Myths about web development

Due to the ubiquity of the internet in commerce and in our daily lives, certain myths have become widespread (whether by malice or ignorance) that misinform people regarding what constitutes effective web development. At Alternate North, we want you to understand what things we do to develop your website and why, as well as what things we don't do or can't promise and why not.

Can you guarantee that my company will be on the first page of Google (or any other search engine)?

No, and neither can anyone else. Many factors influence the results returned by a search; for example, how long the site has been in existence, how many other sites link to it, the way the code is written for each page, how similar your site's content is to the phrase the user searched for, etc. Some of these factors can be controlled by the webmaster, but others cannot. Therefore, it is a flat-out lie to say that with some special technique your site will achieve X position in a search engine, and anyone who tells you otherwise either doesn't know what they're talking about or (more likely) is trying to scam you. Something very effective that you can do to achieve a high placement in search results is make sure to update your site regularly with relevant content, and establish good relationships with the owners of other websites so they can write favorably about you. This will also help you start developing a valuable network of contacts online.

Having a web presence will make it rain new customers

Just as with any other method of publicity, just because your product or service is there doesn't mean that people will want to look at it. A website is only one tool to help your company grow, and it needs to be combined with other forms of communication and marketing to maximize its effectiveness: word-of-mouth referrals, social networks (like Facebook, Twitter, etc.), traditional media (printed publications, television), participating in trade shows and industrial expos, etc. Your website is a great place to bring all the people who might get to know you by other means, but it does not eliminate those other means altogether.