Software development is a complicated process. There are many things that must be remembered, best practices to be followed, caffeine to be ingested and don't forget: a product to be delivered. At Amadeus Consulting we've developed thousands of applications for the Web and no matter how hard we try there are always things that a client doesn't think they need. It's not their fault; there are expenses to consider in getting a Web application to the market that just don't look very sexy compared to the next cool feature. However, these are the things that will make or break your product. The cool new feature can be added once revenue is coming in the door. If there isn't success, there won't be a door for them to wheel the money in!
Search visibility is key to getting your product into the market. The Internet is BIG and your application is a very small part of it. According to Netcraft there are over 230 million sites on the internet. Without a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy, Finding your site would be like trying to locate a single person in the United States at any given time without knowing their name, address or phone number. Most people turn to a search engine to find what they're looking for. Search visibility covers a gambit of techniques aimed at getting your website to show up where your target audience is looking. This ranges from Pay-Per-Click campaign management to conversion optimization and social media. If you want to be successful and don't know how these techniques can help you, find a company that does.
The features of your Web application will keep a user coming back. The creative design will make sure they stick around the first time. This is not 1995; your site can't just be text. The current set of Internet users want a rich experience. Call it Web 2.0, 3.0 or whatever this all boils down to a pleasing user experience. Building great software is both a science and an art. The science has evolved to now include information architecture, page flow, role perspective and feature clarity. The art has evolved with new tools like Action Script, Flex, Silverlight and creative suites that allow rock star designers the freedom to make sites that appeal to the user at an emotional level.
Once you've completed a successful development process, the users are finding your site and magazines are writing stories about the new level established by your application's creative design, you'll have to keep the thing running. A Web application is not a zero maintenance operation. There are patches to apply to your server, tweaks to be made to the functionality, backups, security updates, etc. Did you renew that SSL certificate? Is there enough space for your ever growing database? Just thinking about all the people and different companies to interact with is exhausting. It's much easier to just sit back on the beach, sip a fruity beverage and watch a report of your ever burgeoning bank account. There are a lot of software development companies out there and some even have decent creative departments. There are very few that have talented software developers, amazing creative designers, savvy search engine marketers, and a support team to back it all up. Invest in a partner that will provide the entire suite of processes and services that will get you from an idea to the beach. At Amadeus Consulting we provide enterprise level expertise for our clients via a wide range of services ranging from custom software development, mobile application development, web design and development, UI design and development, search visibility solutions, business and systems integration solutions, strategic technology consulting, and 24x7 on staff application level support and maintenance.
The root of success is the passionate pursuit of a great idea. There are some who can be successful by sheer will and determination. They make Herculean efforts and put the world on their shoulders to bring their idea to fruition. I say work smarter, choose an experienced software development and consulting partner and don't forget the things that will turn your great idea into a great reality.