hotel renting the rooms and never letting any one spend the night. No beds to make ,no linen to wash ,no toilets to clean and you get the same money. What a deal.
My analogy of some web builders goes like this.
You don't now how to build or manage a site so you hire some one that does. Just like you would hire a home builder to build you a house. You know what you want the house or site to look like . Your web guy knows how to build it. The difference between the house builder and the web guru is when the house builder finishes up the house and hands you the keys. You get to live in the house. The web site builder lets you stand out side and look in the window. You ask for the keys and you get massive resistance . They built it and you only get to watch. You don't get to go inside you might cause some damage that they have to repair.
It all comes down to finding out that this seemingly impossible magic skill that you are told is only available to the site builder is in fact very simple to do once you take the time to find out HOW.
I decided to learn how to get my hand on the keys and work on my site. I asked my site builder for the codes to open my site. I have a close personal friend who has been working with front page for years. I bought a copy of front page and made a 500 plus mile trip to study with my front page guru. After driving for over ten hours and upsetting my friends schedule I sat down at his computer and tried the keys. Guess what none of the codes i was sent by my guru would open any thing. I called my site builder and was told he was unavailable. I explained my situation and was informed my web site guy had been an accident and did not want to talk on the phone This was very understandable if he was severely injured. Stuff happens . I asked about the accident and found out he was ok just beat up some and resting at home. The only problem with this situation Is the web site builder had a wreck with the keys to my HOUSE (web site) in his pocket .I am now locked out of my house that I paid for. I traveled five hundred mile to get a lesson on working my site and cant get in the house. I called back the next day to see if I could get the codes from some one else. I was told NO. My friend who offered his valuable time to teach me the skills necessary to work on this site said we might try to jimmy open a window or back door to my web site.
Well that did not work out very well. We managed to crash the site. The problem wasn't just being off line causing me a loss of revenue. The site crash left the page up with exposed codes and things that could have caused all kinds of problems. The site was down in this condition for over a week. I made a couple of calls to see if my web site guy could put the site back up . I did not receive an answer. I called once more and asked if the people hosting the site could restore it ? With in a few minutes I received A very irate phone call from my web guy wanting to know if I wanted to run the site my self . My response was a define yes . Four minutes later my site was back on line. I was very curious what great magical powers were involved to do the miracle repair made in four minutes that a thousand miles of travel and a lot of money lost and spent for absolutely nothing to happen. I was so disgusted at my own inability to learn this magic I just let the site sit . I did nothing for months. I finally got off my ass and called my friend who had spent the time with me trying to work on my site and asked for another lesson.
I moved my site to another host . That move and what was involved would make another very boring and irritating two pages in this saga. I will spare you the details.
One caution if you decide to build a site make sure you own the .com and it is registered to you
KNOW WHERE IT IS HOSTED AND YOU NEED ALL THE PASS WORDS AND CODES TO ACCESS THE SITE.
Where was I? Oh yea my buddy had me get the codes from my new host and open my site using front page. He walked me through a few movements and directions. I could not believe how simple it is to mange a simple web site. All the aggravation and BS I endured at my own hand was over whelming..
I cant blame any one but my self for not getting own with this sooner. No the site is not perfect.. I can change text and pictures at will. What used to take weeks and some times never takes minutes, The magic to web site management is just like all magic it is just smoke and mirrors
. If I can do it any one can do it. Want the keys to your new house {web site} Learn front page. I asked several of these web builders over the years about front page. To a man they said it would not work for what I wanted to do. Well folks it aint true.
It works just fine. It also exposes all the smoke and mirrors. The fact is you don't get paid big bucks for doing something that is very easy.
If it seems difficult take a long look at he thousands of people doing it. on their own. You have no excuse. Learn the program. Or stand out side and look in the windows.
In defense of web site builders. Good people are expensive. Any artist can paint a picture. Not many can do a master piece. If dont not want to deal with building a site. Find a good honest provider or host.
I use Atlanta virtual The reason I am with them is a get an honest straight answer to every question. They charge a fair price and they provide great service. They can provide you with any information you need. I will post a link to them soon.
The reason I wrote is story ? It may it will save some one from being as gullible as I was.
I blame no one but my self for making so little progress with my web site experience. But that is in the past . Cant wait to see what is next. There are a great number of web site design programs out there depending on your skill level. There are also a lot of great website builders and managers do your home work. you get what you pay for. It get easier every day to do this work your self.. Get at it
Steve Schwarzer
2006