Custom versus Pre-Packaged: Web Design and Web-based Business Management Solutions for Non Profits

Selecting a Web-Based Solution That Fits Your Organization

Many organizations desire to benefit from the full potential of their business assets, including supporters, members, subscribers, programs, events, publications, advertisers, merchandise, and all mission and financial concerns by managing a single web-based business management solution. The needs, tasks, functions, desires and budgetary considerations of your organization provide the information needed to determine an appropriate solution that fulfills both your current demands and your evolving needs as your organization changes and grows. There are several options available but knowing and applying the facts to your particular situation is the only way to secure your investment for the long term.

Pre-Packaged Solutions:
OTS (Off-the-Shelf) and Hosted

There are many excellent pre-packaged solutions available. What you need to understand is that they are designed for the masses based on an assumption of perceived need. They work great if you fit the pre-defined structure and have need for the types of tools and features they provide.

First you will need to examine your organization and identify all the tasks you perform, all the services you provide, all of your marketing initiatives, how you manage your assets such as merchandise, publications, literature, video, and images, how you handle the different aspects of your financials, and whatever else is involved with the promoting and managing of your organization. Then you have a starting point from which to compare the features of a particular pre-packaged off-the-shelf or hosted system.

Custom Means Your Way

Even pre-packaged solutions recognize that there is really no such thing as one-size-fits-all. So they compensate by making available at extra cost to you various pre-packaged modules and very limited custom design tools. Nothing takes the place of a design based on your vision and a solution based on your specific needs.

AIMG works closely with you to develop a look and feel that accurately presents your distinguished professional image to the public, your members, your patrons and your supporters. Additionally, we call upon our fifteen years of past experience to develop an application that is tailored to how you do things now along with the added benefit of a flexible architecture that allows you to build functionality as you need it without ever having to turn off your website.

There are compelling reasons to go with a custom solution even if you think you may be okay with a pre-packaged solution. Here are a few valid considerations.

You Own It

Ownership has its benefits. Your custom web-based solution remains online and completely functional 24/7/365 no matter what you decide to do with it in the future - change your web hosting company, expand your services, programs or marketing initiatives, re-structure your business model, move all your operations to online, open a new division, add foreign language pages, integrate your ecommerce, expand your database - whatever you decide to do. This is not possible with a pre-packaged solution. For example, cancel your subscription to the hosted service and your website will be shut off because it is integrated with the pre-packaged solution. If you do not renew your contract your website will may be handed over to you inreduced to a series of hundreds of Excel sheets and separate image files that you will have to organize for your next solution. In the meantime, you will not have a website, it may be costly to re-build and you certainly wonít have a new one overnight.

Ownership gives you full control. In a pre-packaged environment you are forced to conform. It is designed for the masses and you will always be a unit among many. The pre-packaged provider is not likely to upgrade its services according to your needs or at the rate of speed required by your growing or shifting business concerns. A custom solution keeps all options open to you.

Leadership from a Team Who Knows You

A pre-packaged solution gives you a product and a staff of people who know that product not you. Guidance and expertise is offered for their solution, not your particular need.

AIMG gives you a team of experienced marketers, writers, developers, designers and business consultants. You benefit from the leadership offered by fifteen years of providing successful solutions and helping clients to avoid costly pitfalls and unnecessary expenditures.

When AIMG customizes your solution you get a team who knows you, your mission, your goals, and your organization.If you have a question or concern, you call and talk to a real person with whom you are used to talking, not some stranger reading pre-scripted verbiage.

Exercise Due Diligence and Know Your Choices

AIMG has built its reputation over the past fifteen years on integrity, leadership and the ability to help organizations reach their goals by avoiding costly mistakes and taking advantage of cost saving strategies. Long standing clients respect our customer-centric approach and ability to effectively explain choices. We understand your desire to fulfill your mission statement and reserve funds for that purpose. Partner with a company who is committed to your mission and your success.

Already Committed to a Solution But Want a New Website?

AIMG can design a new custom website for you and seamlessly integrate it with your chosen web-based management solution. The design tools offered by your management solution may not be giving you the unique, sharp and professional look and feel that matches your distinguished reputation. You may also wish to offer your site visitors a more pleasurable site experience with easy-to-use navigation and enhanced interactive features. Regardless of the solution you are committed to, you can have the website look and feel you really want, including easy to manage control over your website content. After our conversation, AIMG will prepare some design samples and you can select the one that matches your mission goals.

Before deciding on a solution, give us a call and find out if a custom solution offers you better value for your investment.

Call (888) 238-7552 just to talk. Discover your options and learn if AIMG makes sense for your organization. You may also contact us using our convenient online form.

Your Mission. Your Vision. AIMG Leadership.