What Some Web Design Agencies Won’t Admit…

Hi friend,

Today, let’s talk about what comes after your website is launched and live.

Here’s a story most of the Avalanche team has seen unfold at least once throughout our careers.

Suppose your SEO specialist recommends updating the links in your website’s navigation. However, your webmaster is with a third-party company and lives in Honolulu, while you work in New York. Not only do they operate on a different schedule because of the time zone differences, but this particular webmaster isn’t exactly known for their responsiveness.

So, you email them.

And after a few days of radio silence, you email them again.

By the time you send a third email marked as high priority with “URGENT” in the subject line, it’s been five days. And they’re finally able to get around to a change you could’ve done in five seconds if they’d set you up for success.

Editing Your Website Shouldn’t Feel Like a Hostage Negotiation

Part of the reason why the scenario I described is so common is that a lot of companies put up a huge metaphorical wall in the back end of the website. They also tend to make things difficult to change unless you ask them to simplify things.

At Avalanche, we have a strict policy of “handing over the keys” to our clients once their website is live and launched. We’ll also demystify the process of making edits, so you know how to drive it.

You should feel comfortable making changes themselves if you need to, but you should also feel comfortable reaching out to us. After all, we like a challenge if you want to add something more complex to your site.

Working with a Web Design Team Shouldn’t Feel Like a Bad Date

The worst habit a lot of web developers have—whether they realize it or not—is that they often end up forcing their clients to work with them again. This doesn’t necessarily lead to more of the business you want though. Instead, it just breeds resentment and makes it feel like you’re trapping them into an unhealthy relationship.

We want to change that. If you want to come back to us after we’ve set your website up for success, it should be because you had a positive experience and feel empowered.

In other words, a good web design firm is a company you want to work with—you shouldn’t feel like you need to work with them so the site doesn’t break.