It s Been A Tough But Worthwhile Journey...
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Internet Business -> subcategory Web Hosting.
It's Been a Tough But Worthwhile Journey
Firesnaps: Online Digital Photo Management | Image Hosting | Photo Printing Service
A few years ago, I envisioned creating a photo hosting website. At the time, the market seemed ripe with few competitors, making it feel like the perfect moment to dive in. Fast forward, and now the landscape is crowded. It took over two years of relentless effort to bring my idea to life. You might think two years is a long time for just website development, and it likely gave my competitors an advantage.
Despite the competitive market, this journey has been incredibly challenging yet rewarding. It was filled with obstacles that encouraged me to document my experiences. I’ve learned invaluable lessons during this journey, which I hope will be insightful for anyone pursuing online success.
Armed with my initial idea, I began by researching the competition and meticulously planning how my site could stand out. The first step was crafting a solid foundation?"how my site should function and outshine others. This planning stage was straightforward compared to the daunting task of turning sketches into a live website.
As the owner of a small graphic design company and a graphic designer by trade, I had a clear vision, though my expertise was mainly in print design, not web development. I registered my domain and sought a web design company that fit my budget and could deliver on my vision. After much searching, I chose a firm I’d previously used for hosting services. Unfortunately, this decision was a mistake.
After a positive initial meeting where I outlined my requirements, I left feeling optimistic. They assured me the project was doable and would be completed in 4-6 weeks. In hindsight, this was overly optimistic.
Four months passed with little communication from the company, despite my persistent inquiries. Finally, I received an email with a link to view my site. To my horror, the site was a mess. It bore no resemblance to what I envisioned. Graphics were poor, and the functionality was subpar.
After a tense phone call, it was revealed that the original team had left, and the work was outsourced elsewhere. They agreed to fix the issues, but after another two months, the delivered site was still inadequate. They then had the audacity to demand more money for further changes. At this point, I severed ties with them.
After wasting six months with this amateur company, I learned two crucial lessons: never pay in full upfront for unseen work, and always vet a company’s past projects to assess their capabilities. I secured a partial refund and moved on.
I found another web design company with a solid portfolio. With an increased budget, I paid 50% upfront. They guaranteed satisfaction, offering either a completed project to my liking or a refund. Communication was excellent, and we quickly agreed on a design. However, delays resurfaced, extending the timeline. Fortunately, the quality of work was impressive, and we were moving in the right direction.
After more than a year of refining the project, we were ready to go live. Although we faced some final challenges with hosting compatibility, the design company quickly resolved them at no extra cost.
As I write this, we’re fine-tuning our service, but I'm thrilled with what we’ve accomplished. If you’re thinking about starting a similar project, my advice is:
1. Choose the right design company, review their past work, and never pay in full upfront.
2. Persevere through setbacks and stay focused on your goal. It’s worth it in the end.
Thank you for reading.
Stuart Bayford
Firesnaps.com
Check out our work: [Firesnaps](http://www.firesnaps.com)
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