CMS A TO Z

We've seen it happen often. The contractor hired to install and maintain your content management system is on vacation, or has changed careers, and is no longer available to make the customizations you need.

Now what?

It can be a painful process to find someone new to help. And often the help you find takes a long time to get up to speed with the customizations your last contractor made. They might even recommend starting from scratch!

When you are looking for a new contractor, whether this is the first contractor, or a replacement, there are some steps you can take to make sure you won't be left in the lurch when it comes time for them to move on for whatever reason.

Get a Recommendation

If your are still on friendly terms with your current contractor, and you like the work they have done, don't be shy about asking them for a recommendation. They likely know some folks that could do a good job.

If you have friends that manage sites or own site, ask them for recommendations as well. They could be a wonderful source of information, and if they like the help they are getting, it's a lot more likely that you will, too.

Get References

If the contractor you are about to hire is trustworthy, then they should not mind giving you some references that you can talk to (don't just send an email!). And they should not have trouble coming up with a few refences quickly. If they tell you that they don't have any references, or that their clients prefer to remain confidential, walk away. No need to go any further.

Get Examples

Make sure that your new contractor has some examples of work that they have done. And make sure that those sites are still up and running. When you check out the sites they refernce, check to see if there is any information in the footer or source code that tells you who designed or built the site. If there is, and they don't match, make sure to follow up. Did they do the work as a sub-contractor? Can you contact the company through which they worked? Can you contact the site owner?

Get the Code

If you are the site owner, and you are using a stand-alone system, then the code should belong to you. Make sure that you get a copy of it! Ask your developer for a Zipped verion of the code, so that you have a backup that is in your control. Each time your developer completes a customization, get the latest version, so that if something has to be reverted, you have a copy. Don't rely on your contractor to keep a backup, no matter how organized or reliable they seem.

Get it Done

If this is a new relationship, you should not feel shy about checking in periodically to see how the work is going. If your project was scheduled to take a week, checking in every day or every other day would not be excessive. If the project is scheduled to take a month, check in at least once or twice a week.

See if they have anything that they can show you, so that you can make sure they are going in the right direction. They might have a different understanding of what you asked for or a different set of assumptions. Make sure that you communicate what you need.

A big important note about that last bit. If you see what they are doing, and youthink of new thing that you want, asking for those new things could increase the time required, and the cost required to get it done. Be careful of the requests you make, and make sure to ask if your requests are in line with the original price and timeline, or if they will cause delays or budget changes.