Vigilant Corporation

5 Questions & Answers to ask a Website Developer

1) How long have you been in business?
We recommend at least 5 years specializing in the Internet industry; print graphic design does not count.

2) Who will be creating the design work and where will it be created?
In-house site and graphic designers are best and generally respond in a timely manner.

3) What web statistics do you offer?
A good stats program is priceless for marketing analysis.

4) Can I view your current published websites?
Take the time to navigate the sites, do they make sense? Don't be overly impressed by visual 'razzle-dazzle'. What counts are things such as are they easy to navigate, is it easy to get the information that you want, is the information presented in a clean and concise manner?

5) What results can I expect from the Internet?
There are no guarantees, but prior experience and years in the Internet industry are good indicators of good results. At Vigilant, we have been in the Internet web site business since 1997.

5 Questions & Answers to ask a Network Administrator (NA)

1) How long have you been in business?
We recommend at least 5 years experience specializing in the computer networking industry, and hardware and software applications. Less then 5 years can be risky. If you need help, contact us here at Vigilant and we can recommend experienced, qualified network administrators.

2) Do you have references?
Request references from any potential NA and check them. Also, research and ask your network of business associates for any input.

3) During the interview, we can't seem to understand your language.
A good NA will be able to communicate to you in layman's terms.

4) Is it important to be MicroSoft (MS) certified?
While being Microsoft certified is usually a good thing, be aware that many MS certified NA's almost exclusively re-sell MS products. This means they make a percentage off of the software or hardware they sell to your company.
Beware of being locked into unnecessary products and being sold products and services your company does not want or need. Sometimes there are lower-cost alternatives to Microsoft products that will serve your needs as well.
Making commissions is strong motivation to suggest unnecessary hardware and software purchases. We deal with companies that unfortunately have been oversold on both hardware and software.

5) What is the length and scope of the contract?
Be careful of being tied into lengthy, restrictive contracts. For example, can you get out of the contract early if you're not satisfied with them? Can other NA's work on the systems they install or will it void any warranties?