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Upgrading Websites In A Challenging Economy

Say that you want a new pickup truck - a big, beefy 4X4 - but your budget is more supportive of an inexpensive compact. Whether you actually NEED that truck depends on what you're planning to use it for. Occasional dump runs aren't enough to justify it. Hauling equipment to job sites is another matter entirely.

But would anyone buy the compact and attempt to convert it into the truck? Although the analogy might seem odd, that's the kind of calculus that we see more and more with websites. With so much concern about budgets these days, we see a fair number of organizations whose websites try to perform like a Ford F-350 when the guts are more like a Kia Spectra.

When considering website upgrades, make sure you understand your current and projected strategic and tactical needs. Beware the lowest bid; one way that website designers can cut costs is by using off-the-shelf platforms, which can work fine if your web needs aren't particularly robust. Although we can work with those platforms, their use can limit you with regard to visual design, or if your web strategy includes a lot of user interactivity and/or interface with internal control systems. These platforms may require programmers to essentially hack the underlying code in order to give you what you want.

We've also seen no small number of sites that come with hidden costs in the form of staff time, such as sites that are difficult to update or those that collect information from one location and require a staffer to manually re-enter it elsewhere.

We've got a better way. Axon's websites are built using a system that we proudly call Impulse?. Impulse is based on open-source code and built into modules. Each module offers specific features. Advantages? Glad you asked: first, it's stable and secure. It allows visual design and programming to work seamlessly and exactly the way you want, without the hacks required with off-the-shelf platforms. It's incredibly easy to use; updating and adding content is a snap. And finally, it's expandable; you can add modules at any time as your needs grow and your budget permits.

Impulse modules can be added to existing sites, and if you're thinking of upgrading your site's features (but aren't quite ready for a total overhaul) we'd be happy to speak with you about doing so. But ultimately, the Impulse platform is designed to organize your entire web administration and content management into a site that's simple and attractive. Sites built entirely on the Impulse platform are powerful tools indeed.

Think about how important your website is to your organization's identity - after all, it's the first place people go when they want to know more about you. Does your current site really show you to best advantage? Remember, websites aren't just about cost. They're about value. That's the idea with Impulse.



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