How Can I Find A Great Webmaster In The UK?

A man with a website is a man in need of a webmaster, if he isn't one himself. A webmaster gets a site up and running and keeps it there. So how should you go about taking on such person?

1. Experience.

The amount of experience required depends on how complicated your site is. If your site is plain HTML then two years will do. If your site is an ecommerce monster with a lively forum and SEO'd to the max, then an older hand is suitable.

2. Qualifications.

A webmaster should ideally be competent in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Apache web server and know how to use Cpanel and WHM.
He should be able to diagnose and fix problems with Perl and PHP scripts.
He ought to be familiar with the major CMS like Wordpress and Joomla.
He should be able to fix minor problems with SQL databases.
He ought to be able to advise on SEO and online marketing on your site BUT you shouldn't heed him too closely, _unless_ he can point to notable successes he's had doing it his way.
If he can't fix the issue himself, he should know how to emply someone else to do it, quickly, for a reasonable fee.

3. Personality.

A good webmaster should be a bit obsessive-compulsive, so you don't have to be. He will not be able to rest until he's sorted out that annoying little script error. He should be constantly thinking about ways to improve your site. This depends, of course, on how much you're paying him!

It's usually overkill to employ a webmaster full-time unless you have a large, money-making web presence and/or he also comes with marketing abilities as well.

4. Fees.

Fees should be negotiable, either on an hourly or a retainer basis. It depends on how many hours you need him for and the nature of the work done. Making minor changes to a site, like uploading images, is easier than editing and testing PHP scripts.

A well-structured site, on a good webhost, with a stable back-end, should not require the constant attentions of a webmaster.

For a finite project, payment should be in stages. A deposit to begin with, then payment in increments, with the final payment made when the work has been completed.

5. So Where To Find Him?

Search engines, forums and freelance websites are useful resources. Many webmasters can talk a good job, so you should ask to see his portfolio. Some younger webmasters may work for a reduced fee, so as to build up their portfolio.

Want to read more? Go to http://www.webmasterservice.co.uk and then give Tommy a call. Tommy runs article directory and business advice web sites in London, Great Britain. He has a B.A. in Philosophy and Sociology and is originally from the Republic Of Ireland.