Over the last few years the internet has trained us to assume that we should be able to get quality online services for free. And there are many companies that have built their business model around providing just that, e.g. free news, social media services like Facebook and Twitter, Google Docs, Google Analytics, Google Maps, free music with Spotify, etc.

Of course we all know that nothing is really free. Those services are either selling your data or your attention to advertisers. But it's a trade most of us are willing to make.

The problem is, these free models have skewed our value systems. We assume the free model should apply to all online businesses. But "free" really only works for automated services that provide generic solutions. That's okay for one-size-fits-all news or productivity tools, but it's a horrible solution if your business needs to stand out from the crowd and communicate your unique value to a specific audience.

So when you need to build a website, you can find hundreds of free or cheap services that will help you get a "website". Gutensite offers a free website service as well. But like other free services, this will get you a generic, unsupported website. If you are really proactive and creative you can do amazing things with it, but for the majority of people "free" isn't good enough. And by "free" I'm including "cheap".

If you want to succeed online, you need:

• Dynamic Team. A team of professionals to guide you through the myriad of technical options that lie before you.
• Expert Consulting. Expert consulting to evaluate your business needs and help you craft a website that is Human Optimized.
• Dedicated Support. Dedicated support from real, qualified experts committed to your success every step of the way.
• Engaging Design. Website Design that builds your brand, engages and impresses your audience, and is optimized to funnel traffic to your conversion goals.
• Integrated Functionality. Functionality that integrates with your business workflow and satisfies the needs of your organization.

In short you need a business website that can actually make you more successful, not just a slideshow and contact form. If you are going to build a website, do it right, or it's a waste of time.

The Gutensite platform is built around the philosophy that you should spend your energy managing your business, not your website. You should do what you are good at and we'll make sure your website looks great and works amazingly. We'll find a solution that works with your budget. And we encourage you to build a website in phases, adding more design and functionality as you see results and can afford to reinvest.

So when you outgrow Squarespace, Weebly, or Wix, and you realize you need expert help from professional designers and programmers to help your business become more successful, give us a call. When you realize that those generic services won't let you customize their standard functionality, we'll be there to help. When you realize that just having a website isn't going to make you successful by itself, we'll show you how to take it to the next level.

And remember, if you are paying less for your website than your monthly budget for coffee, don't be surprised if your website isn't providing you with the value you expected. Your website can and should make your business successful. If it isn't, you're missing a huge opportunity.