Tuesday, February 18, 2014

10 tips for Successfully Hiring a Web Designer/Developer Online


10 tips for Successfully Hiring a Web Designer/Developer Online 

By: Whilly Bermudez

As the owner operator of a full scale web development company (circa 2001), I am always asked about the industry and more specifically about the best way to hire contractors and freelancers for web development from the internet. There is a lot of ‘gray area’ that exists and some clarity may help you to make wise choices. 

The most popular sites for hiring quality freelance developers are Elance, Odesk, Freelancer, Guru, and People Per Hour. These sites feature a simple process where you list your project and potential contractors try to win you over with their portfolio samples and sales pitch. The main reasons why consumers turn to these sites are because they have had difficulty finding a local contractor or they have found out that historically, it is a lot more cost-efficient than working with a local contractor. 

1. Be prepared

The first thing you need to do is to create a very clear and precise overview of your job requirements, the skills that the freelancers must have and any job related information along with any relevant images in a Word Document. This should be the detailed spec sheet or as we say in the industry, the RFP which stands for ‘Request for Proposal’. 

The reason why you want to be as descriptive and accurate as possible is to ensure that the quotes from potential freelancers are accurate and fair. Beyond that, it’s a way to keep expectations in check. The contractor will know exactly what they have to do, and you know exactly what they are going to do for you in order to receive payment. This also protects the web developer from clients that may demand additional work that was never a part of the original scope of the project. 

This initial documentation will also serve as evidence that keeps any gray area clear in the event that a legal dispute should arise.

2. Have Realistic Expectations and a Realistic Budget




Your budget can be one of the main reasons that you are not receiving bids from high quality developers. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen people go on these sites and post their project with a very low and unrealistic budget. For example, I have seen people ask to have a social networking website like Facebook built, and state their budget to be $250. Yes, unbelievable but true. Does that mean that they don’t know any better or that there are there developers who are willing to work for peanuts?

Well, some people don’t know any better and others try to take advantage of developers from third world countries that do, in fact, work for peanuts because they’re trying to survive. Some of these developers work for as little as $5 per hour.

This can be a good thing for the developers from third world countries because they put food on the table, but it has created a culture that comes with a dark side. That culture also lends itself to dishonest foreign developers who make a habit of collecting an initial payment for a project then either doesn’t work on the project and vanish OR who leave it on the back burner without any sense of urgency and work on it periodically, which of course, results in missed deadlines. 

One online marketplace that has lent to this culture is Freelancer.com. They have created a price structure that is conducive to very unrealistic budgets. For example, it shows that for a “Large Project” the range is $3,000-$5,000 when in reality, a large project is typically $10,000 to $15,000. As a result of this flawed structure, the site experiences a huge amount of turnover of projects, where the customers can’t quite find a suitable contractor for the work and they cancel the projects or let them expire. 

I always tell our clients the old saying “You get what you pay for” and if it seems "Too good to be true" - it is! You may be tempted to pay very low wages, but when the project is not done correctly, you will have to absorb new costs to actually have it redone. The money you tried to save at the beginning will still need to been spent at the end; only this time, it comes with aggravation and a loss of time.

Therefore, the advice for this is that it’s better to save until you have the right amount of money to hire a better developer who can ensure quality when bringing your idea into fruition, than hiring someone based on how low his or her bids are. Always remember that quality is never cheap. See the next image which shows someone who just had a bad experience having to post their project (again) to get it done right:



3. Understand Quality verses Quantity

Quality always goes hand in hand with cost. Unfortunately, there are developers out there that are only concerned with bringing in as much business as humanly possible and don’t know a thing about quality. In the web development industry, quality means that a developer takes the time to actually read and analyze the project requirements and only then make the proper recommendations that are in your best interests.

Quality also means that all backend code is clearly defined and there is no use of sloppy coding or copying & pasting of snippets or cheap scripts from the internet. In addition, it’s important that your web developer refrain from recycling code from previous projects. They shouldn’t do it to previous clients and they shouldn’t do it to you. 

Professional web development businesses usually have a “Quality Assurance” person on staff that does extensive quality checks before any work is deemed ‘complete’.   The fly-by-night freelancers and groups are very pleasant and will court you at first and then a bad experience can follow. 

4. How to select the right web developer

Now that you know the basics of quality in web development, what should you look for in developers when making your selection? In the marketplace websites that I have already mentioned, a rating system exists that ranks the developer using a 5–star system and a combined score that is based on client satisfaction and feedback. You can always use this as an indicator but don’t make it your only means of making a selection. In fairness, a developer can have 10 clients that were easy to work with until that got that one client that was just impossible to please or just unreasonable. This difficult client surely wasn’t going to give a good score anyway. You need to weigh all of the reviews and ratings instead of basing it on solely on bad or questionable feedback from a client.

More importantly and arguably the first thing you should look at, is their own website. Clients always miss this because they are so distracted by the low-budget proposals.

The concept is simple. No web developer or designer can give you what they don’t have themselves. If they don’t have a very modern and attractive website, chances are they aren’t going to give you one. So, you first have to look at their website and see for yourself if the quality and craftsmanship is up to par, and in line with the standards you are looking for. 

The second thing to look at is their portfolio; their body of work. Here you can get sense of their design style as well as their completed projects. Here is where it gets tricky because clients sometimes want to see the name of the web developer at the bottom corner of the websites they claim to have done; however, that is a thing of the past. These days, most clients don’t want their new website to be “tagged” with their developer’s company name or logo. It can be due to confidentiality issues or because they simply don’t like how it looks. As a result of this, most web developers don’t add their tag or even bother to ask if they can. That being said, looking for the tag is not really an accurate identifier for past work. The web developer could have also been hired as a sub contractor by the person or company that the client hired initially, so looking to verify tags is pretty useless.

Another smart practice is to ask a web developer for a couple of references. Reputable web developers usually have a few clients that have agreed to share their experience with potential clients using a referral email.

You should also search for their names on Google and see what hits you get. If nothing else, you may get a better idea of whom the person or company may be. You should also create some interview questions that focus on how the developer works, their process, and of course any technical specifications that may apply to the project.

5. Know the importance of Milestones

The term ‘Milestones’ is one of the most common words in Web Development. It refers to the schedule of payments and deliverables. So as part of the agreement and terms, you set the milestones where you agree on what you will receive or what will be done, at what stage of the project. Every contractor and company has their own company policy so the milestone schedule will vary from provider to provider. 

a. Option one
Some only want to have three milestones, which are defined as Initial, Middle, and Completion. The “Initial” milestone refers to the acceptance of the project and beginning of the work, or in layman’s terms “a down payment”. The “Middle” milestone usually applies to the middle of the coding/programming phase, which is once most of the core functionality has been implemented. The “Completion” milestone, of course, means that everything has been thoroughly tested and is ready for the public’s viewing or use. This system requires that the payments be made in 3 phases: when work starts, in the middle of the coding phase, and when the project is completed.

b. Option 2
There are others who prefer it even more simply and use only “Initial and Completion” milestones. This system indicated that 50% is the initial payment and the remainder will be paid upon completion. 

c. Option 3
Last but not least, you have the ones that like to make things a little more complicated and may have 6 to 10 milestones. This option may make sense with long and complex projects but for the most part, it’s overkill. 

One distinct characteristic of foreign developers is they usually try to accelerate or attempt to have the client advance an upcoming milestone payment. The reason is because the developers that work for them are on a salary and they want to pay the developers as soon as possible. There is no particular milestone system that is safer or less safe because if you pick the wrong contractor they will find a way to cheat you.  If you do manage to find an honest, quality developer, they will honor their commitment despite the amount milestones that are at play.

6. What are the best payment terms?

Payment terms are the second most important element right under the project itself. This often causes a lot of confusion, which is followed by mistrust. In fact, agreeing on payment terms sometimes becomes so difficult that both parties may end up walking away from each other because they can’t agree.

The most known item of contention is the ‘initial payment’ not to be confused with a ‘deposit’. This is non-refundable because the money will be exhausted by the developer through the work done on the project. Sometimes clients don’t see the logic or understand why web developers may require an initial payment; so allow me to make sense of it all. As I’ve covered so far, clients do face a certain risk when seeking to hire contractors online; however, web developers also face risks of their own. I myself have experienced it first hand. Here are some of those risks we in web development may face.

If a web developer does not collect any initial payment at all, the risk factor is at 100%. This means that the web developer will begin to do work with the “hopes” of being paid upon completion of the project. They end up actually working for free, because they are working on a ‘promise;’ the promise of being paid. At the end of the project, if the client decides not to pay and doesn’t want the project, the contractor just did all of that work for nothing. Therefore, the loss is all one sided- the web developers’ loss.

If an initial payment is made the risk factor is decreased to 75%. This is because, if the client walks away from the project and doesn’t pay the final payment/s, at least the web developer was paid ‘something’. Well yes, something is something, but it’s still a loss for the web developer because costs for projects are calculated based on work hours and those resources are allocated specifically for that client and their project. From personal experience, I can tell you that clients walking away from projects happens more often than you may expect. Sometimes they may lose interest in the project, get frustrated at the process, or simply can’t afford the remaining payments, or their funding efforts hit a wall. 

That’s why it’s very important that all of the funding be secured before going to hire a developer because the hard working developers are the ones that take a hit. Lately, companies like mine have added a legal clause to their agreements that protects them in the event that clients go “AWOL” or take long breaks away from projects. It may impose penalties, which are fees, as well as stating that no further work needs to be done without those new charges being paid.

The best way to think of web developers is like if you were hiring a contractor to work on your home or build you a pool. There will be a payment upfront and then the work begins. If you were to tell a pool contractor to give you 3 months of work and you’d pay them at the end of the three months, then they would probably shake your hand, leave their business card and walk away. All in all, initial payments are the industry standard and are perfectly fair for both parties.

7. The web development process

Earlier I mentioned that sometimes a client might grow frustrated with the process of web development. Allow me to shed light on that. The web development process is very much a joint effort between client and contractor. It’s a marriage, at least for a little while. No web development project can be realized without the input and guidance of the client.

The client’s responsibility is to provide the right content, images, check the updates often and provide their valuable feedback. When clients take breaks from the project for multiple days that may span into weeks, it causes serious problems for the web developers and their operations. It causes a slowdown in the work cycle, which in turn, translates to financial losses. Because again, those resources are allocated for the project and the work cycle should only go on for the range of time previously calculated, which is acceptance to completion. The involvement of the client is the key to success from the beginning to the end.

I have found that a lot of the issues or disputes between clients and developers are often the understanding of the process. Web developers usually have to educate clients on how it all works and sometimes it doesn’t make sense to a client right way, and that learning curve can create problems. There are many variables to web development that the average consumer wouldn’t be aware of so it’s the web developers’ role to guide the clients through some of the things. Specifically, the flow of work, the updates, how to give proper feedback, and managing expectations.

8. Do web developers offer warranty or refunds?

All web developers and their businesses operate differently; however, almost all developers offer some kind of warranty after the project is complete. Most web developers offer a 30-day warranty against their programming code. This means that if something in their code causes the site or application to stop working correctly, they will fix it at no cost. Others may offer a longer warranty period. At my firm for example, we offer a 3-month warranty period for all clients.

One thing to note about web development warranties, a warranty can be voided if any other developer or person changes code or does any web development work within that time period. So it’s best to keep clear from the backend of a website to prevent damage or accidents.

The topic of refunds is also very interesting. The truth is that because work goes into web development immediately, there are no real grounds for a refund. I have researched various legal case laws specifically in suits between consumers and web developers and the remedy is usually that the web developer can lawfully retain the monies earned and the client takes possession and ownership of all of the files created. So, because of the nature of the business, you may hear most web developers state that they do not offer refunds.

If you follow all of this advice, you won’t find yourself in a position to need a refund.

9. Web developers working remotely

I can think back to old days when I needed a business card or flyer designed and I would drive to my local printer and place the order. Well, I would also sit next to him and tell him exactly how I want the art to be … color by color, letter by letter. I could see the frustration in his face sometimes, but I just thought it was a rough day. Today, I learned that almost no one really likes to be supervised while they work. At least not artists, writers, and web developers are no different.

The days of coming into the office for in-person instruction or feedback is a thing of the past. Even local contractors don’t allow it anymore. Coming into the office to make a deal is allowed, but supervision and micro-management isn’t. With that said, working remotely has been the norm for some time. Even doctors are now giving medical diagnosis online with telemed practices. But for the web development process it’s mainly emails. Of course, some like to use Skype or Teamviewer to share screens and the occasional phone call, but for the most part, it’s an email-based world. In addition, there is a great benefit to recording or logging all requests and replies, which include all emails, and Skype typing chats.

So there is really not much of a difference between hiring a local contractor or an online based one, except for the cost. Typically, local contractors are up to 40% more expensive than those who bid online. The reason is simple; it is because they are not actually competing with other contractors, at least not in terms of a bidding war. They are more comfortable and only paying attention to the requirements of the project and of course their profit margin. Nevertheless, they are not concerned that a contractor from Bangladesh is bidding barely a fraction of what he/she would normally charge. 

10. Should I hire domestic or foreign? 

There are two main factors to consider when hiring a domestic contractor. The first one is the language barrier- there is none. Communication is clear and fluent. This makes the process a lot easier because you speak the same language in more ways than one.

The other factor is the legal factor. Should something go wrong, you have recourse to turn to, which is your local or national judicial system.  If a foreign client executed a Non-Disclosure agreement or project agreement, there is a chance that it has no legal standing to be enforced because the other party is in a faraway land and out of the jurisdiction. Therefore, the safer option is to work with someone from at least the same country.

With that said, there are good foreign web developers out there as well. Some are honest, hardworking, and go the extra mile. But they are really difficult to find. But like all things in life, you have to do your due diligence. In any country, there are good contractors and there are bad ones.


In closing, if you following these 10 simple steps you should be safe and on your way to getting your great new project completed!


Friday, January 3, 2014

WebRehab.net Officially Launches with Radio Ads on WiOD 610 am | 100.3 fm




WebRehab.net Officially Launches with Radio Ads on WiOD 610 am | 100.3 fm with Jimmy Cefalo & Rick Sanchez



Since the beginning of the internet age, we have encountered thousands of business owners that either had no web presence or had an old and out dated website that can be considered “Ugly”. As you may expect either of those two problems are bad for business- your business.

Here’s a reality check so be honest!  Whether we like it or not, we are always competing with some other business. Cisco research reported that nearly 74% of consumers research or visit a business online before making a decision. That means that almost 8 out of ten of your potential customers are attempting to make a decision by visiting your website. What will they see? Will they be impressed? Does it represent quality?

Let Web Rehab take care of your web presence and build your website!



Friday, August 2, 2013

Whilly Bermudez Publishes First In A Series Of Positive & Inspirational Children’s Books


Whilly Bermudez Publishes First In A Series Of
Positive & Inspirational Children’s Books


Critically acclaimed children’s book aims at instilling the value of good deeds in children. Book Signing Event planned for Miami Lakes, Florida.

MIAMI, FLORIDA, August 5, 2013, Many people think it is about time that a children’s book was published that has the ability to skillfully instill positive and inspirational values. Whilly Bermudez has stepped-up to the plate with his latest book entitled, “WB & The 10 Good Things”. Whilly has authored a brilliantly conceived illustrated book for children ages 5-8. This is a “feel-good” book that parents will enjoy sharing with their kids.

With all of the negative images and stereotypes shown in all media, this new children’s book is a breath of fresh air. The author has a writing style that makes the child feel that they are part of the story. There isn’t a parent anywhere who hasn’t marveled over their experience of reading “WB & The 10 Good Things” to their kids. In this book holds the secret of instilling in a subtle manner, a very profound message. Whilly strategically uses a “Grandfather figure”, to be the character in the story that develops the message.

“WB & The 10 Good Things” uses a “sweater” as a mechanism to transform a little boy into a super hero. The young reader can easily relate to the “Grandfather figure” and the “sweater”. Our main character, WB, is the stereotypical little fella, oblivious to the moral opportunities that abound all around him. Once he puts on the sweater his grandfather gave him, presto.......he is a superhero with the ability to fully understand the good in everyone, and how doing right should be done just for its own sake.

In this world where people show contempt for superheroes of compassion, WB must make the decision to not be influenced by the negativity of others, as the kids at school make fun of him. His lesson is learned when the magical sweater is damaged, and he fears he has lost his superhero powers, only to learn that the sweater really had no magical powers, that the magic came from within.

Whilly Bermudez has scheduled a Book-Signing Event befitting a superhero. Parents and kids are invited to come-on down to Don Shula’s Athletic Club, at 15150 Bull Run Rd., Miami Lakes, FL 33014, on October 5th, 2013, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Imagine what a thrill it will be for the kids to meet the book’s main character - “WB”, and get a signed copy of the book, and a photo with him to cherish forever. Activities will also be featured like Rock Climbing and Face Painting.

It should be no great surprise that the author is a genuine nice guy. Whilly Bermudez is not just a successful American entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is also an author with a tremendous


 
hunger to help others, supporting various causes and donating to them throughout the year. He is the founder of “Ignite Social Help”, a global movement set in motion to help heal and inspire others in the world through the broadcast of inspirational posts and updates via social media. A novel approach to spreading hope and understanding. The world can surely benefit by having more people of the caliber of Whilly Bermudez.

Complete information about the new book and the book-signing event are available at:


Media Contact: Ben Castro

WB & The 10 Good Things
Attn: Press
305.807.1621

Thursday, August 1, 2013

MEET THE HERO OF NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK “WB & THE 10 GOOD THINGS” AT SPECIAL MIAMI LAKES EVENT



MEET THE HERO OF NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK “WB & THE 10 GOOD THINGS” AT SPECIAL MIAMI LAKES EVENT

Miami, Florida  – Local kids can meet the hero of a new illustrated children’s book, “WB & The 10 Good Things,” at a special event on Saturday October 5th.

WB, the book’s main character will be wearing his magical sweater and posing for photos with everyone who attends. The book’s creator and author, Whilly Bermudez, will also be present to autograph copies.

It all takes place at Shula’s Athletic Club, 15150 Bull Run Road, Miami Lakes between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. along with rock climbing, rides face painting, and other activities.

“WB & The 10 Good Things” was created for children ages five through eight and tells the story of a little boy who doesn’t pay much attention to others until his trusted and kindly grandfather gives him a magical sweater. WB dons the sweater and instantly becomes a superhero who goes to the aid of a girl being bullied, helps a boy with his backpack and assists a girl on crutches. WB is proud of his achievements in spite of other kids who poke fun at him and don’t appreciate a compassionate superhero.

In the book’s moving climax WB loses his special powers when he tears his sweater rescuing a cat stuck in a tree. The lesson he learns is that being a superhero has nothing to do with the ‘magical’ sweater but that it’s a belief in himself and the value of acting lovingly towards others that counts the most.

Says Whilly Bermudez, the marketing entrepreneur and philanthropist who is the creator and face behind WB, “My mission is to instill and encourage positive living in young children of all ages and young people all over the world. The lesson in this book is that the best kind of life is one spent in recognition of the significance of others. I hope that we will have the opportunity to share that message with a lot of kids at this special event.”

“WB & The 10 Good Things is Whilly’s second book following the success of “WB & The Ring of Power.” Whilly, affectionately known as “the WB”, is the founder of WB Media, a national marketing and web development firm with an impressive portfolio and client base. One of the best-known marketers in South Florida, Whilly has developed business concepts for clients since 1997 and produced more than 1,000 events and live shows. He has received endorsements from educational institutions as well as major newspapers and organizations.

Driven by a hunger to help, Whilly combines all that he does with charitable causes. In one of his philanthropic endeavors he founded Ignite Social Hope, an online global movement to help heal and inspire people throughout the world through inspirational posts and updates. WB Kids donates books annually to children and families in need to foster a joy of reading among the most at-risk youngsters.

Says Whilly, “We are only on the earth for a fragment of time, and we cannot wait for a ‘defining moment.’ All moments define us. We should spend all of our time moving towards love, happiness, and making our mark in the world through good deeds.”

You can find out more at: www.wbkidsonline.com


Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Next iPhone might read your fingerprints


Next iPhone might read your fingerprints


By Brandon Griggs

As we store more and more of our personal lives on smartphones, mobile security is becoming increasingly crucial. A password offers some protection, but it may not deter a serious hacker.
For users of Apple devices, more help might be on the way.

According to several reports, the next version of Apple's mobile operating system suggests future iPhones will have biometric scanners that read fingerprints. A user could register his or her prints with the device, then place a thumb on the home button to unlock the phone.

Fingerprint verification could also add an extra layer of security when making mobile payments, for example.

A biometric sensor has been a rumored feature on the next iPhone for months. But the rumors got a boost when a beta version of iOS 7 was released Monday night to Apple developers. At least one developer found a file called "BiometricKitUI" containing numerous references to "fingerprint," according to reports by 9to5Mac,Extreme Tech and other blogs.

"You can then unlock your phone by putting your thumb on the home button. No longer will friends and family be able to pick up and peruse your phone -- no longer will you have to key in your passcode every time you want to do something," wrote Sebastian Anthony for Extreme Tech.

Of course, many blogs trade in feverish rumors about Apple products that later prove unfounded, and there's no proof that such a feature will show up on the next iPhone, expected to be launched this fall.
Observers expect the as-yet-unnamed phone (iPhone 5S?) to have a faster processor, better battery life and an improved camera, possibly with a slow-motion video function.

Apple also has been experimenting with larger screens for the iPhone and iPad.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Should Facebook offer a paid, ad-free version?


Should Facebook offer a paid, ad-free version?

By Heather Kelly

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone has been using Facebook quite a bit lately, and he has some friendly advice for the company, from one social network to another.

Stone thinks Facebook should offer an ad-free subscription version for $10 a month.

A premium version of Facebook could appeal to people who don't want to wade through the barrage of ads for a juice-cleanse delivery service or Edward Snowden fan fiction (these are the actual ads I currently see on my Facebook account).

"In general, the ads on Facebook don't seem particularly useful or engaging. However, ads on the service are universally tolerated because that's what makes Facebook free, and free is nice," Stone said in a post on Medium.

The company could also throw in some special features for these Premium customers to sweeten the pot, according to Stone, though he doesn't suggest anything specific.

He does a bit of math to show how lucrative a paid tier could be. If just 10% of the service's 1 billion active users dropped $10 each month, the company would make $1 billion a month.

For the first quarter of 2013, Facebook reported making just $2.85 per user from ads in the U.S. and Canada. That number is lower globally.

Advertising makes up 85% of Facebook's revenue. The rest comes from payments and other fees, which include social games and virtual goods, and amounts to about 65 cents per user for the quarter.
The subscription model is common among tech companies offering content, such as music or TV shows on Pandora, Hulu and Netflix. But it hasn't taken off with many social networks. LinkedIn offers premium accounts that have beefed-up search, mail and other features starting at $20 a month.

As an April Fool's joke this year, Twitter announced a premium service that, for the low cost of $5 a month, would include all letters in tweets, including vowels. The lowly free service would be rebranded Twitter and include only consonants.

Stone isn't joking with his new suggestion, though. In his post, he also said that Facebook was too complicated.

"The truth is, if I can't figure an application out in a minute, I usually move on to something else. Too many settings and options frustrate and confuse me. I like making simple stuff because I enjoy simple stuff," he said.

He recently hired a few ex-Facebookers for his new startup, and they guided him through optimizing all the settings for the least overwhelming experience. He's now using Facebook regularly too keep in touch with family, but like any regular Facebook user, he still has gripes about how it works.
This isn't the first time someone has suggested a paid, premium version of Facebook. But because he's Biz Stone and Twitter is a hugely successful social network, people are paying attention -- unlike when your distant cousins or people you knew in high school complain in Facebook's news feed.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

NEED A WEB SITE?