Website & Technology Consulting

Technology should help a business accomplish its goals—not become another problem that needs constant attention.

For more than three decades, Zehr.net has worked with websites, hosting, servers, domains, email, security, accessibility, online services, and the constantly changing technologies behind them. Along the way, we have learned that many technology problems cannot be solved by simply installing another program, purchasing another service, or redesigning another website.

Sometimes the most valuable first step is simply figuring out what the real problem is.

Start With the Problem

You do not need to know the technical terminology before contacting us.

You might know only that your website is difficult to use on a phone, customers cannot find important information, email is behaving strangely, a process takes too many steps, your website has become difficult to maintain, or several different technology services no longer seem to work well together.

That is enough to start a conversation.

We can look at what is happening, ask questions, identify possible causes, and explore practical solutions.

Website Consulting

A website does not always need to be replaced. Sometimes relatively small changes can make a significant difference.

Website consulting may include reviewing areas such as:

• Overall website organization and navigation
• Mobile usability and responsive design
• Accessibility
• Page speed and unnecessary complexity
• Content organization and readability
• Search engine visibility
• Website authority and useful informational content
• Forms and customer interactions
• Photo and image presentation
• Security practices
• Software and PHP compatibility
• Hosting and server configuration
• Domains, DNS, SSL certificates, and email
• Third-party services and integrations
• Ongoing maintenance requirements

The objective is not change for the sake of change. If something is working well, there may be no reason to replace it.

A Second Set of Eyes

It can be difficult to evaluate technology that you work with every day.

You know where everything is on your website because you have seen it hundreds of times. A new visitor does not.

You may have adapted to an awkward business process because it developed gradually. Someone seeing it for the first time may immediately ask, "Why are you doing these three steps?"

An outside perspective can sometimes identify opportunities that are difficult to see from inside the organization.

Technology Consulting Beyond the Website

Modern websites are connected to many other technologies. A problem that appears to be a website problem may actually involve email, DNS, a server, a payment processor, a third-party service, security settings, a database, or the way information moves between systems.

Technology consulting can extend beyond the visible website to areas such as:

• Linux servers and web hosting
• Domain and DNS configuration
• Email delivery and authentication
• SSL and website security
• PHP and database applications
• Backup strategies
• Online payment systems
• Software and service selection
• Data organization
• Workflow improvements
• Artificial intelligence tools
• Technology planning and troubleshooting

We may not provide every service ourselves, but we can often help identify what is happening, determine what kind of expertise is needed, and help you ask the right questions.

Security Is Part of the Conversation

Security is no longer something that can be added to a website as an afterthought.

Websites and online systems are continually exposed to automated scans, login attempts, malicious traffic, outdated software, phishing, and other threats.

Good security usually comes from layers: software updates, secure passwords, server configuration, backups, email authentication, access controls, monitoring, and sensible procedures.

No system can promise perfect security, but thoughtful planning can substantially reduce unnecessary risk.

Accessibility and Usability Work Together

A website should work for as many people as reasonably possible.

Accessibility includes technical considerations such as alternative text, labels, keyboard navigation, headings, contrast, and properly structured content. But accessibility is also closely connected to good usability.

Clear navigation, readable pages, understandable links, simple forms, useful headings, and logical organization benefit everyone.

We prefer to think about accessibility throughout the website rather than treating it as a feature that is added later.

Sometimes Simpler Is Better

Web technology has become extraordinarily capable. That does not mean every website needs every available capability.

Complexity has a cost.

Every additional plugin, service, script, integration, and dependency can create another potential maintenance, compatibility, performance, privacy, or security issue.

Sometimes removing unnecessary technology produces a better website than adding something new.

We like solutions that are understandable, maintainable, and appropriate for the organization using them.

Independent Problem Solving

Technology consulting can also be useful when you already have a website developer, hosting company, IT provider, software vendor, or other technology professional.

You may simply want another perspective before making an important decision.

We can help review options, research unfamiliar technologies, explain technical information in understandable language, or help determine what questions should be asked.

The goal is not necessarily to replace the people already helping you. Sometimes the best solution is helping everyone understand the problem more clearly.

Technology Changes—Good Thinking Does Not

When Zehr.net began developing websites, today's smartphones, cloud services, social networks, streaming platforms, and artificial intelligence systems did not exist.

The technologies have changed dramatically, and they will continue to change.

The underlying approach remains remarkably consistent:

Understand the problem. Research the options. Test the solution. Keep what works. Improve what does not.

Consulting, Projects & Ongoing Support

Website and technology consulting can take many forms.

It might be a single conversation about a specific problem. It could involve reviewing an existing website, researching a technology decision, troubleshooting an issue, planning an upgrade, helping with a special project, or providing ongoing assistance.

Brad is also open to selected part-time and recurring technology opportunities where an organization needs experienced assistance without requiring another full-time employee.

Remote, local, short-term, and ongoing arrangements may all be considered when the situation is a good fit.

Let's Figure It Out

You do not need to arrive with a technical diagnosis.

If something is not working, something could work better, or you are considering a technology change and are unsure which direction to take, contact Zehr.net.

Tell us what you are trying to accomplish.

We can start there and figure out the technology together.