Comments for Michael Bastos http://michaelbastos.com San Diego Open Source Consultant Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:16:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Web Design as a Commodity by Michael Bastos http://michaelbastos.com/2011/05/06/why-web-design-has-now-become-a-commodity-and-will-get-cheaper-and-cheaper/#comment-5915 Michael Bastos Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:16:48 +0000 http://michaelbastos.com/?p=568#comment-5915 Chris, I agree with you, my point was only to point out to designers that they needed to focus on changing their business strategy or get left behind, Woo is the perfect example of how to do that since I originally wrote this article last year. They've done everything I talked about in the area of changing to survive and I think they are a perfect model of what to do including migrating into plugins like wooCommerce and other add-ons that they are doing for their complete service. Thanks for the well thought out comment brother... Chris, I agree with you, my point was only to point out to designers that they needed to focus on changing their business strategy or get left behind, Woo is the perfect example of how to do that since I originally wrote this article last year. They’ve done everything I talked about in the area of changing to survive and I think they are a perfect model of what to do including migrating into plugins like wooCommerce and other add-ons that they are doing for their complete service. Thanks for the well thought out comment brother…

]]> Comment on Web Design as a Commodity by Chris Lema http://michaelbastos.com/2011/05/06/why-web-design-has-now-become-a-commodity-and-will-get-cheaper-and-cheaper/#comment-4692 Chris Lema Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:31:34 +0000 http://michaelbastos.com/?p=568#comment-4692 Michael, I agree 100% on the commoditization of the web design/web site creation space. More often than not, my customers want a web presence - that's it. They want to be online. They don't have a design challenge. They don't have a particular look in mind. They have a need to be online - period. At that point, spending tons of time explaining why a particular design strategy will best fulfill their needs is moving in the wrong direction. Frankly, if a client doesn't have a need, I don't want to be selling the product that meets the non-existent need. That said, I don't think WooThemes stands at the opposite side of the equation from ThemeForest themes. I think custom design boutiques may be, but not the Woo. I use ThemeForest and I am a member of the WooThemes club. Would I buy themes for $75? No. But would I pay $15/month to have access to them all? Sure. It's a commoditization play. When I know I'll push out more than 6 sites a year (on average I help launch closer to three times that), $15/month is a perfect price to be able to jump in, grab one, and get running. The fact that it's not a huge visible framework and has easy selection patterns for end-users when customizing their themes makes it even more of a win. All that to say, moving away from where the value isn't valued and towards the places where it is clearly seems to be the stronger way to mitigate the challenges of any industry facing consolidation and commoditization. For me I focus on product development, which often comes before a launch, which often comes alongside a web site. The site is instrumental but secondary to product ideation, development and launching. Know what I mean? Michael,
I agree 100% on the commoditization of the web design/web site creation space. More often than not, my customers want a web presence – that’s it. They want to be online. They don’t have a design challenge. They don’t have a particular look in mind. They have a need to be online – period. At that point, spending tons of time explaining why a particular design strategy will best fulfill their needs is moving in the wrong direction. Frankly, if a client doesn’t have a need, I don’t want to be selling the product that meets the non-existent need.

That said, I don’t think WooThemes stands at the opposite side of the equation from ThemeForest themes. I think custom design boutiques may be, but not the Woo. I use ThemeForest and I am a member of the WooThemes club. Would I buy themes for $75? No. But would I pay $15/month to have access to them all? Sure. It’s a commoditization play. When I know I’ll push out more than 6 sites a year (on average I help launch closer to three times that), $15/month is a perfect price to be able to jump in, grab one, and get running. The fact that it’s not a huge visible framework and has easy selection patterns for end-users when customizing their themes makes it even more of a win.

All that to say, moving away from where the value isn’t valued and towards the places where it is clearly seems to be the stronger way to mitigate the challenges of any industry facing consolidation and commoditization. For me I focus on product development, which often comes before a launch, which often comes alongside a web site. The site is instrumental but secondary to product ideation, development and launching. Know what I mean?

]]> Comment on Intuit as a Webhost? by mbastos http://michaelbastos.com/2010/11/05/why-intuit-should-get-out-of-the-webhosting-business-and-instead-create-great-addons-to-existing-web-platforms/#comment-1150 mbastos Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:41:27 +0000 http://michaelbastos.com/2010/11/why-intuit-should-get-out-of-the-webhosting-business-and-instead-create-great-addons-to-existing-web-platforms/#comment-1150 I think they would save a large amount of time and or work if they created tie in with already successful add-ons in platforms like WordPress, Gravity Forms and WP-Ecommerce would come to mind as a first but if they'd also like to support Open Source plugins like Contact Form 7 or even WP-Invoice which is a great web pay plugin for creating invoices through WordPress. It's all about integrating with what is already existing and creating a tie in for their product so whether that's having a direct tie in with Quickbooks online API if they have one or allowing users to export into the proper format for Quickbooks and Quicken. They need to think like a startup and really work closely with what's already out there. I think they would save a large amount of time and or work if they created tie in with already successful add-ons in platforms like WordPress, Gravity Forms and WP-Ecommerce would come to mind as a first but if they’d also like to support Open Source plugins like Contact Form 7 or even WP-Invoice which is a great web pay plugin for creating invoices through WordPress. It’s all about integrating with what is already existing and creating a tie in for their product so whether that’s having a direct tie in with Quickbooks online API if they have one or allowing users to export into the proper format for Quickbooks and Quicken. They need to think like a startup and really work closely with what’s already out there.

]]> Comment on Intuit as a Webhost? by Phelan http://michaelbastos.com/2010/11/05/why-intuit-should-get-out-of-the-webhosting-business-and-instead-create-great-addons-to-existing-web-platforms/#comment-1146 Phelan Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:29:36 +0000 http://michaelbastos.com/2010/11/why-intuit-should-get-out-of-the-webhosting-business-and-instead-create-great-addons-to-existing-web-platforms/#comment-1146 Well said Michael. Too many times have I been asked about Quickbooks integration to some sort of ecommerce platform whether it be WordPress ecommerce or Magento. There are a few third party apps out there that do such a thing but it'd be better if Intuit would open this up to make it more flexible for developers. Well said. Well said Michael.

Too many times have I been asked about Quickbooks integration to some sort of ecommerce platform whether it be WordPress ecommerce or Magento. There are a few third party apps out there that do such a thing but it’d be better if Intuit would open this up to make it more flexible for developers.

Well said.

]]> Comment on Why Go Open Source? by Steveorevo http://michaelbastos.com/2010/08/30/why-does-my-company-need-to-go-open-source/#comment-728 Steveorevo Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:59:58 +0000 http://michaelbastos.com/?p=193#comment-728 Great right up, reminds me of "Triumph of the Nerds", part 1. Keeping in mind that even good software takes time to grow and really great software just doesn't grow on trees. The trick is finding that "sweet spot" and you are definitely on target that it starts with open source. Whether it's the financial backings on Canonical's Ubuntu, or Apple OSX's *nix based Darwin, the median is to be open enough to thrive, socially agreeable, and publicly transparent. But yet closed enough to be commercially viable, and to maintain a timely agenda. Case in point: Google has raised eyebrows and controversy by not releasing Android source in what some manufactorers have deemed 'un-timely'. Though OSS says nothing about timing. And in fact, internal documents that have leaked indicate that Google has favored releases to ensure domination and the companies best interest. However, I don't see that as a bad thing. Pro-open source with an honest capitalist mindset can achieve some great things. As Google is learning (but yet still repeating) Microsofts mistakes in the rush to market domination. Maleware is on the rise in Android's app store, and cpu sucking antivirus makers are on the rise too (not my favorite way to use cycles). This is not unlike Microsoft's early days of ActiveX code. Where security was an after thought/not enforced (i.e. click continue anyway to install this unsigned driver?). Native code, long thought to be dead in favor of properly secure, sandboxed, Java VM, or 'WebApps' (aka the basis of our dearly departed Palm/HP WebOS) was thought to be the future. But Apple proved that native code lives via the AppStore, and it isn't just about mimicking bodily noises. Done right, adherance to proprietary developer guidelines means you can multitask, and you can implement network streams as long as you 'play nice', by the rules, and with others. Result? Great battery life, performance, security and trust. And can't emphasize that last part enough. Trust. Trusted community. Trusted source code. Trusted privacy. It is that sweet spot we are looking for. Although we can't predict the future entirely, we do know one thing without a doubt: security, and trust is going to be a big player and ever increasing demand. Open source makes the play with transparency but commercial can too when taking responsibility. Finding a medium with both is that "sweet spot" and I have to agree that anyone in IT *must* look at open source to see the big picture. Great right up, reminds me of “Triumph of the Nerds”, part 1. Keeping in mind that even good software takes time to grow and really great software just doesn’t grow on trees. The trick is finding that “sweet spot” and you are definitely on target that it starts with open source. Whether it’s the financial backings on Canonical’s Ubuntu, or Apple OSX’s *nix based Darwin, the median is to be open enough to thrive, socially agreeable, and publicly transparent. But yet closed enough to be commercially viable, and to maintain a timely agenda. Case in point: Google has raised eyebrows and controversy by not releasing Android source in what some manufactorers have deemed ‘un-timely’. Though OSS says nothing about timing. And in fact, internal documents that have leaked indicate that Google has favored releases to ensure domination and the companies best interest. However, I don’t see that as a bad thing. Pro-open source with an honest capitalist mindset can achieve some great things. As Google is learning (but yet still repeating) Microsofts mistakes in the rush to market domination. Maleware is on the rise in Android’s app store, and cpu sucking antivirus makers are on the rise too (not my favorite way to use cycles). This is not unlike Microsoft’s early days of ActiveX code. Where security was an after thought/not enforced (i.e. click continue anyway to install this unsigned driver?). Native code, long thought to be dead in favor of properly secure, sandboxed, Java VM, or ‘WebApps’ (aka the basis of our dearly departed Palm/HP WebOS) was thought to be the future. But Apple proved that native code lives via the AppStore, and it isn’t just about mimicking bodily noises. Done right, adherance to proprietary developer guidelines means you can multitask, and you can implement network streams as long as you ‘play nice’, by the rules, and with others. Result? Great battery life, performance, security and trust. And can’t emphasize that last part enough. Trust. Trusted community. Trusted source code. Trusted privacy. It is that sweet spot we are looking for. Although we can’t predict the future entirely, we do know one thing without a doubt: security, and trust is going to be a big player and ever increasing demand. Open source makes the play with transparency but commercial can too when taking responsibility. Finding a medium with both is that “sweet spot” and I have to agree that anyone in IT *must* look at open source to see the big picture.

]]> Comment on Why Go Open Source? by Dave Bergschneider http://michaelbastos.com/2010/08/30/why-does-my-company-need-to-go-open-source/#comment-698 Dave Bergschneider Wed, 07 Sep 2011 23:11:30 +0000 http://michaelbastos.com/?p=193#comment-698 Good read Michael. It brought pure nostalgia to my eyes. Good read Michael. It brought pure nostalgia to my eyes.

]]> Comment on Web Design as a Commodity by @bastosmichael http://michaelbastos.com/2011/05/06/why-web-design-has-now-become-a-commodity-and-will-get-cheaper-and-cheaper/#comment-14 @bastosmichael Fri, 06 May 2011 22:55:06 +0000 http://michaelbastos.com/?p=568#comment-14 I agree which is why I think the argument that some of these guys are making that their themes should be worth more is a bit out of line. If you think your theme is worth more, then charge more, but don't charge what the market will bear and then say you're not getting enough money. That's no different than the music or movie industry complaining about MP3 and Video downloads not being priced high enough on iTunes. Go out, create your own marketplace and then decide whether or not you would like to charge something higher and see how much business you get that way. I agree which is why I think the argument that some of these guys are making that their themes should be worth more is a bit out of line. If you think your theme is worth more, then charge more, but don’t charge what the market will bear and then say you’re not getting enough money. That’s no different than the music or movie industry complaining about MP3 and Video downloads not being priced high enough on iTunes. Go out, create your own marketplace and then decide whether or not you would like to charge something higher and see how much business you get that way.

]]> Comment on Web Design as a Commodity by Ryan Duff http://michaelbastos.com/2011/05/06/why-web-design-has-now-become-a-commodity-and-will-get-cheaper-and-cheaper/#comment-13 Ryan Duff Fri, 06 May 2011 21:08:46 +0000 http://michaelbastos.com/?p=568#comment-13 I've yet to find many themes that are both "high quality" and are in the $30-40 range. There may be a few, but certainly not the majority. Theme developers that put out "high quality" themes know that they're worth more than that and charge accordingly. I’ve yet to find many themes that are both “high quality” and are in the $30-40 range. There may be a few, but certainly not the majority. Theme developers that put out “high quality” themes know that they’re worth more than that and charge accordingly.

]]> Comment on Common Sense SEO Introduction by @bastosmichael http://michaelbastos.com/2010/09/14/why-you-need-common-sense-when-doing-your-seo/#comment-5 @bastosmichael Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:50:26 +0000 http://michaelbastos.com/?p=211#comment-5 I revised the section on cookies in order to make it simpler and easier to understand, let me know your thoughts. I revised the section on cookies in order to make it simpler and easier to understand, let me know your thoughts.

]]> Comment on Common Sense SEO Introduction by @bastosmichael http://michaelbastos.com/2010/09/14/why-you-need-common-sense-when-doing-your-seo/#comment-4 @bastosmichael Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:54:09 +0000 http://michaelbastos.com/?p=211#comment-4 I'll take a look and revise the section on cookies and thanks for the honest feedback, I hope you get a chance to read the other 5 articles in the series. It was also good to meet you at wordcamp phoenix. I’ll take a look and revise the section on cookies and thanks for the honest feedback, I hope you get a chance to read the other 5 articles in the series. It was also good to meet you at wordcamp phoenix.

]]>