In our experience there are two major road blocks for a company to get a great web presence online. The first is that they don't know where to start. That's no problem because we do and Dynamic Webscapes can help you through it step-by-step.

The second is the harder problem to solve. We call it BIL Syndrome...

We hear of this when a potential client tells us that they already have a website. Then they quickly go on to tell us that it was made by their brother-in-law, or friend, or ex-room mate's sister's boyfriend who knows how to make "home pages". Often they are embarrassed to give out the URL and don't print it on their business cards because they are not proud of it.

Here they are though, they just started a business and their brother-in-law says, "Hey, you need a home page. I just learned how to make them, I'll make it for free for you!!!" So how do they tell him no? They don't! Sometimes it's because they think its a great deal.... Wow a free website. Other times they just don't know how to say, "No, thank you anyway, but I want to make sure that it is professionally done."

BIL Syndrome comes in different shades. The worst case scenario is the AOL guru who can make up a quick home page using the templates provided by AOL. He stays up until 3 a.m. and calls excitedly the next day telling the new business owner that the site is ready for him and he can reach it at http://members.aol.com/bil/widgets. He's even put on a counter that shows that you are the second visitor to the website.

What is wrong here? Well first of all, the website is created from a template. Secondly, websites are not created in a day with no consultation with the business owner. Finally, business websites need their own domain names. Domain names are cheap these days, even cheaper than when they were first being purchased. Any business that can't afford to spring for $35 (at most) for a domain name may not be around tomorrow.

The next shade of BIL Syndrome is the armchair "webmaster" that installed Frontpage with his copy of MS Office. Then he downloaded a freeware graphics program that makes buttons. Then he spent all night searching the web for free (or not) clip art that he can put on the new website. Day two is spent making several pages and linking them all together (mostly). Then he adds the magic touch... some cool new javascript that he saw on another website. Then he calls the business owner and proudly shows off his "website". Rightfully so, he should be proud. He just put together his first "real" website. If he's somewhat web savvy he'll order a domain and place it online at http://www.widgets.com, if not he'll put it up at http://www.isp.com/bil/widgets.

What is wrong here? Well, first of all, Frontpage. Microsoft makes great products and Frontpage itself is a great product, but Frontpage is best used by amateur web designers that make websites about themselves, or their cat, or their kids. In the web design industry if you told a peer that you use Frontpage they would snicker behind your back. We don't want to knock Microsoft because they make great products and we use many of them, but there is a right tool for every job. Speaking of right tools... graphics programs that you download for free off the web or are part of freeware cds are not professional level enough to make quality websites. Dynamic Webscapes swears by and uses Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to create graphics for our websites. There are other high quality graphics programs suitable for web design, but we are partial to Adobe. Next, remember that just because it looks cool doesn't mean it belongs on this particular website. We have seen (and built) some really nifty javascripts, gif animations and Flash movies. We do not use them on every website though. A little magic can go a long way.

BIL Syndrome advances in shades as the competency of the BIL increases. He may have a real knack for web design and seek to improve himself through trial and error. At some point he may even change his profession and become a professional web designer... and at that point it is probably safe to count on him. Until then hire a professional.