The following tale must repeat itself a thousand times a day across the USA, and there is no telling how many times it happens across the world.
I am asked to attend a lunch with some of the principles of a soon-to-be-launched new venture. One of the principles, to whom I am known, believes that perhaps I could comment on some aspects of the companys objectives.
As a good friend I return the favor for the lunch by commenting on those areas in which my friend was interested. Before we went our separate ways I asked my hosts what role a website would be playing in this new company? Their response was heartening: Our website will play a significant part in assisting us to achieve our objectives.
How wonderful I thought, and so another question followed. You have told me that you have contracted with a company to design your site, and that the design is well under way. Has your contractor involved you, or any of your partners, in any strategic discussion on how the site will take advantage of the considerable internet traffic that already exists for this industry? (I asked this question knowing something about what their new organization was going...