Why use a Web architect?

• Vendors are not always able to explain technology concepts clearly. The architect represents the customer and ensures that business needs and objectives get translated into the appropriate technology terms.
  
• Vendors do not always inform the business of less expensive and low cost options. The architect is not selling hosting services, so you get an objective evaluation of cost options.
  
• Avoid being trapped by proprietary systems with high maintenance costs. Some vendors try to lock you into proprietary technologies that require extensive technical support and fees.
  
• Ensure that your site is easy for customers to use and that pages download fast. Some designers load sites with expensive to build, flashy graphics that do not always work well and slow pages down without adding value.
  
• Ensure that you get a site that is easy to maintain at a reasonable cost. Many businesses and organizations have competent staff that can be trained to do routine site updates--if the site is designed properly.