Choosing the right company to host your Website can make the difference between a site that performs like you envisioned it, and a site that doesn't perform at all. Here are a few things to look for when shopping for a hosting service:

Redundant T-3 lines (or faster) to two or more major Internet backbones. Frame relays or a single T1 just won't cut it. They should use only the most powerful, highest quality servers and routers. Look for name-brands like Cisco, Apache, and Silicon Graphics (among others). They should squeeze no more than 200-250 websites onto a single server. If the server bogs down, a good provider is quick to re-balance the load.

A good provider will allow you the flexibility to run your site the way you want to run it. That means having access to your own cgi-bin. A top-notch provider offers technical support seven days a week, and hires friendly, knowledgeable support people who are quick to respond to your questions or concerns.

A reputable hosting company will make an automatic tape backup of your site every night. They'll have an emergency backup power supply in case of power outages. They'll boast a documented record of 99% uptime or better. And finally, they should be competitively priced. That's a pretty tall order, no doubt about it, but there are some companies out there that can make the grade. Dealer Support Servcies™ is one of them.

How to Choose a
Web Development Company

Lately it seems like everyone and their brothers are calling themselves Website designers or developers. Everyone from the kid who bags your groceries down at the A&P to the largest Madison Avenue advertising agency will offer to produce your Website for you. How do you choose the right one?

Well, for starters, visit their Websites. A reputable developer will, of course, have his or her own Website. And it's pretty safe to assume that most developers will put as much or more effort into designing their own sites as they put into designing their clients' sites. In short, when you look at a developer's Website, THAT'S AS GOOD AS IT GETS. If you're not impressed by their best effort, you probably won't won't be thrilled with the job they'll do for you.

What do you look for in a well-designed Website? Aside from all the obvious things—Does it look good? Is it fast? Does everything work properly?—you'll want to keep an eye open for...

Attention to DetailLike so many other things in life, the measure of a great Website lies in the DETAILS, those "little things" that most developers skip (or don't even think of)—and that the average client would never think to ask for.

Like What?

Like including a special JavaScript in the heading of each page to prevent other sites from capturing your pages within their frames.

Like making sure your frame documents can only be accessed within their proper frames and not as disjointed single pages. This is especially important when a search engine links to an individual document on your site. Unless that little bit of JavaScript is included in the header of all your pages, your page will display outside of it's frameset document—looking nothing at ALL like what you had in mind.

Like a strict adherance to proper HTML standards. Wrting all HTML out "longhand" as opposed to using an HTML editing program that can create non-standard HTML documents. Avoiding the use of "Netscapisms" that may cause unpredictable results in other browsers. Expressing background and text colors in hexidecimal values ("#FF0000", NOT "red") that will be correctly displayed by all Browsers. Using the proper ASCII escape codes for special characters like ", #, ', —, and others to avoid unwanted characters (boxes and funny-looking squiggly things) from appearing in certain browsers.

Is their URL included at the bottom of each page? Why, you ask? So if someone downloads a page to read offline—and they like it and want to return to your site later—they know how to find it again. Look at all the sites that overlook this seemingly "minor detail."

What if someone visits your site using an older browser, like Netscape 2.0? Will they be able to see your site? What will it look like to them? Will it display properly, if at all? Will they be able to navigate your site? What if they're using the Macintosh version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0a? What if their browser only reads JavaScript 1.1 and not v1.2? What if they don't have java or they've disabled it? What if they have their images turned off? What if they're using America Online?

Little things. Details. Things you'll never even think about or worry about. Things going wrong that you'll never even know are going wrong. You'll only know that you aren't getting the traffic that you hoped for.

Don't all developers do these things for their customers? Certainly they do—as long as they know how, and as long as you ask them to. The problem is, you can't be expected to know what to ask for. That's not your job. Your job is running a retail business. Their job is designing Websites that work. Your designer should do all of these things for you—and MORE—without having to be asked.

Here at Dealer Support Services, we pride ourselves on our attention to details. We know that in the business world, it's often those "little things" that make the difference between success and failure, profit and loss. We also know that if we are to succeed in our business, we first must do everything in our power to help you succeed in yours. Because without you, the customer, there is no need for us. It's a simple enough concept, but one that few service providers seem to understand.

Let us design and produce your store's new home on the World Wide Web. We'll work hard to earn your respect and your referrals.

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